On March 11, from 10 am to 3 pm, Glacier Air and the BC Coast 99s will be hosting a Fly it Forward® event as part of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week.
The event will introduce girls and women who have never flown in a small airplane to the joy of flight with an opportunity to fly for free. “Most girls and women have never considered a career in aviation or seen themselves as pilots, aircraft mechanics, airport managers, air traffic controllers or any of the endless opportunities available within the Aviation and Aerospace Industry. I want to change that,” says Colette Morin, the owner of Glacier Air.
Flights will be offered on a first-come, first fly basis, but pre-registration is recommended by emailing iwoawGAir99s@gmail.com with your full name, age, and weight (for flight planning purposes). The event also includes inspiring women speakers throughout the day who have made aviation their careers. Colette encourages women to arrive early and plan to spend the day to socialize, talk to some amazing women and meet new friends. Over the past 12 years, over 400 women became airborne for the first time as part of this event.
Glacier Air has participated in Women of Aviation Worldwide Week events annually since 2011, including hosting a covid friendly online event in March 2021. The B.C. Coast 99s, a chapter of the The NinetyNines Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, co-host this event and provide airplanes, pilots and volunteers working together to make a successful event. The Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) was started by Mireielle Goyer, an airlinerated pilot and aviation educator, as a global initiative to promote aviation awareness and address gender discrimination in the aviation industry. “Too many women are not aware of women’s long and rich history of contributions to the industry,” says Mireille Goyer. Mireille hopes more women will see themselves in aviation and pursue it as a career.
Glacier Air has been offering flight instruction, air tours and charter flight services out of the Squamish Airport for over forty-five years. Owner, Colette Morin, has helped hundreds of pilots earn their private and commercial licenses. Of those approximately 12% were women. “It is better than the national average of 7%, but I still strive for more parity amongst pilots and all aspects of the aviation industry.” comments Colette.
