Inspirational Stories from Women in the Aviation Industry and at the Farnborough Air Show
This year's Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee's (WAAC) annual conference explored the topics of continued professional development and mentoring. Delegates had the opportunity to hear from inspirational leaders from a wide range of sectors of the aerospace industry discuss their personal experiences of professional development and the journeys that led them to their current positions.
Following a similar theme, RAeS Member Gerard Murphy has written a special report from the 2014 Farnborough Air Show looking at inspirational stories of women in aviation.
A Special Report from the Farnborough Air Show 14th to 18th July 2014, for the Ladies.
July’s Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) had much to interest ladies in aviation and those seeking such careers, particularly in the British examples of achievement by relatively young women.
Airbus were of course present and require female engineers, now and in the future.
Airbus Group
The main European presence was Airbus in Group form, replacing the old EADS. Now representing not just the commercial aircraft arm but including 3 groups:
- The traditional “Airbus”
- Airbus Defence and Space. Itself a merger of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military
- Airbus Helicopters
Taken on a worldwide basis 17% of Airbus employees and 21% of recruits in 2013 were women. Recruiting more women is a priority. By 2020, Airbus Group wants women to make up 25% of all recruits and 20% of the senior manager and executive community.
An example is Abbie Hutty of AD&S, a 28 year old space engineer working on the structure of the ‘Mars Rover’ as part of ESA’s ExoMars mission 2018.
to discover the world of aeronautical engineering. They have existing partnerships with a number of associations such as Women in Aerospace Europe (WIAE).
In North Germany the Group organises “Girls Days” at their key sites: Hamburg, Bremen, Stade and Buxtehude. Hamburg offers their female apprentices (from 17 to 23 years-old) the opportunity to learn to fly a light aircraft, during a 2 week-session in Juist Island. Airbus has also launched an internship programme in Hamburg and Bremen for girls from 14 to 16 years-old to have the possibility to join the company for 2 weeks in order to discover the aerospace industry.
Something for Filton to consider?
A further impressive example in Airbus of female success is Isabelle de Montent-Guerin. Not only is she a test pilot for Airbus in Hamburg, but their youngest at just 32, and the first British woman in this role at Airbus. (they also have a French female test pilot)