On Saturday, Sept. 20, I went to something really cool—the Girls in Aviation Day at the American Airlines Hangar at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. The Women in Aviation International Phoenix Chapter hosted the event, and it was HUGE! There were pilots, flight nurses, air traffic controllers, engineers, mechanics, and the TSA. It was open to everyone—kids, parents, and anyone who loves airplanes.

I got to walk inside a real hangar where planes are fixed and stored. There were booths from Southwest Airlines, the FAA, Honeywell, Angel Aviation, American Airlines, and so many more. Everywhere I turned, I saw people ready to tell me about their jobs in aviation. I asked them questions like: What made you want to be a pilot? What’s your favorite part about flying? Is it hard to learn? The answers were awesome!

One pilot told me she became a pilot because her dad and grandpa were pilots, too—she’s a third generation pilot! Another person said they started out as a flight attendant but decided to become a pilot instead. My favorite answer was when a pilot said their favorite part about flying is “overcoming challenges.” It made me think about how much determination it takes to fly a plane.

I also learned that pilots don’t just hop in and go. They use checklists, make sure the plane has fuel, and check that everything is safe before takeoff. I asked what advice they would give kids like me. One person told me to play team sports because being a pilot means you have to work as a team and communicate well. Another person told me that “the sky is the limit!”—which I thought was the perfect thing to say at an aviation event.

But the biggest thing I learned is that aviation is not just about being a pilot. There are so many jobs—flight nurses, mechanics, dog handlers for TSA, and even air traffic controllers who talk to pilots in the sky.

Events like Girls in Aviation Day are important because they help kids like me see what’s out there and maybe discover what we want to be when we grow up. One person told me, “Kids won’t know what they’re passionate about if they aren’t exposed to it.” I think that’s true. I loved Girls in Aviation Day.

Advisor: Jenny Dow