Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) is a global aviation awareness week for girls of all ages which is observed to mark the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot license (March 8, 1910).

Individuals and organizations involve in the aviation and space industries are offering flying and non-flying events all around the world to raise awareness and introduce women and girls of all ages to multiple facets of the industries. The aim is to foster gender balance by increasing the participation of women. WOAW-relevant events and activities may be registered on the Week’s official website, WomenOfAviationWeek.org, managed by the Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) to ensure global visibility.

iWOAW supports and monitors the Week’s events, compiles global participation results, distributes the coveted Fly It Forward® Awards, and also grants awards to participants, and publicly recognizes participating organizations with the “Verified Women Friendly” label.

In Turkey, many eligible events have been held in recent years and some won global Fly It Forward® Awards. The only missing element so far at these events are flights. I hope that more flights will take place this year in Turkey, especially since they may qualify young women for a $10,000 flight training scholarship offered by iWOAW and its corporate ally, CAE.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation authority in Turkey, initially issued the “Instruction for Gender Balance Fostering in Civil Aviation” as part of a systematic effort based on an equal opportunities policy to foster gender balance in the aviation industry. It established the “Gender Balance Fostering Commission” to implement this directive throughout the aviation industry. After the issuance of the instructions to the entire industry, “Women of Aviation Worldwide Week” begun to be officially celebrated in our country where efforts to develop gender balance in our national aviation throughout the year have expanded and the progress is proudly shared with the public.

The 10th annual Women of Aviation Worldwide Week takes place March 2-8 and uses hashtag #WOAW20 in social media.

About #WOAW20

You may find all the details concerning Women of Aviation Worldwide Week by visiting the official website at WomenOfAviationWeek.org

In order to download documents and add planned events to the database, you must subscribe on the website and login. Doing so yields WOAW Points redeemable on the website’s store and may make individuals and organizations eligible to win Fly It Forward® Awards if post-event reports are submitted before the March 12 deadline. New methods are also determined for corporate participation and regularly announced on the website as well.

In addition, I have prepared the "CAN’CA Women of Aviation Worldwide Week Guide", as part of the mentoring that I offered to Turkish-speaking countries for the past few years ago, which can also serve as a guide for local event organizers.

Before and during the Week, please share the following on social media with # WOAW20:

• WOAW event details,

• Stories about past and present women in the air and space industry,

• Highlight of efforts to foster gender balance in the aviation industry,

• The importance and effects of increasing the number and level of women in the industry,

And any motivating good news...

“Gender Balance Symposium 2020” as the main events of "Women of Aviation Worldwide Week" in Turkey, which will be held with the participation and support of the industry under the auspices of DGCA, observed to mark the opening of the "Istanbul Airport" last year, will be held with the theme "Women at the Airport". Details can be reached at www.tcdg.org.tr web site...

So, what do you do to foster the gender balance in the national aviation and aerospace industry?

Do you have any activities organized within the scope of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week?

Let’s talk.

Contact us and let`s raise awareness together…

...to let women, soar!