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  (2014-03-03 - 2014-03-09)
2015 date March 2–8  (2015-03-02 - 2015-03-08)
2016 date March 7–13  (2016-03-07 - 2016-03-13)
2017 date March 6–12  (2017-03-06 - 2017-03-12)
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

External links

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