Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) is an annual event held by Women in Aviation International (WAI) chapters worldwide. Karlyn Leth, Charter Sales Revenue Manager at Premier and founder of the Nor’Easters of Cape Cod Bay WAI, hosted the annual event with her local chapter to inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
Hosted at the Plymouth Airport, this year marked the 4th event Karlyn hosted. With 150 chapters participating globally on September 20th, the event encourages young people to explore STEM and aviation-related careers. Cape Cod Community College Maintenance Program provided valuable support with its local hangar, setting the stage for static displays of aircraft and engaging activities.
Static Displays and Aviation-Inspired Activities
Static displays included representation from Air Force/ROTC, State Police, Civil Air Patrol and Karlyn’s Vans RV12. The kids were able to talk with pilots, sit in aircraft, interact with Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) and learn about aircraft operation and the wide range of aviation careers.
Curated activities for the kids included a sectional scavenger hunt, drone flying and keychain making utilizing maintenance tools. The kids used rivet tools to construct their keychains which Karlyn was able to apply to real-life aviation applications by showing the 10,000 rivets she personally installed with her brother on her Vans RV12 aircraft.
In addition to the engaging and educational activities, the chapter was able to award a free Discovery Flight Gift Certificate allowing the 13-year-old recipient to participate in a short, hands-on flying experience with a CFI. The recipient was thrilled to have the opportunity to dip her toes in aircraft piloting.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviators
Karlyn’s dedication to GIAD and WAI is an impressive quality that reflects the Premier team’s passion for the future of aviation. Karlyn coordinated the event and sponsors and aircraft from Alpha One Flight Services, Above the Clouds, Breeze, Cape Air, Boston Med Flight, Bridgewater State University, Mike Goulian, and more. With the community airport and hangar support, Karlyn and the rest of her chapter provided interactive experiences centered on the importance of inspiring the next generation and providing positive community impact.
This event and Karlyn’s hard work is imperative to increasing awareness of the vast potential for aviation careers. From piloting aircraft to maintenance technicians, we are thrilled to have Karlyn set an excellent example for other aviation professionals, and we are proud to have her as part of the Premier team. We look forward to seeing next year’s event!