Encouraging young women to fly
4 October 2013The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO, today announced the opening of two sponsored scholarships encouraging the development of young female pilots.
“The scholarships are intended to encourage young women to pursue flying careers by helping with the training costs associated with flying,” Air Marshal Brown said.
The scholarships, available through the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA), are open to female pilots up to 24 years of age.
This is the third year that Air Force has sponsored the Formation or Aerobatic Endorsement Scholarship and the AWPA Navigation Component Scholarship.
AWPA values the RAAF support for the scholarships with four students now seeing the benefits of the program.
“As a result of the RAAF's support over the past two years, we have three female pilots who were thrilled to achieve an aerobatics rating and a fourth who will soon be undertaking her private pilot’s licence navigation exercises,” a spokesperson for AWPA said.
“With the RAAF's support, AWPA looks forward to being able to provide further opportunities for female pilots to follow their aviation dreams.”
The 2013 recipient of a RAAF scholarship, Ms Larissa Stephens, said since she had completed the endorsement she has had several hours of learning at her aero club.
“It was an honour to be selected as the recipient of this scholarship and I really appreciate the support the Royal Australian Air Force has provided me,” Larissa said.
“I've learnt so much from the endorsement and had a wonderful time along the way!
“I am now able to instruct in formation endorsements and this scholarship has improved my employability and widened my career opportunities.”
Applications are now open and will need to be submitted by 31 January 2014.
Further information and application forms are available from the Australian Women Pilots’ Association website: www.awpa.org.au
Imagery is available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/S20131607
Media contact:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999
