View source for Women in Aviation International

{{Infobox organization
| name   = Women in Aviation International
| logo   = Women in Aviation, International logo.svg
| type   = Professional Association
| founded_date      = 1990 (Incorporated 1994)
| founder           = Dr. Peggy Chabrian

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| homepage          = {{ URL | http://www.wai.org }}
| dissolved         = 
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}}

'''Women in Aviation International''' ('''WAI''') is an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women involved in all aspects of aviation and aerospace. As an international [[nonprofit organization]], WAI provides [[Business networking|networking]], education, mentoring, and [[scholarship]] opportunities for women and men in careers in aviation and aerospace.

== About ==

WAI publishes a magazine called ''Aviation for Women'' which has six issues per year.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=feq-KS57zeUC&q=%22women%20in%20aviation%20international%22&pg=PA8663|title=Congressional Record, V. 151, Pt. 6, April 21, 2005 to May 5, 2005|last=Mica|first=John L.|publisher=United States Congress|year=2005|isbn=9780160846823|pages=8663|chapter=Salute to Dr. Peggy Chabrian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wai.org/aviation-women-magazine|title=Aviation for Women Magazine|website=Women in Aviation|access-date=20 July 2016}}</ref> WAI also sponsors [[scholarship]]s for members of WAI.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26762339/poughkeepsie_journal/|title=Scholarship Opportunities for Women|date=1 October 2010|work=Poughkeepsie Journal|access-date=2019-01-02|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

== History ==
Dean of academic support at  [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University|Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]], Peggy Baty Chabrian, had experienced problems recruiting and retaining female aviation students.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Garvey|first=William|date=20 January 2014|title=A Higher Education|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=94091512&site=ehost-live|journal=Aviation Week & Space Technology|volume=176|issue=2|page=18|access-date=20 July 2016|url-access=subscription |via=EBSCO}}</ref> In order to attract more women, she suggested creating a seminar and invited [[Moya Lear]], [[Jeana Yeager]], [[Shannon Lucid]] and [[Bobbi Trout]] to speak at the first annual conference in 1990.<ref name=":0" /> From that conference, an informal organization was created.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26762755/dayton_daily_news/|title=Membership in Group Hits Heights|last=Gaffney|first=Timothy R.|date=16 July 1998|work=Dayton Daily News|access-date=2019-01-02|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

WAI was incorporated in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 1997|title=Women in Aviation Annual Meeting|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0iNHz-kt9n0C&q=%22women%20in%20aviation%2C%20international%22&pg=PA35|journal=Flying Magazine|volume=124|issue=6|page=37|access-date=19 July 2016}}</ref> As the founder of the WAI Conference,  Chabrian was named the first full-time president and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of the organization in 1996 by the board of directors.<ref name="Peggy Baty as WAI President Press Release">[http://www.wai.org/news/press/961008.html Announcing Peggy Baty founder and first President]</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=March 2015|page=110|title=From First Flight to Founder|author=Kelly Nelson}}</ref> By 1998, the group had 3,000 members,<ref name=":2" /> and as of September 2023, membership numbered over 17,000 worldwide.

WAI sponsored the first Arab Women in Aviation show at the [[Dubai International Convention Centre|Dubai International Convention Center]] in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/airport-show-2016-to-support-arab-women-in-aviation-.html|title=Airport Show 2016 to Support 'Arab Women in Aviation'|date=7 May 2016|work=Arabian Aerospace Online News Service|access-date=20 July 2016}}</ref>

== Annual conference ==
[[File:US Navy 110226-N-ZB612-084 hief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead delivers the keynote address for the 2011 Scholarship Awards Banquet a.jpg|thumb|22nd Annual WAI Conference]]
Each year the organization hosts an annual conference, which has grown  from 150 participants in 1990 to  approximately 4,500 in 2023. Men are also able to join Women in Aviation International and make up approximately 20% of the membership.

The conference includes educational workshops, networking opportunities with various aspects of the aviation industry, scholarship awards and the annual [[Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame|WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame]] Induction Ceremony. 

In 1996, Robin Lamar and Marcia Buckingham sponsored an organizational meeting for aviation and mechanics at the WAI annual conference, leading to the formation of a new group, called the [[Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance]].{{Sfn|Douglas|2004|p=245-246}}

The organization hosted the 35th Annual Women in Aviation Conference in Orlando, FL, March 21–23, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2024-03-26/wais-35th-annual-gathering-celebrates-aviations-leading-ladies |title=WAI's 35th Annual Gathering Celebrates Aviation’s Leading Ladies: More than 5,200 attended this year's conference |last=Reed |first=Jessica |date=March 26, 2024 |work=[[Aviation International News]]|access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref>

== Girls in Aviation Day ==
In 2015, WAI launched Girls in Aviation Day  observed on last Saturday of the month of September.<ref>[http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:xxi6vw.2.1 USPO Trademark Database record for Girls in Aviation Day]</ref> The day is intended to interest girls, ages 8 to 17, in aviation careers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article36704535.html|title=Girls check out aviation careers at RDU|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=26 September 2015|work=The News & Observer|access-date=19 July 2016}}</ref> A [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scout]] patch was designed for the 2016 Girls in Aviation Day which would be given out to scouts who took part in the day's activities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12179719/women-in-aviation-international-creates-girl-scout-patch|title=Women in Aviation International Creates Girl Scout Patch|date=9 March 2016|work=Aviation Pros|access-date=19 July 2016}}</ref>

== Hall of Fame ==
{{Main|Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame}}
The Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame was established in 1992. Its purpose is to honor women who make significant contributions as record setters, pioneers, or innovators in the aviation and aerospace industries. WAI solicits nominations from throughout the aviation industry each year for the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame.<ref name="Pioneer Hall of Fame">[http://www.wai.org/pioneers/index.cfm Hall of Fame]</ref> Inductees are chosen from the nominations by a committee, "with special consideration given to individuals who have helped other women become successful in aviation or opened doors of opportunity for other women."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=September 2000|title=WAI Seeks Nominees for Hall of Fame|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fHJzEYdWN5cC&q=%22women%20in%20aviation%2C%20international%22&pg=PA44|journal=Flying Magazine|volume=127|issue=9|page=44|access-date=19 July 2016}}</ref>

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
*{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYwfBgAAQBAJ&q=%22women%20in%20aviation%2C%20international%22&pg=PA246|title=American Women and Flight Since 1940|last=Douglas|first=Deborah|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|year=2004|isbn=9780813190730}}

== External links ==
*{{official website|http://www.wai.org/}}

[[Category:Aviation-related professional associations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1990]]
[[Category:Preble County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Ohio]]
[[Category:Women's organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Women's occupational organizations]]
[[Category:Women aviators]]