Girls In Aviation Day Visits Renton Airport

Last month, Women in Aviation’s Washington State chapter hosted another successful aviation career day, this time at the Renton Municipal Airport. Fifteen young women attended, hearing about the aviation industry and related career opportunities and getting the opportunity to try aviation-related skills hands-on.

The day kicked off with the girls splitting into three groups to experience a variety of activities, from flight planning to a preflight walk-around to a tour of Renton’s air traffic control tower. 

In planning a flight, attendees reviewed the complex FAA Seattle sectional chart to learn about the symbols and tools used to plan a flight, then conducted a scavenger hunt to find specific symbols and prepare for a flight.

For their preflight walk-around, girls looked for discrepancies that might keep them from flying that day. Taped to the plane they found photos of issues like flat tires, fluid leaks and cracks. They then visited the maintenance hangar to see how technicians keep airplanes in safe, ready condition. 

At the air traffic control tower the girls toured the facility and learned how controllers direct aircraft on taxiways and clear pilots for takeoff and landing.

Lunch included speakers from Boeing and the FAA sharing their journey into the industry. They discussed careers in manufacturing, showed videos and talked about the wide variety of careers available to women in aviation and aerospace.

The day ended with dessert, giveaways and goodbyes. Each attendee received a Discovery Flight from Rainier Flight Service, allowing them to fly in a Cessna 162 or 172 and briefly take the controls of the plane as part of a 30 minute flight.

The Center of Excellence is proud to support Women in Aviation’s Washington State chapter and Girls In Aviation Day. Join their Facebook page to watch for future Girls In Aviation Day opportunities.