CHICAGO (WLS) — Some of the future leaders of the aviation industry gathered at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday as part of Girls in Aviation Day.
“They need to travel, but they don’t know how to start that journey, so we’re here today to help,” United Airlines pilot Julie Savage said.
ABC7 Chicago is currently streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
More than 50 middle and high school girls got a special behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to have a front-row seat to the aviation industry.
“It’s so much fun. It’s my first time on an airplane,” said Neambi Walker, a senior at Glenwood Brooks College Prep. “I’ve never sat in such a nice little business class area. The seats recline back. You get shoes.”
“I was especially excited when they named me head of maintenance because she was a Black woman, a dark-skinned Black woman. Seeing someone who looks like me in the industry was really empowering and made me feel like I could do it,” Walker added.
From the cabin to the runway, United Airlines rolled out the red carpet for young women hoping to take their careers into the skies.
“This is so much fun! This is amazing! I learned so much today. It makes me want to be a pilot,” said Kaitlyn Harris.
Since 2016, United has hosted Girls in Aviation Day at O’Hare and airports around the world, welcoming more than 1,000 students to the program with the goal of eliminating gender disparities and promoting inclusion in the workforce.
“People have been so nice and they love the pilot experience and tell me it’s not as scary as they think it is,” Armani Jones said.
In most aviation jobs, women make up less than 20% of the workforce, according to the nonprofit group Women in Aviation.
“I love it because I can see myself doing this in the future and it’s a lot of fun,” Elizabeth Koster said.
Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.
