Girls in Aviation Day held at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — It was all about girl power on Saturday as the Women in Aviation International Mountain State Chapter hosted its third annual North Central West Virginia Girls in Aviation Day.

The event was held at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center and is designed to get young girls interested in the aviation industry. Over 25 aerospace partners from around North Central West Virginia set up different activities such as bracelet making, flight simulators and more.

Tracy Miller, President of the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex, talked about the importance of inspiring children to consider jobs in aviation.

“If it plants a nugget of curiosity in one young girl that she just needs to know more,” Miller said. “She starts reading books about it, she starts asking her teacher more questions, and it doesn’t matter if you’re shy or outgoing, you need to be you in this profession, but if it leads somebody to say this is what I want I now know I can do and they keep coming back for more, that’s all we want to do.”

According to a press release from Women in Aviation Mountain State Chapter, Girls in Aviation Day was started by the Women in Aviation International Organization in 2015. Events are held worldwide to promote the effort, with more than 20 countries and 42 states hosting local Girls in Aviation Day celebrations this year.

The event was free to the public and while it was geared towards middle and high school aged girls, it was open to all children up to the age of 18.

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