The Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide is looking for organizations and individuals to get involved in activities March 4 through10. This year’s events will celebrate 50 years of women in space.
The group aims to introduce more women and girls to aviation, encouraging airports to offer events during Women of Aviation Worldwide Week with free flights for women and girls, static displays at airports, and more. Pilots can find more information about events worldwide and how to participate at the website.
A Fly it Forward event at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland, AOPA’s home airport, will highlight both the national theme of 50 years of women in space and breast cancer awareness. AOPA supports the worldwide organization and events as an advocate sponsor and is one of the sponsors of the “Traveling Space Museum” that will be on display in Frederick on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will also offer free discovery flights throughout the week out of Frederick Airport. On Saturday, March 9, women battling breast cancer and survivors will be given free flights.
To help celebrate 50 years of women in space, the event at Frederick Airport will host two special guest speakers. The first is Dr. Mamta Nagaraja, project manager of the Women@NASA program, a joint project between NASA and the White House created to stimulate interest in math, science, and engineering among girls. Also speaking will be Col. Pamela Melroy, who served as pilot on two space flights (STS-92 in 2000 and STS-112 in 2002) and was the mission commander on STS-120 in 2007, making her one of only two women who commanded the space shuttle.
