National Women In Aerospace Day is celebrated annually on May 20 in the United States to inspire more women to pursue careers in aviation engineering and aerospace. The day also honours women in the aerospace industry, including those in commercial aviation, defence, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, and space. It is still a growing industry in which women have made significant contributions. These women are indispensable to the industry, and they should be honoured. Harriet Quimby, Bessie Coleman, and Amelia Earhart, to mention just a few, are well-known women in the aerospace industry. National Women In Aerospace Day honours the contributions of all women and encourages more women to pursue careers in the industry.
The Background of National Women In Aerospace Day
Nikki Malcom, CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance and 32nd recipient of the AeroTime Aviation Achievement Award in 2022, established National Women In Aerospace Day in August 2021. This day honours the women who have contributed to the aerospace industry in the past and present, as well as those who aspire to contribute in the future. This day also seeks to increase access for women and girls by highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of women in the field.
Although women have flown since 1908, it was difficult for them to obtain employment in the aerospace industry prior to 1970. Each generation has contributed to the elimination of new barriers and the establishment of careers in the military, commercial cockpits, laboratories, and space. National Women In Aerospace Day celebrates the accomplishments of women in the aerospace industry, from the first woman to obtain her pilot’s licence to the programmers who made the trip to the moon a reality, and hopes for greater participation in the future.
Women in Aerospace was founded in 1985 by a group of pioneering and visionary women who recognised the need for a networking organisation within the aerospace industry. In addition, they hope to increase their visibility in the industry, highlight their accomplishments, and encourage more women to pursue professions in the aerospace industry. Women in Aerospace Day continues to be a resounding success today. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, the organisation has grown to include over 2,000 individual members representing 250 companies, including more than 80 corporate members. The group encourages both women and males to participate. With the combined efforts of Women in Aerospace and National Women in Aerospace Day celebrations, the aerospace industry may one day become genuinely inclusive.
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Women in the aerospace industry: 5 FACTS
- The average percentage of women in the global aerospace industry is roughly 20%.
- Women make up only 26% of the global workforce.
- They represent only 9 percent of the total number of aerospace engineers employed worldwide.
- In the United States, only 19% of aerospace and defence executives are female.
- She is the youngest female aviator to circumnavigate the globe solo.
NATIONAL WOMEN IN AEROSPACE DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | May 20 | Saturday |
2024 | May 20 | Monday |
2025 | May 20 | Tuesday |
2026 | May 20 | Wednesday |
2027 | May 20 | Thursday |