By ANN Correspondents Aleta Vinas and Rose Dorcey

For a change, females constituted the majority at an aviation function during the 16th Annual Women in Aviation International conference in Dallas (TX). ANN spoke to some of the attendees to discover if they had mentors helping them. We also asked whether the path was easier now to get into aviation than say, 20 years ago. Here are some of the answers we received.

Cathy Fraser, Pilot for Air Canada for 16 years: "There are more possibilities and opportunities for women in aviation now. I have been very fortunate; I have not encountered any obstacles along the way. The number of people who are here to offer jobs and network is just awesome. I'm enjoying an excellent show."

Denise Egglestone, 27-year Air Canada veteran, currently a dispatcher: "What I find now is there's more opportunities because there's more women out there doing what we're doing today."

Dawn Wells, B1900 pilot for Air Canada Air Alliance (who says Cathy and Denise were her mentors and paved the way for her): "My stream through here was quite a bit easier than they ever had it. I think there are still some obstacles, but if you have the proper qualifications you should be fine. In the last couple of years since 9-11 I think there's been not a gender set back but a generic set back because of world events. I think everybody is struggling at the same time so if you're looking for anything that's impeding us it's economics."

Lisa Graham, Pilot for Air Canada Jazz-- a five year veteran: "Definitely easier than the pioneers who broke into the field. I don't think we're prevented from having the job but maybe the perception is that we have the job because we're female, where we're not really being recognized for our skills and knowledge. More surprise comes from the passengers."

Lora Yowell, Flight Instructor Brampton Flying Club Toronto Canada: "As long as you have the right attitude and you're a team player and you're well qualified, you'll get along well. It's definitely better now for females."

These five ladies all met at the Toronto Chapter of Women in Aviation and they are working hard to promote aviation for women in Canada. They will be having a conference in Ottawa Ontario June 2-4 2005. The guys are welcome too.

Genevieve Kelly (above), private helicopter rating working on commercial-instrument, wants to work in emergency medical services. "There are still some stumbling blocks. I think it also has to do with the fact that I'm young. In the industry itself people doubt me. Now I've been rated so I feel a lot more confident. I put in so much work; I am where I am because I deserve it. Most of my inspiration came from my private instructor Stephanie Scuderi. She was really good about helping me through. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Women in Aviation International. I got a scholarship to come here."

Adrienne Bajaj Mechanical Engineer Turbine Design Pratt & Whitney Canada: "From my experience, it's been excellent. There's lots of opportunities available for female engineers. I certainly don't feel any sense of being alone in the workplace. There's lots of women that work at Pratt in engineering types of positions. I think the opportunities are plentiful and I really am hoping that young women who are in high school and thinking about university consider a career in the sciences, it's really rewarding. I certainly had people who encouraged me when I was feeling that it may be a bit tough or when I was having some issues learning the technical stuff. I always had people who supported me, both men and women actually."

Carmen Alecu Design Engineer and Design Chief of the external nacelle EBU (engine build-up unit) systems installation Pratt & Whitney Canada: "I think people are supportive but I still find that you have to prove yourself a few times more than a male in a similar position to be taken seriously. Nowadays it's a lot easier than it was in the past because the companies really encourage women to work in this field but I find it very competitive and quite aggressive type of environment. I love it though because I have a competitive nature. My former manager, Brian Dneire was very supportive and he actually recommended me to be promoted into my current position. I would like to encourage the ladies to step up to the task to fight for their dreams because they have great opportunities nowadays to realize their dreams in aviation."

Ruth Maestre, Air Traffic Controller for 21 years currently at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport: "It's much easier for females to get into aviation and especially into air traffic control. I've seen a huge rise in the percentage of women since I first got in, when it was about two-percent to now, it's almost 20-percent. In the early part of my career it was not as friendly an environment as it is now. I think the FAA has worked very, very hard to make it a friendlier environment. The women coming in today are not facing near the kind of challenges and obstacles that the women that came in early did. If you're interested in ATC I advise everybody to actually go to a facility and see if you can job-shadow for a day. Sit and actually talk to the controllers, listen to what they're doing and get a really good feel for it. You can call and make arrangements depending on where the facility is."

Aviation author Ann Cooper (above) said that the "sky is no limit" and that the opportunities are "immeasurable" for women in aviation today. "Young women come here to find opportunities and they pursue them," she said. "It's wonderful to see how the next generation, our sons and grandsons, are much more willing to support their wives and help with household duties as opposed to years ago."

Bravo, Ann.

FMI: http://www.wai.org