Girls enjoy a helicopter tour at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden. (Photo by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide U.S. Military International Operations Campuses celebrated the 10th annual “Girls in Aviation Day” (GIAD), a Women in Aviation International (WAI) event, throughout the month of September. Ten Embry-Riddle Campus teams throughout the European and Pacific U.S. Military area of operations, including Germany, Spain, Italy, mainland Japan, Okinawa, and South Korea, held tours, presentations, and events, featuring female pilots, maintenance technicians, and more to inspire youth aged 4-18 in their local communities.
Women in Aviation International (WAI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation and aerospace career fields and interests. WAI began celebrating Girls in Aviation Day in 2015 to encourage and inspire young girls to pursue interested in aviation fields. WAI’s Girls in Aviation Day events have grown to reach more than 30,000 girls in 31 different countries.
Yokota AB’s Aeroclub provided young aviators with Cessna static tours. (Photo by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
2024 marked the largest GIAD celebration on Europe/Pacific military installations overseas, with over 450 participants. The events inspired a future generation of pilots, maintainers, aerospace engineers, and aviation enthusiasts.
Interactive tours were the highlight of this year’s events. In South Korea, children were able to fly in Chinook and Apache helicopter simulators and experienced the Apache AVCATT. Active-duty female pilots explained the aircraft, instruments, and the broader mission of each aircraft and held a Q&A session about careers in aviation. After the session, they took a tour of the air traffic control tower where they controlled traffic in the simulator, watched operations from the tower, and walked out on the catwalk. At Osan AB, participants visited the PAX terminal and received interactive briefs from Airfield Management, Firefighters, Maintenance, Engines & Avionics, Aircrew Flight Equipment, and various pilots.
At NAF Atsugi, HSM-51 provided an H-60 for children to see all systems running and ride the rescue basket system. The Yokota AB Aeroclub, Air Traffic Control, Life Support Section, and 36th Flying Squadron collaborated jointly to support an interactive show and tell experience, including a night goggle vision experience. Over 100 participants at Kadena AB toured the KC-135, HH-60, and F-15 aircraft in collaboration with the U.S. Girl Scouts.
At the Wiesbaden Campus, WO1 Alexyss Hoffman gave a short presentation on the history of aviation, famous female aviators, and what it takes to become a pilot. Participants then toured static displays of the C-35 plane as well as the Blackhawk Helicopter. 1LT Mallory Eichin, CPT Desire Guittierez, and two female Crew Chiefs were on hand to answer questions about the equipment and aircraft. ERAU alumnus, Antonnio Boone, Air Traffic Control Tower Chief, also gave a tour of the new tower.
ERAU Campuses developed innovative and fun ways for even the youngest aviators to engage with aviation and STEM, including a variety of physics-based activities in collaboration with local base libraries. Youth at Yokosuka Naval Base and Rota Naval Air Station enjoyed building paper airplanes and determining the most aerodynamic design, enjoying story time sessions about successful female aviators, and more.
The Misawa Campus collaborated with the local Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, home to “Miss Veedol”, the first aircraft to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean in 1931. Attendees participated in a scavenger hunt around the museum to learn all about aviation and space, and even experienced flying over Misawa City in a flight simulator.
“It’s a true honor and privilege to collaborate with WAI and the remarkable women in both military and civilian aviation to pave the way for the next generation of young aviators,” said Hayley Yamanaka, Associate Executive Director of PACOM Campus Operations. “Our Campus teams and gracious volunteers are passionate about ensuring children on military bases throughout the world are provided with as many opportunities as possible to take their dreams to new heights.”
“The power of Girls in Aviation Day crosses international borders to inspire the next generation of leaders in aviation, aerospace, and STEM,” added Nancy Tran-Horne, Executive Director of US Military Europe/PACOM Campus Operations. “Each year, ERAU looks forward to providing meaningful engagement activities for future leaders on military installations around the globe.”
Learn more about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Campus Locations on U.S. military installations in Europe and the Pacific.
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