SNOHOMISH — Harvey Airfield is kicking off a world-wide effort aimed at getting girls involved aviation.
The Washington State Chapter of Women in Aviation International has lined up people in different aeronautics jobs, including airport managers, pilots, engineers, and those involved in aircraft manufacturing, to talk to 15 girls in Snohomish on Saturday.
The girls, ages 13 to 20, also will get to see all of the different businesses operating at Harvey Field.
“Kids need to see all of the possibilities,” said Rebecca Burghy, president of the state Women in Aviation chapter. “Even in today’s world, you still get that ‘you’re a girl, why do you want to do that’ attitude.”
Burghy helps match girls with mentors and provides them the support they need to pursue careers in aviation. The industry is not easy to get into because the training is expensive and time consuming. Women in Aviation, a nonprofit, provides scholarships to help cover the costs.
“You have to choose carefully if you want a flying career,” Burghy said. “But there are a lot of roles to be had in aviation. It’s not just flying.”
Burghy, 49, started flying at 13. She now works for Boeing in Everett, helping airlines customize the interior of aircraft. She has a commercial pilot’s license and occasionally works as a flight instructor primarily out of Paine Field.
Harvey Field owner Kandace Harvey, 68, also started flying as a teenager. She now runs the airfield as its chief executive and is a private pilot.
Harvey and Burghy want to show girls the opportunities that exist for women in aviation.
“I am up for doing anything I possibly can to keep their dreams alive, encourage them to realize their goals, and to support, nurture and mentor young women and girls along the way,” Harvey wrote in an email.
The event in Snohomish comes one week ahead of Girls in Aviation Day. On Sept. 26, more than 35 chapters of Women in Aviation from across the U.S. and several groups from other countries, such as Cameroon, Switzerland and China, have similar events planned.
“We’re honored to be the ones to host it for the state of Washington,” Harvey Field Airport Manager Cynthia Hendrickson said.
Burghy is organizing another event that will be open to the public this fall. She believes there’s more interest in aviation because of the increased focus on getting children involved in science, math, technology and engineering early on.
“We’re really popular right now,” Burghy said. “The kids and parents are so excited they can hardly stand it.”
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports
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