As part of an aggressive international outreach, Women in Aviation, International, in partnership with two of its British chapters, will host a regional conference Nov. 5-6, in London.
The regional conference will be held at the Brooklands Museum, the home of British aviation, located in Surrey, just outside London. Brooklands-based aircraft companies such as Bleriot, Hawker, Sopwith, Martinsyde and Vickers were key players in the early years of aviation.
“We couldn’t have a better spot for this conference since some 18,600 new aircraft of nearly 250 types were first flown, manufactured or assembled at Brooklands,” said Dr. Peggy Chabrian, president of Women in Aviation International. “What’s more, Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, the first woman to earn a pilot’s license in Britain, earned it there.” Brooklands celebrated 100 years of British aviation in 2008.
Two days of events are planned to encompass commercial, military, general, and corporate aviation, including the opportunity to sit on an operational British Airways Concorde while former Captain Mike Bannister narrates a virtual flight.
“Our international membership continues to grow,” added Chabrian. “Right now, we have 11 international chapters and more than 600 international members in 61 countries.”
Speakers for Saturday, Nov. 6, include Dominique Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Quick International Courier; Lt. Col Jennifer Crossman, USAF KC-135 pilot; Captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, record-setting 777 Captain with The Boeing Company, and Gabriella Somerville, Managing Director of ConnectJets.
Brooklands Museum has donated a live Concorde simulator session for four lucky attendees. The winners will be announced at Friday’s opening reception.
For more information: WAI.org.