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* Co-owner of trucking company, pilot/owner of Piper Saratoga
* Aircraft parts manager
* Retired air traffic controller
* Flight instructor
* Greater Orlando Aviation Authority staff
* Owner of an environmental consulting firm
* Owner of Flight Attendant Express
* Co-owner of a Stinson
* Teacher specializing in aviation education programs, pilot/co-owner of a Cub & Stearman
* FAASTeam representative
* City employee working on private license

These were the women (but for the last two) attending last night’s Women in Aviation International Central Florida Chapter No. 54 meeting.  The chapter was celebrating its 5th anniversary, a noteworthy achievement, as was the list of events it conducted in 2010 and that it has planned for 2011. Like the impression I walked away with at  last year’s WAI Conference in Orlando, Florida, this chapter’s enthusiasm and love for aviation was palpable and inspiring.

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In 2010 events included:
* Citrus Counsel of Girl Scouts field trip that included taking 33 young gals on a tour of a Falcon 900 and other GA aircraft, and meeting a local news channel helicopter female pilot

* Partnering with 99s, Young Eagles and GOAA to paint the KORL compass rose

* Volunteering for several EAA Chapter 74 Young Eagles Fly-Ins

Among the events scheduled for 2011:
* Partnering with EAA Chapter 74 in hosting renowned aviation artist Sam Lions as guest speaker for the EAA chapter’s March meeting

* Presence at Sun ‘n Fun

* Hosting April’s FAASTeam Safety Stand Down event

* Volunteering as judges for National Association of Women Business Owners Annual Business Plan Competition that will culminate with Mt. Everest climber Ian Woodall as the Awards Dinner guest speaker

And of course, the parent organization’s Annual International WAI Conference will be held Feb. 24-26 in Reno, Nevada. Flying’s Senior Editor Pia Bergqvist and Publisher and WAI founding board member Dick Koenig will be in attendance. Both are looking forward to being caught up in the wave of enthusiasm the conference is known for. Flying has been one of the event’s main sponsors since its inception.