Girls aged 12 to 18 participated in Girls in Aviation Day at Morey Airplane Company in Middleton, Wisconsin, gaining hands-on experience in aviation activities. The event, organized by the Women in Aviation International Four Lakes Chapter, provided stations focused on weather, flight planning, preflight checks, and cockpit decision-making, with the aim of inspiring young women to consider aviation careers.
Dr. Mayra Oyola-Merced, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a pilot, led the meteorology station, emphasizing the importance of weather awareness in flight operations. She highlighted that aviation is a traditionally male-dominated industry, including fields such as engineering and meteorology.
One participant, Sereia Ramirez, shared her excitement about controlling an aircraft during the event, describing the experience as feeling like the captain. She expressed interest in understanding how planes work and envisioned herself continuing to fly and teach in the future.
Oyola-Merced recounted her own first flight as a pivotal moment in her aviation journey and encouraged other women to seek out community support and mentorship. The Middleton event was part of the global celebration of International Girls in Aviation Day, which promotes youth engagement in aviation through events worldwide.
For more updates, viewers were encouraged to download the WMTV15 News app or the First Alert weather app. The event underscores ongoing efforts to diversify and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.
