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    NBAA Las Vegas

  • Record Scholarships to be Awarded
    Women in Corporate Aviation 2011 NBAA Scholarships

     Women in Corporate Aviation, International (WCA) is pleased to announce the scholarships to be presented at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention, October 10 – 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV. Thanks to all of the donors and sponsors for making this possible!

    Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) Career Scholarship (2 scholarships/$2,000 each)
    Bettina Edelstein
    Melinda Benson

    The Women in Corporate Aviation Career Scholarship is offered by the members and sponsors of Women in Corporate Aviation to any person pursuing professional development or career advancement in any job classification of corporate/business aviation. The award must be used toward a specific program of education. Suggested uses include (but are not limited to): Flight training, dispatcher training, maintenance training, corporate flight attendant training, and upgrades in aviation education. The award cannot be used for general business course work. Scholarship will not be awarded to previous winners of Women in Corporate Aviation scholarships.

    WCA Aviation Management Scholarship ($2,000)
    Rilla Epling

    The WCA Aviation Management Scholarship Award is offered to assist individuals currently in the Corporate Aviation Industry with the costs of professional development toward careers in aviation management. The award may be used for the following: 1) NBAA Certified Aviation Manager Certification, 2) NBAA leadership conference, 3) NBAA PDP courses including SDPD, and others such as, Aviation Safety and Security training courses (USC Viterbi programs), or Aviation Management Certificate programs (ERAU). Sponsored by: The WCA Membership, Rolls-Royce, N.A., and The Home Depot. Funds may cover program fees and examination fees (upon successful completion). Maximum one award per person per year. Maximum value up to $5,000 (may be less depending on course selected).

    Susan C. Friedenberg Corporate Flight Attendant & Consulting Scholarship ($3,800)
    Sheila Walter

    The Susan C. Friedenberg Corporate Flight Attendant & Consulting Scholarship is a four-day business aviation flight attendant training program. You will learn how to approach contract flying, how to interview for contractual and full time positions, how to manage yourself as a contract/freelance flight attendant, and specific marketing techniques as well as catering information, food safety, International trip planning for remote global travel on our long range aircraft including how to gather information needed for menu planning, catering, ordering, and the intricacies that catering presents for International trip planning.

    FACTS Training - Initial or Recurrent Training ($4,765)
    Jan Arquilla

    FACTS Emergency Procedures Training (1 award) – http://www.factstraining.com This five-day initial or two-day recurrent emergency procedures training for business aviation crewmembers is available at any of 50-plus FACTS Training programs throughout the United States. The initial training is divided into two-day indoctrination/galley safety and service training and three-day FACTS initial emergency procedures training. All training meets FAR Part 135 requirements, industry best practices, and IS-BAO standards. Recipient must be 21 years of age. No prior aviation experience is necessary. Initial training is a full packaged deal which includes 2 days of Indoctrination/Inflight Service Training followed by three days of intensive emergency procedures training.

    Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Dispatcher License Training. ($3,495)
    Pamela Svrdlin

    One FAA-approved aircraft dispatcher training and certification course, offered online with 2-weeks of physical classroom time and FAA examination in Houston, TX. Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. – http://www.universalweather.com/education. Students must be a US Citizen, read, write, speak and understand English, have a high school diploma or GED, and have a government-issued identification showing they are at least 21 years old (students must be at least 23 years old to take the practical portion of the FAA certification exam.) Students must also have access to a PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Award recipient will need to cover all lodging and meals. Universal Dispatch scholarship includes program fee, FAA written exam, and FAA practical exam.

    FlightSafety International Flight Attendant Initial Course
    Lidia Anka

    FlightSafety International’s five-day Flight Attendant Initial is an interactive, scenario based training program that will prepare you for a career in corporate aviation. It will help you reach your full potential as a trained cabin professional, confidently providing safe and pleasant cabin experiences for the passengers. The course reviews scenario drills, fire fighting, sea survival, food preparation, food plating, garnishing, serving and safe food handling. The course meets FAA Part 135 requirements and meets minimum recommendations for ICAO and IS-BAO certification.

    MedAire - MedAire 2-day Management of In-flight & Illness Course Scholarship
    Sarah Dabrowski

    The MedAire training class provides an aviation-focused course that covers altitude physiology, first aid, CPR certification, defibrillator training, blood borne pathogens and much more. Classes are held at various locations including FlightSafety, SimuFlite, MedAire and other special located facilities throughout the world. Our schedule can be found on-line at http://www.medaire.com/training.asp

    Beyond & Above Corporate Flight Attendant Initial Training Scholarship (4 scholarships/$3,300 each)
    Sharon Rose Arroyo-Gulino
    Don Jackson
    Valerie O'Grady
    Christina Carrillo

    Beyond & Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training was founded in 2001 by Mary Louise Gallagher, a former commercial and corporate flight attendant, to train corporate flight attendants to be the best in the industry. Beyond & Above provides an efficient recruitment device for corporate employers looking for trained flight professionals as well as job finding assistance for graduates. Beyond & Above offers initial flight attendant training, online recurrent emergency training, and in-house corporate training in flight attendant procedures and business protocol. All graduates of Beyond & Above are in compliance with emergency procedures and policies for Part 91, 125, and 135 operations as outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration. With Beyond & Above, the sky isn’t the limit; it’s where you belong! See our graduates and read their stories on our website and facebook. Website: www.beyondandabove.net

    Aviation Safety, Crisis and Emergency Response Training (ASCERT™) Scholarship ($4,000)

    This award is presented to a woman pilot currently working in a corporate/business aviation flight operation and includes her entire flight department! ASCERT is a busy, fast moving days’ worth of information and practicum. ASCERT will go to your place of business and offer a one day training program on CRM and Human Factors for corporate operations. This training meets the requirements for FAR 135.330, 91, 91K and IS-BAO Sec. 5.2.

    NASTAR Two Day Upset Prevention Recovery Training (UPRT) Scholarship

    NASTAR is a premier commercial aerospace training research center focusing on the importance of UPRT. The training provides pilots with the latest industry knowledge, techniques, and simulated upset flight experiences on the newest flight simulation technology, the GL-4000. The highlight of each training session is the opportunity for pilots to test fly and evaluate the GYROLAB 4000 simulator. It is a revolutionary device that enables pilots to experience real world upset scenarios, with full g-forces in extreme unusual attitudes, while in a safe controlled environment. The simulator is a high performance centrifuge based motion system. Thus, it delivers realistic and dynamic flight environments. Corporate Air Parts

    As a leading provider to the world-wide business aviation community, CAP is committed to delivering fair and competitively priced products and services with constant and consistent world-class customer service. This is accomplished through a daily commitment of building dynamic and enduring partnerships with our clients and fellow employees and associates, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, service and innovation. One for FAR 135.331 Emergency Crewmember training (a $475 value). One Cabin Service Training class (a $595 value).

    Thank you for helping to support and promote Women in Corporate Aviation! Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization and the premier mentoring association for professionals in corporate and business aviation. WCA provides networking, mentoring, scholarships, and education for current and future corporate/business aviation professionals.

    WCA is open for individual and corporate membership. For more information, visit our website at http://www.wca-intl.org or contact our WCA Headquarters at 4450 Nicholas Lane, Southaven, MS 38672 or email WCAHQ@cs.com.

  • Women Leading Regional Groups Point to Industry Involvement
    In business aviation, women serve in every role of the flight department, and are increasingly becoming industry leaders. Developing women leaders is the mission of Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA), a network of women and men started nearly 18 years ago.

    Read the full article at http://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/regional/20110607-women-leading-regional-groups.php




News and Press Releases


  • Master Instructors LLC takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Michelle Bassanesi, the founder of Aviation and Women in Europe and a resident Rome, Italy. Recently, Michelle was accredited as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) by the Master Instructors LLC Board of Review, the international accrediting authority for the Master Instructor designation as well as the FAA-approved "Master Instructor Programä."
    To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 93,000 FAA certificated CFIs around the world. Fewer than 700 of them have achieved that distinction thus far. The last 16 national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs while Michelle is one of only 8 international teachers of flight to earn this prestigious "Master" title.
    In the words of former FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, "The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer."
    The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA. Candidates must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community, and must pass a rigorous evaluation by a peer Board of Review. The process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Designees are recognized as outstanding aviation educators for not only their excellence in teaching, but for their engagement in the continuous process of learning -- both their own, and their students'. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses the FAA requirements for renewal of the candidate's flight instructor certificate.
    Feel free to disseminate this information widely. Questions regarding the Master Instructor Program may be directed to 303-485-8136 or MasterInstrs@aol.com To learn more about the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.US/ For more information about the Master Instructor Program and to locate other Masters, please visit the "Find a Master Instructor" section of www.MasterInstructors.org


  • Kajuju Laiboni has been named as the recipient of this year's Women in Corporate Aviation International Career Scholarship. In addition to a $1000.00 (USD) scholarship, Kajuju also received conference and travel expenses to Geneva where the award was presented at EBACE on Wednesday. A native of Africa, Kajuju has seen and experienced first hand this continent’s potential for continued development, especially in the aviation sector, where her personal passion lies. Having seen this potential, even in herself, she has made it her personal endeavor to engage young women and the youth of the African culture in this growing industry. Through mentorship and aviation conferences, Kajuju has been fueled with a passion to enable and motivate others. She is using these experiences as a tool to provide guidance and encouragement to the potential young aviators and people of her country. Her passion has founded the mentorship organization Women Aviators in Africa (WAFRIC). Kajuju has successfully used this as a venue to participate in aviation clubs, public schools, and sector panels to promote aviation in Africa. Kajuju is currently converting her Commercial pilots license (CPL) (JAA) to a Kenyan CPL and is working on her Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. She is also a board member and volunteers for Woman and Youth in African Development, a member of Women in Aviation International (WAI) and WAI Europe, as well as Sweden’s Engineers. Her long-term goals are to own a Kenyan charter company that will employ those whom she has mentored and to open an aviation library. The purpose of the International Career scholarship is to provide financial assistance for a man or woman (non-US based) who is pursuing a career in business or corporate aviation. Additional information on other scholarships offered through Women in Corporate Aviation may be found at the WCA website www.wca-intl.org BlueSkynews.aero www.blueskynews.aero

    • Media Coverage of WCA


    List of articles featuring WCA and its corporate sponsors

    Women in Aviation: Women in Corporate Aviation present Scholarship at EBACE. Women in Aviation Blog http://waishowdaily.blogspot.com

    Women in Aviation: Women in Corporate Aviation Link Up at EBACE. Women in Aviation Blog http://waishowdaily.blogspot.com

    Aviation Week EBACE 2010 Special Report: Women in Corporate Aviation President Liz Clark presented Kajuju Laboni, of Nairobi, Kenya, with a $1,000 scholarship for additional flight training during the Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) annual Networking Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, today..

    Michelle Wade and Dillon Strohm of the aviation law firm Jackson & Wade, L.L.C. had the article Trusts, Estate Planning and the Family Jet published in the Fall 2009 issue of Law Trends & News, a newsletter published by a division of the American Bar Association. Michelle serves as counsel for Women in Corporate Aviation. The article can be found on the firm website at: www.jetlaw.com.

    Jet Costs Under Control, an article written by Michelle Wade who serves as counsel for WCA and Dillon Strohm, both of the aviation law firm Jackson & Wade, L.L.C. was published in the Spring 2009-76th Edition of the Family Office Exchange Newsletter. The article can be found on the firm website at: www.jetlaw.com.

    Look! Up in the Sky! It's Captain Mom!, Aviation for Women, November/December 2004. Jenny Beatty's article features several professional pilot mothers including WCA Scholarship Chairperson Wendy Paver.

    Women in Corporate Aviation, sidebar to the Women in Aviation International Conference 2003 article, Aviation International News, June 2003, page 50. Jane Hogan's articles include coverage of the WCA panel and business meeting.

    Flying Corporate: Wisdom from a Pro, Woman Pilot, July/August 2002. Highlighting WCA Past President Katha House.

    Minnesota Girl Makes Good at Women in Aviation Conference, Flyer, April 13, 2001. Meg Godlewski's article highlights Professional Publications Award winner Heather McNevin.

    Flying Corporate, Woman Pilot, July/August 1999. Highlighting WCA Past President Liz Clark

    Pilots, AOPA Pilot, June 1999. Mark Huber's column highlights WCA Historian Darcy Eggeman.

    Ava Sumpter, Making One's Own Good Fortune, Aviation for Women, November/December 1998. Highlighting WCA Public Relations Chairperson Ava Sumpter.

    Pilots Enjoy Small Corporate Environment, Flying Careers, October 1997. Highlighting corporate sponsor Mississippi Chemical Corporation and WCA President Liz Clark.

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