{"id":992,"date":"2022-03-08T19:30:55","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T19:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flyhya.com\/?p=992"},"modified":"2022-04-01T13:27:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T13:27:29","slug":"opinion-women-in-aviation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flyhya.com\/opinion-women-in-aviation\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Cape Cod’s sky-high number of women working in aviation something to celebrate"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 8, 2022 – This week, the world will observe International Woman\u2019s Day and the start of Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW). WOAW, for those who are unfamiliar, is a global aviation awareness week for girls of all ages that marks the anniversary date (March 10, 1910) of the world\u2019s first female pilot license earned by\u00a0pilot Raymonde de Laroche<\/a>. I suspect there was little fanfare; however, her achievement marked the formal entry of women in the air and space industry. Subsequently \u2014 and unfortunately \u2014 this industry would actively exclude women until the mid-1960s, with the exception of the war effort.<\/p>\n

Repercussions of this are still felt: While most previously male-dominated industries now have 15% to 25% female participation, the air and space industry does not. The global percentage of female commercial pilots remains around 7% today. Approximately 2% of the world\u2019s aircraft maintenance technicians and around 10% of all working aeronautical engineers are women. Girls are still three times less likely than boys to be introduced to the industry via hobbies and career opportunities.<\/p>\n

Statistics on Cape Cod show a very different picture, however. Did you know that Cape Cod Gateway Airport has an exponentially higher number of women working in pivotal roles? This smashes the aforementioned national statistics. Just as I am proud of this, Cape Cod should be proud of this!<\/p>\n

As one of the first female vice commissioners on the Airport Commission in Barnstable, I am surrounded by giants in our field. Every day, as I look around Cape Cod Gateway Airport, I see women making a difference.<\/p>\n

I would like to take a moment to reflect on two of these women and their vast aeronautical achievements:<\/p>\n

In 2018,\u00a0Katie Servis\u00a0became the first female airport manager at Cape Cod Gateway<\/a> Airport since its inception in 1928 after spending the previous three years as its first female assistant airport manager. This occurred after a diverse aviation career with positions held at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation \u2013 Aeronautics Division, various airport planning positions with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin\u00a0Inc. and Hoyle Tanner and Associates and various airport operations positions held at Hanscom Field and Boston’s Logan International Airport, Portland (International)\u00a0Jetport in Maine\u00a0and Paine Field in Washington. Katie is also the second female in her family to achieve her private pilot\u2019s license; her aunt, on her father\u2019s side, was the first.<\/p>\n

Linda Markham is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cape Air<\/a> and leads over 700 employees across four regions worldwide. Linda joined Cape Air in 2002 as director of Human Resources. She was instrumental in developing a strategic plan and building a team to support the airline’s rapid expansion, focusing on operational excellence, growth, and sustainability. In 2004, Linda was named chief administrative officer and in 2013, Linda was promoted to president and named to the airline\u2019s Board of Directors. In late 2021, Cape Air announced that Linda would serve as the airline\u2019s CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Linda is the only female CEO of a major or regional airline in the United States\u00a0and is only one of two female airline presidents in the nation.<\/p>\n

Many of us were reminded of young women and aviation recently when 19-year-old Zara Rutherford touched down her microlight Shark UL plane at an airfield in western Belgium claiming the title of the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. Her journey spanned 41 countries and 155 days. That is an extraordinary feat for a young woman. This also poses a key question: Can we nurture someone with that same capability and talent on Cape Cod?<\/p>\n

This September, we will be celebrating Girls in Aviation Day. This event has grown every year since its first gathering and Cape Cod Gateway Airport is proudly participating by offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to young aspiring female pilots. Please stay tuned to our social media and website accounts as details are unveiled. In the meantime, I ask you to please take a moment and recognize these terrific women and their achievements in aviation.<\/p>\n