The Jet Linx Minneapolis community soared at the recent Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) on Saturday, September 23.

More than 150 events were planned at airports, FBOs, museums, and hangars across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. In addition, a staggering 30,000 young aviators were introduced to careers and lifestyle possibilities in aviation and aerospace through meeting female role models, career panels, exploring airplanes and airports, and various hands-on, fun, and educational activities.

GIAD is an event orchestrated through Women in Aviation International (WAI). Since WAI’s first international Girls in Aviation Day in 2015, the annual WAI event has grown yearly since its first gathering of 32 events with 3,200 participants. In 2022, GIAD reached over 16,000 participants in 19 countries at over 120 events presented worldwide.

In Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the 2023 GIAD event took place at Flying Cloud Airport, home of our Jet Linx Minneapolis Base. The event was organized by the WAI Stars of the North Chapter, and 2,500 visitors explored a variety of 17 aircraft on display and talked to aviation professionals about their inspiring careers. More than 40 exhibitors from airlines, the military, and other aviation organizations were also on hand to share information and opportunities in the industry. Plus, a new informational panel was hosted, providing guidance for parents supporting their child’s aviation dreams.

“The Jet Linx campus accommodates the perfect footprint for young aviators to explore, engage, and interact with a variety of aviation professionals. Minneapolis is well-known for putting on one of the largest events in the country, and we could not do that without help from Jet Linx and all the volunteers. We look forward to many more years of bigger and better events through our partnership with Jet Linx,” said Mina Carlson, Treasurer of the WAI Stars of the North Chapter and GIAD Event Director.

A Discovery Hangar featured hands-on STEM activities to teach aviation concepts in an engaging way. The Rising Stars program also returned this year, providing immersive experiences in aviation for high school girls, with each student receiving a discovery flight at no charge.

With the help of Jet Linx Minneapolis, GIAD 2023 launched attendees towards bright futures in flight. As leaders in the private aviation industry, Jet Linx is always looking for the best and brightest to blaze a new trail for the future of flight.

Interested in a career in aviation? Explore job opportunities with Jet Linx at careers.jetlinx.com.