Guys Are Invited, Too

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) will present a free Learn to Fly seminar February 15, 2007, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Florida. To be held in conjunction with the 18th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, the seminar is a fun and informative session for anyone who has an interest in learning how to fly.

"The seminar is open to the public, and all prospective pilots -- male and female -- are encouraged to attend," said seminar presenter Julie Boatman, technical editor for AOPA Pilot magazine. "I’ll discuss how to take that first step, what to expect during the flight training process, and my own experiences both as a student and as a flight instructor."

The Learn to Fly seminar is part of AOPA’s Project Pilot program, which encourages anyone with an interest in aviation to give it a try. Aimed at proving that flying is not as complicated or expensive as many people believe, the program’s Web site, www.projectpilot.org, offers resources such as a flight school directory to help prospective pilots take the first step toward a private pilot certificate.

Seminar attendees will learn the truth behind popular myths about flight training. They will also learn how to find a flight school to contact for an introductory lesson, and they will have the opportunity to speak with representatives of more than 150 aviation companies and organizations at the conference who want to share information about how their products and services can be useful during flight training and beyond.

"The International Women in Aviation conference is the ideal venue for women to gather to share information, advice, and motivation," said Peggy Chabrian, president and founder of Women in Aviation, International. "Women who are interested in becoming a part of the aviation industry will find a large network of people eager to help them begin learning how to fly and encourage them to achieve their goals."

The Learn to Fly seminar will be held on Thursday, February 15, 7-8:00 p.m., at Fiesta 5 in Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center, immediately following the Opening Reception. Following the seminar, Boatman and other women pilots and flight instructors will be available for discussion and to answer questions.

The nearly-410,000-member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has represented the interests of general aviation pilots since 1939. General aviation includes all flying except the scheduled airlines and the military. Nearly two-thirds of all U.S. pilots, and three-quarters of the GA pilots, are AOPA members.

With the theme of "Imagining Your Future," participants in the 2007 WAI Conference will be immersed in the tactics and strategies necessary for successful aviation careers. More than 3,000 women and men from all segments of the aviation industry are expected to attend. Women in Aviation, International is a 15,000-member-strong organization made up of women and men who are involved in all aspects of the aviation industry including general, business, commercial and military aviation.

FMI: www.wai.org, www.aopa.org