Avionics News May 2015 - 37

example, the National Business Aviation Association has its
Young Professionals in Business Aviation, which is a group
dedicated to building relationships between emerging leaders
across the industry. Through events at key business aviation
industry gatherings, the group promotes networking, sharing
of best practices and building a sense of community among
future aviation leaders.
At its annual convention, the NBAA celebrates a Career
Day to encourage students - from middle school through
college - to attend the show for free. In fact, college students
whose schools belong to the University Aviation Association
may attend the entire show for free. Speakers, the exhibit
hall and internships all give aviation-oriented students encouragement to continue.
The NBAA's Peter Korns, who manages this program,
said, "Our industry is incredibly diverse, and we want to ensure that the next generation of business aviation leaders is
well-equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary
to have successful and rewarding careers."
But it's not just the industry that promotes aviation. The
Boy Scouts of America offers young women and young men,
ages 14 to 20, an opportunity to personally experience aviation through activities at a local Aviation Exploring post.
These activities include field trips to museums, guest speakers, hands-on aircraft experience, real flight experience, career counseling and more. Aviation Exploring is part of the
Boy Scouts' Learning for Life program.
In addition to his duties as vice president at Sporty's,
Mark Wiesenhahn serves on the Aviation Exploring board.
Although hard numbers are not available, he sees Explorers who have pursued careers in aviation as a result of their
exposure in Exploring. "We introduce them to a profession
and show them the opportunities in aviation," he said. "They
never knew these jobs existed until they come to the airport."
The Women in Aviation, International organization supports women who have already made aviation a career
choice, and it also attempts to attract more women to the
industry. At its March 2015 conference, WAI disbursed more
than 100 scholarships amounting to more than $600,000.
"If you were to look at the roster of these scholarships, you
would see the diversity included," said WAI President Dr.
Peggy Chabrian. "We have a variety of donors from individuals to multinational corporations; from flight or engineering to management or maintenance and more. We have
a wide range of values as well as a mixture of purposes -
from ultra-practical type ratings to a scholarship to pursue
any aviation dream."
The WAI recognizes that for many young people, an
aviation career is never even considered. What started as a
program for WAI Conference attendees who brought their
daughters to the Conference has grown into Girls in Aviation

Day - both at the Conference and celebrated nationally each
year. An outreach is made to Girl Scouts in the area where
the conference takes place. More than 200 girls, ages 10 to
17, typically take part in Girls in Aviation Day, learning how
to do everything from reading a sectional chart to flying a
simulator to making wire bracelets with tools and guidance
from the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance.
The girls see role models - from airline pilots to mechan-

Paul DeHerrera, Universal Avionics CEO, volunteers
with the EAA Young Eagles program.

ics and engineers via a career panel and get a thorough introduction to aviation as a career. Representatives from colleges with aviation programs meet with the older girls.
The WAI isn't the only group trying to reach new talent at
a young age. The Experimental Aircraft Association's Young
Eagles program has introduced nearly 2 million young people, ages 8 to 17, to aviation by giving them a free airplane
ride, provided by EAA members.
In fact, a chance meeting with Sean D. Tucker, EAA Young
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