Girls in Aviation Day 2024

Girls in Aviation Day 2024 takes place on 21 September. It’s an annual event, which is organised by Women in Aviation International to inspire and educate girls about careers in aviation and aerospace and has grown significantly since the first event in 2015.

To mark the day, we caught up with pilot, Captain Henrietta, who flies Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) missions with EAAA through the charity’s aviation partner, Babcock.

There are just 36 female commercial helicopter pilots in the UK (Source: Civil Aviation Authority 2022) compared to over 1,200 male helicopter pilots. Captain Henrietta is keen to be a role model for girls who aspire to have a career in aviation. If you’re a young woman, read Captain Henrietta’s top tips on how to achieve your goal!

Build a community

“Compared to men, there are not many females in the industry so build a community of possible connections and consider all options to help you reach your goal.

“Explore volunteering options or even. stewarding and selling tickets could help you to meet other like-minded people and potentially make new aviation connections.

“There’s a website called elevateheraviation.co.uk which encourage women into aviation and aerospace. They offer community meet ups and message boards where you can ask questions.”

Take opportunities that come your way

“Even if it’s not the niche that you’re interested in, take the opportunities that might come your way as you never know what it could lead to. Piloting is just a small unit in the field of aviation, so consider other exposure opportunities and see where they could take you!”

Consider different roles

“There are different areas and routes you can think about, including military, civilian, fixed-wing and rotary. This could include careers in air traffic control and engineering where you can meet lots of other people working in aviation.

“The Royal Air Force Air Cadets is also a great way for young people to gain some exposure to different elements of aviation while developing new skills.”

Maintain a positive mindset

“As pilots, we are constantly learning and training so adopt a mindset where you are excited to always be in a learning environment. Build your resilience and keep a positive mindset. It’s a competitive industry and there maybe ‘no’s’ and setbacks but keep going!”

Be prepared to be different!

“There’s often more than one way to do things so be prepared to be and think differently. Be open to options and opportunities. Aviation is currently a male-dominated industry. More women seeking careers in aviation can influence and address the balance. If you’re a young woman and you aspire to have a career in aviation, go for it!”