From the Director’s Desk: Girls in Aviation Day: A Day of Inspiration and Opportunity
September 26, 2024
On September 21, we proudly hosted our fourth annual Girls in Aviation Day, alongside John Deere Aviation and Elliott Aviation. More than 500 people joined us to explore the world of aviation through more than two dozen exhibitors, hands-on flight simulators, drone demonstrations, fire and rescue equipment, and much more. Like many industries, aviation is facing a talent shortage in key roles like pilots, airplane mechanics and air traffic controllers. Events like this are how we aim to inspire the next generation and spark interest in aviation careers.
We were honored to welcome exhibitors from across the region, including Envoy Air, the largest regional operator for American Airlines; Unifi, the ground service provider for Delta and United; members of the Air Force, Marines, and Navy; representatives from the Department of Homeland Security; and our local flight school, Quad Cities Aero. Their dedication to connecting with our local students is what makes this event special.
Our goal is simple: to show youth the endless career possibilities in aviation—opportunities they may never have considered, or thought were out of reach. And it’s not just about those working directly with aircraft. We had representatives from the National Weather Service, aviation engineering experts from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, and professionals from Eaton, a company deeply involved in aerospace manufacturing and power solutions.
There were some incredible highlights this year: a kid-size model plane with working gears from EAA Chapter 410, a drone simulator and demo led by John Deere’s unmanned aviation systems team, a flight simulator provided by the Davenport Civil Air Patrol, and a diverse lineup of aircraft displayed on the ramp.
Because education is the foundation of aviation, I’d also like to give a special shoutout to the students from the University of Dubuque, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Iowa State University. Their participation and stories about pursuing careers in aviation added so much value to the day.
We were also privileged to have Captain Susan Potter as our keynote speaker. Susan, a trailblazer in aviation, has been flying for over 30 years and was John Deere’s first female international captain. She’s been a co-host of this event since its inception in 2021, and we were thrilled to finally have her in the spotlight to share her remarkable journey.
Lastly, a huge thank you to all the exhibitors and volunteers. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment are the heartbeat of this event, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.
If you want to see more of the day’s highlights, head over to our Facebook page @qcairport for photos. And if you’re interested in joining us as an exhibitor next year, don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected].
By the numbers: This year’s event featured 29 exhibitors including 82 representatives, and 20 volunteers. And, thanks to all of you, more than 500 people attended.