A day to discover aviation

From the Fargo-Moorhead region on the North Dakota-Minnesota border to San Diego, the international celebration of Girls in Aviation Day on September 19 has become one of the organization's signature events. Events held at airports around the world are free, and introduce girls to aviation and careers that many may not have known existed.

The Northern Planes chapter serves aviation enthusiasts, students, professionals, and members in the Fargo-Moorhead region. Founded in 2022, the chapter grew out of Licht's own experience starting a career in the industry. "I really wanted a group that was focused on mentorship and that camaraderie around aviation, but a group that wasn't necessarily focused on pilots only," she said.

The idea to bring Girls in Aviation Day to the Fargo-Moorhead area came after Licht visited a similar event in Minneapolis. Northern Planes became a provisional chapter of WAI, which provided resources including activity kits and guidance on fundraising and sponsorships.

This year's event will be held September 19 at Moorhead Municipal Airport/ Florence Klingensmith Field, in Moorhead, Minnesota. It will be the first time the chapter's event has been held at the airport. "With it being an active airport people will get to see airport operations up close, watch the planes come and go," Licht said.

More than a dozen local companies are expected to exhibit, giving attendees an opportunity to learn about career options in the region. The free event will also include aircraft displays, as well as hands-on aviation and STEM activities. Showing kids the range of aviation careers available can help them start thinking about possible paths of their own. “They can talk with flight instructors, engineers, and mechanics,” Licht said. Starting out in a new field can also feel daunting for young women, which is one reason the chapter focuses on creating community.

Those interested in becoming involved can attend the Northern Planes chapter's monthly meetings at the Fargo Air Museum on the first Tuesday of each month. The chapter also shares updates and upcoming activities through its Facebook page.

Tarkett also described the day as the organization's largest outreach initiative. Tarkett said chapters generally aim to hold their Girls in Aviation Day events on the same date. San Diego's event has sometimes competed for attention alongside the city's airshow, though the dates do not overlap this year.

The chapter invites local flight schools, pilots, and other aviation professionals so attendees can meet people who have already followed those career and training paths. "What the San Diego chapter strives to do is to provide access," she said.

This year, Tarkett said, the San Diego chapter will award $40,000 in scholarships. The event will also feature a keynote speaker from NASA and active-duty military volunteers, flight attendants, mechanics, pilots, and other aviation professionals. Tarkett said as many as 70 volunteers are expected to take part. "There's a huge demand in our industry for jobs," Tarkett said. She pointed to opportunities for aerospace engineering, maintenance, business operations, and trip support, along with emerging areas such as drones and electric aircraft. She also cited specialized aviation work including organ transport, emergency response, and firefighting.

Tarkett's own path into aviation started by chance. "Just by luck, I ended up volunteering at an aircraft maintenance shop on my summer breaks in high school," she said. "I always joke, I started from the bottom, I counted aircraft screws."

For girls who want to continue to keep exploring aviation beyond the one-day event, Tarkett recommends staying involved with WAI. Youth ages 5 through 15 can join as junior members and access aviation resources year-round. Those interested in getting involved with WAI San Diego can connect through the chapter's website or social media channels.