View source for Women of Aviation Worldwide Week

{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week
|type          = International civil awareness week
|image         = WOAW_WEEK.png
|caption       = Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week logo
|observedby    = Men and women, worldwide
|date        = Week of March 8
|scheduling    = same week each year
| frequency=Annual
|website      = <!-- {{URL|https://www.womenofaviationweek.org|www.WomenOfAviationWeek.org}} -->
|relatedto     = First female pilot licence worldwide anniversary {{!}} [[Raymonde de Laroche]]

}}

'''Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week''' {WOAW} is a global aviation awareness week for girls of all ages observed to mark the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot licence (March 8, 1910). The week is a call to address gender imbalance in the air and space industry. It is not country or group specific

Since March 2010, Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week's activities have been organized in 52 countries on 5 continents. 420,000 women and girls attended the Week's local hands-on activities. 69,768 women and girls experienced their first flight in a small aircraft in response to the Week's Fly It Forward® call to action.

==History==
In January 2010, Mireille Goyer, an airline-rated pilot and aviation educator, launched an international grassroots initiative to celebrate the centennial of the first female pilot license worldwide earned by [[Raymonde de Laroche]] on March 8, 1910.

Her Fly It Forward® call to action encouraged pilots from around the world to introduce record numbers of girls of any age to aviation during, what was then dubbed, "Women Pilots' Week". In 2011, the one-time celebration evolved into the annual "Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week".<ref>[http://www.nbaa.org/news/2011/20110309-women-of-aviation.php NBAA – A Week That Supports Women in Aviation Around the Globe]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110226093723/http://www.aopa.org/training/articles/2011/110223women_in_aviation_week.html AOPA – Opening Skies to Women]</ref><ref>[http://www.arlingtontimes.com/business/117429863.html The Arlington Times – Arlington Airport aims to grow the ranks of 'Women Of Aviation' March 10 & 11]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130309154253/http://www.afdw.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123247015 Air Force District of Washington – Joint Base Andrew's Women 'Fly it Forward' during Women of Aviation Worldwide Week]</ref>

By addressing the female population's lack of exposure to aviation activities, Goyer's Fly It Forward® initiative aims to fulfill the dream of the pioneering women pilots of 1910, namely to see women participate in all aspects of aviation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111016093625/http://www.aopa.org/newsroom/newsitems/releases/2011/11-S-008.html AOPA – Creator of International Women's Aviation Event Honored]</ref><ref>[http://www.wingsmagazine.com/content/view/7292/132/ Wings Magazine – Aviation pioneer Mireille Goyer wins multiple awards]</ref>

On September 10, 2012, Mireille Goyer founded the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW), a not-for-profit global industry alliance. It organizes The Week's various contests and tracks The Week's activities in addition to managing other initiatives that facilitate women's integration in the industry around the year. Led by a gender-balanced, all-volunteer, Board of Directors, iWOAW's mission is to foster gender balance in the air and space industry through outreach, education, and advocacy.<ref>[http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_WomenOfAviationWorldwideWeek_MireilleGoyer_207518-1.html AvWeb – Women get organized]</ref>

==Activities and observances==

Female-centric activities take place at [[airports]] and [[aerodromes]] around the world as well as in museums and aerospace businesses. Special commemoration flights are often conducted.<ref>[http://www.ktvq.com/videoplayer/?video_id=5563&categories=9 Q2KTVQ – Women’s Aviation Week touches down in Billings]</ref><ref>[http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_627c761a-bfa5-5434-9630-c413df990f66.html Billings Gazette – Women, girls get up-close look at aviation]</ref><ref>[http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/feb27_12gfly.html Northern News – Girls Fly Too]</ref><ref>[http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/Pilots-Fly-It-Forward-at-Gowen-Field-142207315.html KTVB – Pilots 'Fly It Forward' at Gowen Field]</ref>

iWOAW organizes multiple challenges and contests during the week. The best known challenge, Fly It Forward®, rewards top performers with awards including "Most Female Friendly Airport Worldwide", "Most Female Friendly Community Worldwide", "Most Female Friendly Corporation Worldwide", "Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide", and "Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide".<ref>[http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Frederick_Tops_Female_Flight_Drive_204452-1.html AvWeb – Frederick Tops Female Flight Drive]</ref><ref>[http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_Yellowknife_MireilleGoyer_WomenOfAviationWorldwideWeek_206493-1.html AvWeb – Female-pilot-friendly Yellowknife]</ref>

==Theme==
Each year, a theme based on a global historical female breakthrough in the air and space industry highlights a specific sector of the industry.<ref>[http://canadianaviator.com/female-helicopter-pilots-celebrated/ Female helicopter pilots celebrated]</ref><ref>[http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/headcorn_airfield_to_celebrate_100_years_of_women_pilots_1_1221919 Headcorn airfield to celebrate 100 years of women pilots]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw1uA8nZ5Mo ITV – Harriet Quimby's Flight Anniversary]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGm4VMjLg5o BBC – Caroline Feraday reports on the centennial of Harriet Quimby’s flight]</ref>

'''List of themes (2010-2018)'''
* '''2010''' – 100 years of licensed female pilots (world’s first female pilot license – [[Raymonde de Laroche]], France)
* '''2011''' – 100 years of female air racers (world first women to enter an air race – [[Hélène Dutrieu]], Belgium
* '''2012''' – 100 years of female seaplane pilots (world’s first seaplane pilot – [[Hélène Dutrieu]], Belgium)
* '''2013''' – 50 years of women in space (world's first female astronaut – [[Valentina Tereshkova]], Russia)
* '''2014''' – 100 years of female aerobatic pilots (world's first female aerobatic pilot – [[Lydia Zvereva]], Russia)
* '''2015''' – 100 years of female pilots in combat (world's first woman to fly in combat – [[Marie Marvingt]], France)
* '''2016''' – 60 years of female bush pilots (world's first female bush pilot – [[Ada Rogato]], Brazil)
* '''2017''' – 80 years of female helicopter pilots (world's first female helicopter pilot – [[Hanna Reitsch]], Germany)
* '''2018''' - 65 years of supersonic women (world's first woman to fly at the speed of sound - [[Jacqueline Cochran]], USA)

==List of Fly It Forward® Award Winners==
{| class="wikitable centre" width="100%" cellpadding="5"
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" width="12%" colspan="2" align="center"|
'''Year'''
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" width="22%" align="center"|
'''Most Female Pilot Friendly<br/>Airport Worldwide'''
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" width="22%" align="center"|
'''Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide'''
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" width="22%" align="center"|
'''Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide'''
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2010'''<ref>[http://centennialofwomenpilots.com/participants_march2010/ 2010 Participants]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Oshawa, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Amanda Sargent, [[Renton, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Andrei Floroiu, [[New York, NY]] {{flag|United States}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Renton, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Allie Dunnington, [[Bristol]] {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Peter Morton, [[Renton, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Kpong Field]] {{flag|Ghana}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Lesley Page, [[Oshawa, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dick Smith, [[Renton, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2011'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/blog/2011-women-of-aviation-worldwide-week-winners-are-announced/article-2110/ 2011 Winners Announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Frederick, MD]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Port Lavaca, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Leith Barnhill, [[Arlington, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Arlington, WA]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Lin Caywood, [[Frederick, MD]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Doug Raine, [[Oshawa, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Port Lavaca, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Lesley Page, [[Oshawa, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Hubert Wren, [[Peterborough, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2012'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/blog/more-than-1100-girls-and-women-take-flight-for-the-first-time-during-the-2012-woaw-week/article-3408/ 2012 Winners Announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
[[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Kirsten Brazier, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Derrick Robinson, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Frederick, MD]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Megan Tyler, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Robert Ferlisi, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Peterborough, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Lesley Page, [[Oshawa, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Hubert Wren, [[Peterborough, ON]] {{flag|Canada}} <br/> Ron Haslam [[Peterborough, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2013'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/blog/established-aviation-records-fall-during-the-3rd-annual-women-of-aviation-worldwide-week/article-5149/ 2013 Winners Announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
St Andrews, [[Winnipeg, MB]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Kirsten Brazier, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Frank Roberts, St Andrews, [[Winnipeg, MB]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Yellowknife, NT]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Megan Tyler, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Geoff Furniss, [[Yellowknife, NT]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Waterloo, ON]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Victoria, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Glen Sibbeston, [[Yellowknife, NT]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2014'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/blog/fly-forward-2014-26000-attend-5703-take-flight-first-time/article-6592/ 2014 Winners Announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
[[Langley, British Columbia (city)|Langley, BC]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Olivia, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Frank Walcher, [[Parksville, BC]], {{flag|Canada}} | Tom Keane, [[Victoria, TX]], {{flag|United States}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Victoria, TX]], {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Diana Jemson, [[Strathalbyn, SA]] {{flag|Australia}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
George Tecklenborg, [[Abbotsford, BC]] {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Marguerite Varin, [[Lachute, QC]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Euan Harrison, [[Caloundra, QLD]], {{flag|Australia}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2015'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/blog/fly-forward-2014-26000-attend-5703-take-flight-first-time/article-6592/ 2015 Winners Announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
[[Albuquerque, NM]], {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Olivia, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Luc Bougie, [[Mascouche, QC]], {{flag|Canada}} | Matt Norgrove, [[Bathurst, NSW]], {{flag|Australia}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Ramona Cox, [[Torrance, CA]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
David Carroll | Gary Penglis [[Bathurst, NSW]], {{flag|Australia}} 
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Saint Andrews, MB]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Diana Jemson, [[Strathalbyn, SA]] {{flag|Australia}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Bryan Clements | Chris Stott | Nick Wills [[Bathurst, NSW]], {{flag|Australia}} 
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2016'''<ref>[http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/44000-gathered-in-120-venues-on-4-continents-during-woaw-week-2016/ 2016 winners announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
[[Edinburg, TX]], {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Olivia, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Yves Barbeau, [[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Yasmina Platt, [[Houston, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Hubert Wren, [[Peterborough, ON]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Peterborough, ON]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Ingrid Kutzner, [[Peterborough, ON]] {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Ron Haslam, [[Peterborough, ON]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| bgcolor="#f1f1f1" rowspan="4"|
'''2017'''<ref>[https://www.womenofaviationweek.org/about/fly-it-forward-hall-of-fame/ 2017 Winners announced]</ref>
|-
| |
Winner
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" |
[[Albuquerque, NM]], {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Dianna Stanger, [[Olivia, TX]] {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Sylvain Cantan, [[Bozas, Ardèche]], {{flag|France}}
|-
| |
First Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Bobbie Lind, [[Albuquerque, NM]], {{flag|United States}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Yves Barbeau, [[Lachute, QC]], {{flag|Canada}}
|-
| |
Second Finalist
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
[[Brampton, ON]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Susan Larson, [[Albuquerque, NM]], {{flag|Canada}}
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center"|
Bernard Chirol, [[Étables, Ardèche]], {{flag|France}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/ Women of Aviation Worldwide Week website]
* [http://www.iwoaw.org/ Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide Week website]

[[Category:Women aviators|*]]
[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:Awareness weeks]]