Middle River, Maryland-based GrandView Aviation was pleased to again support Women in Aviation International’s (WAI) annual Girls in Aviation Day event, hosted on 24 September by over 85 WAI chapters and corporate members around the world. Designed to inspire the next generation of women in aviation, dozens of girls and their families came to meet GrandView’s operation control centre personnel, maintenance crews and pilots. They were also invited to tour the jet charter operator’s Sikorsky helicopter and Phenom 300 light jet, participate in hands-on educational activities, have pictures taken in the cockpit and cabin and learn more about exciting career and lifestyle possibilities open to young women in aviation.

“I’m thrilled to have hosted our second Girls in Aviation day to show young girls from around Baltimore all the amazing and fulfilling opportunities available to women in aviation,” says president Jessie Naor. “Today, approximately five per cent of airline pilots in the US are female. Events like these will hopefully inspire tomorrow’s aviators and industry professionals.”

Since WAI's first annual international Girls in Aviation day in 2015, the annual event has grown every year from the first gathering of 32 events and 3,200 participants. In 2019, more than 20,000 attendees participated in 119 events in 18 countries. In 2020, WAI launched the Aviation for Girls app, now used by thousands of girls from nearly 60 countries. Registration for GrandView this year was almost triple what it was in 2021.

The company is also a proud supporter of National Hispanic Heritage month. Each day it shares posts about its phenomenal Hispanic pilots and other team members. Austin, Texas-based pilot in command Marcos Mesa says: "I appreciate the opportunity to work for a company that passionately promotes diversity and inclusion. The values, work ethic and pride instilled by my parents, both born in Brazil, and my grandfather born in Spain, serve me well today."

Scottsdale, Arizona-based pilot in command Yves Dumont, born on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, says: "To me, my Hispanic heritage is the spice of life. It is what influences me day-to-day, providing the passion and drive to get things done."

Baltimore, Maryland-based customer service representative Christian Rodriguez adds: "For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of my culture and a way to inspire an even brighter path for future generations. My grandfather, a pilot in his home country of Honduras, inspired me to pursue a degree in aviation and to become a pilot."

And Nottingham, Maryland-based operations control centre supervisor Allure Garcia concludes: "Grandview's diverse and inclusive culture is amazing. My mantra, inspired by my Puerto Rican and Dominican father, is 'If you do what you love, you won't work a day in your life'. After four months here, I was thrilled to be promoted to OCC Supervisor."

It's been a busy month; on 17 September GrandView Aviation team members participated in its second annual Donate Life Family Fun Run in and around its base. GrandView is a corporate sponsor of non-profit donor organisation Donate Life America and works closely with organ procurement organisation Living Legacy of Maryland to fly transplant teams to help save lives.