It’s an annual effort in the concept that you have ‘to see it to be it,’ but United Airlines Girls in Aviation Day at Newark Airport recently was more than that: It was an effort to begin attracting a next-generation workforce the carrier needs.
More than a dozen girls (between the ages of 10-17) from the Newark Boys and Girls Club met women leaders and professionals from across operational and management and administrative departments to help show the many possible careers that exist in aviation.
While at the airport, the young women visited the station’s inflight training center, gate area, a widebody aircraft parked at a gate and other key areas of the carrier’s massive organization.
United Airlines Customer Service Director Sevan Karabetian, the primary coordinator for the event, said the day has great impact in many ways.
“Girls in Aviation is something we do each year to introduce girls from the Newark community to aviation,” she said. “We have a lot of career opportunities at United, so we hope experiences like today help them consider working in our industry.”
Women in Aviation International started Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) in 2015 to give young women the chance to learn and explore the aviation field.
As an active community partner with WAI, United Airlines and uIMPACT, United’s women’s business resource group, are hosting events for young girls with an interest in aviation across all of its hubs.
In Newark, the group met a wide variety of United employees – both on the ground and in the air.
EWR Boeing 787 First Officer Geraldine Wallis, one of three United pilots who volunteered to participate in the day, said she was eager to serve as an example.
“I came out today to help show young girls the world in aviation,” she said. “Growing up, I did not have much exposure or access to opportunities like what we did with the young girls today.
“I hope they learned a lot from their visit to EWR and become a part of the aviation industry in some way.”
Karabetian shared her enthusiasm.
“I encourage them to dream big,” she said. “The sky is the limit.”
