Women of Aviation Worldwide Week

Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week
Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week logo
Observed by	Men and women, worldwide
Type	International civil awareness week
Date	Week of March 8
2014 date	March 3–9
2015 date	March 2–8
2016 date	March 7–13
2017 date	March 6–12
Frequency	Annual
Related to	First female pilot licence worldwide

Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week {abbrv. WOAW Week} is an annual global observance that takes place during the week of March 8. The awareness week managed by the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide {abbrv. iWOAW} celebrates women's past and present contributions to the betterment of the air and space industry and promotes industry opportunities to girls and women.

As of April 2015, Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week activities have been organized in 36 countries on 5 continents. 96,000 individuals have directly participated in the week's activities. 21,656 girls and women have been introduced to flight in a small aircraft in response to the Fly It Forward® call to action.

History

In January 2010, Mireille Goyer, an aviation educator and airline pilot, launched an international grassroots initiative to celebrate the centennial of the first female pilot license worldwide earned by Raymonde de Laroche on March 8, 1910. Her "Fly It Forward" call to action encouraged pilots from around the world to introduce record numbers of girls and women to aviation during, what was then dubbed, "Women Pilots' Week". By addressing the female population's lack of exposure to aviation activities, the Fly It Forward® initiative aimed to fulfill the dream of the pioneering women pilots of 1910, namely to see women fully participate in all aspects of aviation.^[1][2]

In 2011, the one-time celebration evolved into the annual "Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week" as the world celebrated the centennial of International Women's Day.^[3][4][5][6]

On September 10, 2012, Mireille Goyer founded the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide, a not-for-profit global alliance of industry organizations. It organizes the week's various contests and tracks the week's activities in addition to managing other initiatives that facilitates women's integration in the industry around the year. Led by a gender-balanced, all-volunteer, Board of Directors, iWOAW's mission is to foster gender balance in the air and space industry through outreach, education, and advocacy.^[7]

Activities and observances

Women-centric activities take place at airports and aerodromes around the world as well as in museums and aerospace businesses. Special commemoration flights are often conducted.^{[8][9][10][11]}

iWOAW organizes multiple challenges and contests during the week. The best known challenge, Fly It Forward®, rewards top performers annually with awards including "Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide", "Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide", and "Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide".^[12][13]

Each year, a theme is selected to highlight the anniversary of historical and world-scale achievements by outstanding women of aviation.^[14][15][16]

List of Fly It Forward® Challenge title winners

Year		Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide	Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide	Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide
2010[17]
	Winner	Oshawa, ON  Canada	Amanda Sargent, Renton, WA  United States	Andrei Floroiu, New York, NY  United States
	First Finalist	Renton, WA  United States	Allie Dunnington, Bristol  United Kingdom	Peter Morton, Renton, WA  United States
	Second Finalist	Kpong Field  Ghana	Lesley Page, Oshawa, ON  Canada	Dick Smith, Renton, WA  United States
2011[18]
	Winner	Frederick, MD  United States	Dianna Stanger, Port Lavaca, TX  United States	Leith Barnhill, Arlington, WA  United States
	First Finalist	Arlington, WA  United States	Lin Caywood, Frederick, MD  United States	Doug Raine, Oshawa, ON  Canada
	Second Finalist	Port Lavaca, TX  United States	Lesley Page, Oshawa, ON  Canada	Hubert Wren, Peterborough, ON  Canada
2012[19]
	Winner	Yellowknife, NT  Canada	Kirsten Brazier, Yellowknife, NT  Canada	Derrick Robinson, Yellowknife, NT  Canada
	First Finalist	Frederick, MD  United States	Megan Tyler, Yellowknife, NT  Canada	Robert Ferlisi, Yellowknife, NT  Canada
	Second Finalist	Peterborough, ON  Canada	Lesley Page, Oshawa, ON  Canada	Hubert Wren, Peterborough, ON  Canada Ron Haslam Peterborough, ON  Canada
2013[20]
	Winner	St Andrews, Winnipeg, MB,  Canada	Kirsten Brazier, Yellowknife, NT  Canada	Frank Roberts, St Andrews, Winnipeg, MB,  Canada
	First Finalist	Yellowknife, NT,  Canada	Megan Tyler, Yellowknife, NT  Canada	Geoff Furniss, Yellowknife, NT  Canada
	Second Finalist	Waterloo, ON,  Canada	Dianna Stanger, Victoria, TX  United States	Glen Sibbeston, Yellowknife, NT,  Canada
2014[21]
	Winner	Langley, BC,  Canada	Dianna Stanger, Olivia, TX  United States	Frank Walcher, Parksville, BC,  Canada | Tom Keane, Victoria, TX,  United States
	First Finalist	Victoria, TX,  United States	Diana Jemson, Strathalbyn, SA  Australia	George Tecklenborg, Abbotsford, BC  Canada
	Second Finalist	Lachute, QC,  Canada	Marguerite Varin, Lachute, QC  Canada	Euan Harrison, Caloundra, QLD,  Australia
2015[22]
	Winner	Alburquerque, NM,  United States	Dianna Stanger, Olivia, TX  United States	Luc Bougie, Mascouche, QC,  Canada | Matt Norgrove, Bathurst, NSW,  Australia
	First Finalist	Lachute, QC,  Canada	Ramona Cox, Torrance, CA  United States	David Carroll | Gary Penglis Bathurst, NSW,  Australia
	Second Finalist	Saint Andrews, MB,  Canada	Diana Jemson, Strathalbyn, SA  Australia	Bryan Clements | Chris Stott | Nick Wills Bathurst, NSW,  Australia

References

1. AOPA – Creator of International Women's Aviation Event Honored
2. Wings Magazine – Aviation pioneer Mireille Goyer wins multiple awards
3. NBAA – A Week That Supports Women in Aviation Around the Globe
4. AOPA – Opening Skies to Women
5. The Arlington Times – Arlington Airport aims to grow the ranks of 'Women Of Aviation' March 10 & 11
6. Air Force District of Washington – Joint Base Andrew's Women 'Fly it Forward' during Women of Aviation Worldwide Week
7. AvWeb – Women get organized
8. Q2KTVQ – Women’s Aviation Week touches down in Billings
9. Billings Gazette – Women, girls get up-close look at aviation
10. Northern News – Girls Fly Too
11. KTVB – Pilots 'Fly It Forward' at Gowen Field
12. AvWeb – Frederick Tops Female Flight Drive
13. AvWeb – Female-pilot-friendly Yellowknife
14. Headcorn airfield to celebrate 100 years of women pilots
15. ITV – Harriet Quimby's Flight Anniversary
16. BBC – Caroline Feraday reports on the centennial of Harriet Quimby’s flight
17. 2010 Participants
18. 2011 Winners Announced
19. 2012 Winners Announced
20. 2013 Winners Announced
21. 2014 Winners Announced
22. 2015 Winners Announced

External links

• Women of Aviation Worldwide Week website
• Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide Week website