Event To Be Held At "The Home Of British Aviation"

As part of an aggressive international outreach, Women in Aviation, International, in partnership with two of its British chapters, will host a regional conference on November 5-6, 2010. The regional conference will be held at the Brooklands Museum, the home of British aviation, located in Surrey, just outside London. Brooklands-based aircraft companies such as Bleriot, Hawker, Sopwith, Martinsyde and Vickers were key players in the early years of aviation.

"We couldn't have a better spot for this conference since some 18,600 new aircraft of nearly 250 types were first flown, manufactured or assembled at Brooklands," said Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President of Women in Aviation International. "What's more, Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, the first woman to earn a pilot's license in Britain, earned it there." Brooklands celebrated 100 years of British aviation in 2008.

Two days of events are planned to encompass commercial, military, general and corporate aviation, including the opportunity to sit on an operational British Airways Concorde while former Captain Mike Bannister narrates a virtual flight.

"Our international membership continues to grow," added Chabrian. "Right now, we have 11 international chapters and more than 600 international members in 61 countries."

Speakers for Saturday, November 6 include Dominique Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Quick International Courier; Lt. Col Jennifer Crossman, USAF KC-135 pilot; Captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, record-setting 777 Captain with The Boeing Company and Gabriella Somerville, Managing Director of ConnectJets. Networking and mentoring activities are also planned.

Brooklands Museum has generously donated a live Concorde simulator session for four lucky attendees. The winners will be announced at Friday's opening reception.

Online registration is available. Attendees can purchase an entire conference packet or select individual events and meals. The WAI Regional European Conference is open to WAI members and non-members alike. The conference hotel is the Hilton Cobham in nearby South Cobham.

FMI: www.wai.org