Women in Aviation Brings Excitement Around Recruitment for Aerospace Careers

Friday, March 18, 2022 at 09:20 AM ET

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WAI CEO Allison McKay and the board of directors (past and present) open the exhibit hall at the 33rd Women in Aviation International conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. [Photo: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference, #WAI22, returned in full force to Nashville, serving as a critical recruitment hub for the aviation industry and hosting 170 exhibitors.
Amidst a renewed pilot shortage, the conference facilitated significant interaction between airlines, operators, and prospective talent, reinforcing WAI's mission to grow aviation overall.
Pioneering aviator and recent space traveler Wally Funk was honored at the conference with the National Aeronautic Association's Katherine and Majorie Stinson Trophy for her enduring contributions to women in aerospace.
The event featured a strong lineup of keynote speakers from various aviation sectors, "Girls in Aviation Day" for young women, and the announcement of scholarships.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series to mark Women’s History Month: March 1: Pioneers of Women’s Aviation | March 2: Carole Hopson | March 4: Martha King | March 8: Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance | March 11: The Air Race Classic | March 15: Sisters of the Skies | March 18: Women in Aviation Conference | March 25: Bonny Simi of Joby Aviation | March 29: The first graduating class of Air Force female pilots. | March 29: Top Female Difference Makers in Aviation.

It’s a big return—and the change is clear from the last time that Women in Aviation International held its annual conference face to face. That was back in early March 2020, and though Disney World was open, the atmosphere at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, was cautious, anticipatory, subdued—and if we only knew what was to come.