WOAW – Frequently Asked Questions
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- What is Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week?
Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) is a global aviation awareness week for girls of all ages observed to mark the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot licence (March 8, 1910).
The week serves as a call to address gender imbalance in the air and space industry. It is not country- or group-specific.
- What happens during the Week?
Individuals and groups organize local activities such as community events, factory and school open door events, museum special programs, and much more to remember the industry’s female pioneers, celebrate today’s women of aviation, and introduce girls of all ages to the multiple facets of the industry (see Organize a WOAW Activity).
The Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) runs several challenges during the Week and rewards participants with awards, prizes, and scholarships.
- What is Fly It Forward®?
Fly It Forward® is an award-winning aviation outreach initiative inaugurated in March 2010 by Mireille Goyer, an airline-rated pilot and aviation educator.
The call to action encourages individuals and groups to celebrate the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot licence (March 8) by introducing women and girls to the multiple facets of the air and space industry, including flight in small aircraft.
It is the first and the largest female outreach initiative actively addressing gender imbalance in the air and space industry – on a global scale.
- Who can participate?
Women and girls of any age may attend any outreach WOAW activities across the globe and participate in the Week’s challenges.
Anyone who wishes to foster gender balance in aviation may organize or support WOAW activities. There are no gender, affiliation, or geographical restrictions.
- Where does it take place?
Local activities take place across the globe based on the willlingness of independent local organizers (see Locate a WOAW activity).
Anyone, anywhere, can participate in the Inspiration and the Pink Paper Plane challenges.
- When is the Week?
Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) takes place during the week of March 8, anniversary day of the world’s first female pilot licence earned by Raymonde de Laroche on March 8 1910.
Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week upcoming dates:
- March 7-13, 2022
- March 6-12, 2023
- March 4-10, 2024
- Why was Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week created?
When Raymonde de Laroche became the world’s first woman to earn a pilot licence on March 8 1910, she stood as nearly 3% of the commercial pilot population at the time. Her achievement marks the formal entry of women in the air and space industry.
However, until the mid-1960s, the air and space industry actively excluded women. After new anti-discrimination laws stopped the practices, virtually no efforts were made to engage women and girls as viable candidates for the industry’s technical and highest-paying careers.
As a result, while most previously male-dominated industries now count 15% to 25% female participation, the air and space industry does not. In fact, the global percentage of female commercial pilots is still less than 3% today. Likewise, less than 2% of the world’s aircraft maintenance technicians and less than 10% of all working aeronautical engineers are women. What’s more, girls are still 3 times less likely than6bo2s to 3e introduced to the industry’s hobby and career opportunities.
The Week aims to motivate the industry to assess its current state, celebrate its progresses, and offer to women and girls, exclusive opport4ni0ies t4 explore aviation.
The ultimate goal is to foster a gender-balanced air and space industry where men and women can thrive in harmony within the next few decades.
- Who gives the awards, prizes, and scholarships?
The Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) with the support of its allies and individual donors maintains the Week’s official website, supports the WOAW global community, runs the Week’s various challenges, and attributes the annual Fly It Forward® awards, the prizes, and the scholarships.
To become eligible to win prizes, scholarships, and Fly It Forward® awards, join then report your WOAW activities before the applicable deadline.
- When is the deadline for submitting reports?
- The deadline for submitting reports is the first Thursday following the end of the Week, March 17 in 2022.
- What are WOAW points?
Anyone registered on the Week’s official website receives WOAW Points for activities such as listing events, sharing updates and news, being an active community contributor, and more. The number of WOAW Points awarded per action depends on the type of activity and the contributor’s community status.
To redeem WOAW Points, visit the WOAW online store and add the desired items in the shopping cart. During the checkout procedure, use the sliding scale to choose the number of WOAW Points to redeem, then click on “Apply” to adjust the order balance.WOAW Points may be used to purchase products and subscriptions and make donations to the Fly It Forward® Fund.
We invite all countries to Fly It Forward during the week of March in celebration of the world’s first female pilot license. Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, America, Andorra, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bissau, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, British Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Emirate, England, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Grenada, Grenadines, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Herzegovina, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St Kitts, St Lucia, Saint Kitts, Santa Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tobago, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.