Story ID: 
WAI Kicks Off Virtual Conference
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: WAI is bringing same conference content of its in-person event virtually with more than 100 exhibitors, 30 educational sessions, and scholarships.
Word Count: 450
Women In Aviation International’s 32nd annual conference kicked off on Thursday virtually with 30 education sessions that will be released over the two-day event; general sessions highlighting speakers from Boeing, NASA, and the United Arab Emirates, among others; and at least 105 exhibitors.

While deciding against the originally planned in-person event that was to have been held in Reno, WAI2021 will still hand out hundreds of thousands in scholarships over its two days. The 2020 edition of WAI culminated in more than 150 scholarships valued at about $830,000.

Boeing began the scholarship announcements during the Thursday general sessions, handing over nine for manufacturing skills, career enhancement, and other training.

Kristin Robertson, v-p and general manager of Boeing’s Autonomous Systems division, opened Thursday’s general session as a keynote speaker, relaying the “enormous opportunity in front of us” regarding autonomous systems and how technology has become far more sophisticated since the beginnings of the basic remote piloted systems. Technologies such as artificial intelligence will bring the scale necessary for autonomy, Roberston said.

She also stressed that this field needs a diverse workforce, noting that the number of women involved remains small. “The challenge is for us to really change the numbers and change the course,” something that can be accomplished through outreach and advocacy. But Robertson said she is “very encouraged. The future is very, very bright.” She pointed to the recent flight of a KC-46A that involved an all-women crew for the first time.

Aysha Alhameli, the first female pilot in the United Arab Emirates and a UAE representative to the ICAO Council, expressed concern about the toll the pandemic is taking on the women pilot populations with last-in, first-out furlough and layoff policies. But she said this year also offers an opportunity for a “reset” and stressed that inclusivity is no longer optional.

Astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams, meanwhile gave an overview of her career path and how others could follow.

During a Student Connect Forum planned for late afternoon, Becky Lutte, professor and researcher at the University of Nebraska Omaha and a member of the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board, will provide a snapshot of trends in student enrollments in collegiate aviation programs, including that women represent anywhere from 8 percent to 25 percent of the students. This is above the current representation of 5 percent of female airline pilots and 2.5 percent of maintenance technicians.

Numerous other sessions are on the schedule from Coffee Connects to a lunch hour with the U.S. Coast Guard’s five female African American pilots. Capping off the conference on Saturday will be a Girls in Aviation Day event.