Under perfect skies for flying, The Sky’s No Limit: Girls Fly Too event was celebrated with many world’s best awards at the Canadian Museum of Flight on Friday, April 11.
“Thank you to every pilot and volunteer who made Kirsten’s dream possible and thanks to all the women and girls who came out that weekend to try something more than normal,” said Women in Aviation World Wide chair Mireille Goyer on Friday.
The event was organized by Langley pilot Kirsten Brazier.
The Girls Fly Too event drew more than 6,000 people to the airport on March 8 and 9 to celebrate women in aviation.
A total of 1,310 girls and women of all ages experienced the magic of their first flight in a small aircraft. Five helicopters and five small planes from the Fraser Blues Formation Demonstration Team provided the introductory flight experience free of charge. A total of 240 volunteers made the huge event such a success, said Brazier.
Goyer pointed out that out of the 60,000 pilots in Canada, only 4,000 are women.
“It’s easy to see how it is thought of as a male activity,” she said.
The Girls Fly Too event won the Global Aviation title for introducing the most girls and women to aviation during Women of Aviation Worldwide Week.
Langley Regional Airport won the world title as most female friendly airport and two local pilots won international recognition: Frank Walcher, as co-winner of 2014 ‘Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide’ and George Tecklenborg, as First Runner Up for that title for flying the most girls and women in a two-day span.
Walcher tied for most flights with another pilot in Texas.
The ceremony was emceed by Langley MLA Mary Polak, with many other dignitaries there, including both Langley mayors as well as dozens of volunteers, including several pilots.