On Saturday 14 May, Melbourne Heli at Essendon Fields played the proud venue partner for a Melbourne event celebrating international Girls in Aviation Day.

Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) is celebrated around the world, encouraging girls aged 8 to 17 to explore exciting careers which are available within the aviation and aerospace industry in both Australia and overseas. A diverse range of professions are introduced to attendees in an interactive and informative way, including engineers, aircraft maintenance, technicians, pilots, operational staff and air traffic controllers.

The event, organised by Women In Aviation (WAI) Australian Chapter, was held inside Melbourne Heli’s tenancy at Hangar 7 on Wirraway Road, Essendon Fields. Between 9am and 2.30pm, girls were able to speak to female role models or career counsellors about aviation focused career options, experience aircraft and the equipment that keeps them running, and receive a GIAD kit filled with information and activities. Unique to this year’s event was the real aviation hangar environment and the opportunity to get so close to aircraft – something a lot of the attendees would have likely never done before!

“With 40% of our current workforce being women, it’s not surprising that Melbourne Heli is in favour of recruiting women and further supporting their success in the industry,” said Chris Wakefield, Chief Pilot of Melbourne Helicopters.

“We have our own maternity leave policy, and one of our Flight Instructors, Alex Thorsen, has just welcomed a little baby girl. Perhaps a future Chief Pilot!” said Chris.

When WAI Australia first approached Melbourne Heli to host this event, their response was immediate.

“We are always looking for opportunities to encourage more women into aviation. Our flight training of course has always worked well, as has participation in air shows such as Avalon in 2019 and Tyabb in 2020, and events such as the Lilydale Women in Aviation Day, the recent EF100 Open Day and the MVCC Women in Business Luncheon. This just felt like an event we had to be a part of,’’ said Chris.

GM Aviation at Essendon Fields, Colin Fort, is proud to see our tenants encouraging and supporting the future female leaders in Australia’s aviation industry.

“The aviation industry is very diverse with exciting opportunities and always progressing. From pilots flying the aircraft, air traffic controllers keeping them safe to the aircraft ground maintenance team and ramp staff, please don’t think that you can’t do it, because you can,” Mr Fort said.

For more information on flight training, or entering the helicopter industry with Melbourne Heli, please click here.

Event imagery supplied by WAI Australian Chapter.