Join us for a sweet gesture of appreciation! We will be delivering freshly baked cookies to air traffic control towers across the San Diego area, recognizing the hard work and dedication of the professionals who keep our skies safe. It's a fun and heartfelt way to say 'thank you' to the incredible individuals who make aviation possible!

Please RSVP here and bring 1-2 dozen cookies! :) *Must be a WAI San Diego chapter member to attend

🚀 2025 Women in Aviation Kickoff Event! 🌟

We’re excited to announce the Women in Aviation 2025 Kickoff Event — a celebration of new beginnings, growth, and community! Join us as we unveil our dynamic new board members, committees, and events for the year ahead. It’s going to be a fantastic year filled with opportunities for networking, mentorship, and growth within the aviation industry.

📅 Date: January 30th
⏰ Time: 6:00-8:30pm
📍 Location: Casa Machado, Montgomery Airport (Mexican restaurant with amazing food!)

This is a great opportunity to meet the passionate women and allies who are shaping the future of aviation, share ideas, and learn about all the exciting events we have planned for 2025. Friends and family are welcome—come one, come all!

🎟️ Donation: $40 per person (includes Mexican buffet) - Note: Kids under 10 can order from the kids menu to be paid for by their responsible adult
Proceeds will support Women in Aviation programs and initiatives.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and launch a year of aviation excellence!

Please RSVP by clicking below!

🎬 Join us for a fun-filled, festive evening of aviation camaraderie, holiday cheer, and cozy vibes! 🎄

It’s time to gather for a laid-back night of movies, treats, and connection! Come dressed in your comfiest PJs or your most outrageous ugly sweater and get ready for a fun night. Whether you're a seasoned pilot, an aviation enthusiast, or just looking to get involved, this is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season and the amazing women who make aviation soar.

🍪 Cookie Exchange & Snacks: Bring 2 dozen of your favorite holiday cookies to share. Not a baker? No worries! You can bring your go-to movie snack to share with the group!

🎁 Festive Fun: Enjoy a cozy atmosphere with holiday-themed movies, games, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends, swap aviation stories, and relax with your fellow aviation ladies

💲 $10 Donation: We’re keeping it affordable with a $10 donation to help support future Women in Aviation events and initiatives. This donation will include popcorn and hot cocoa!

🍕 There will be pizza for sale by the slice!

💺 Please bring your own chair, bean bag, or blanket to sit on

This is the perfect chance to unwind, enjoy some holiday fun, and be part of an inspiring community of women who love aviation. Space is limited, so don’t miss out!

Date: Wednesday, December 18th
Time: 5pm, movie screening beginning at 5:30pm!
Location: ShowTec Hangar #113 - 1870 Joe Crosson Dr. El Cajon, CA 92020 - use the walk through gate for entry

Come for the cookies, stay for the memories! 🍪🎬🎄

Louise has flown more than 100 kinds of helicopters and airplanes into more than 50 countries. Starting at the age of three, she was obsessed with flying. She didn’t realize that women could be pilots until she was fifteen years old and started taking lessons. She soloed at age sixteen.

Louise preferred helicopters, but she couldn’t afford to fly them in her younger years. Her love affair with radial engines and warbirds expanded as she was hired to fly DC-3s as her first multi-engine job. She worked with mechanics in her free time and earned her A&P mechanic license through work experience.

She was hired to fly aerial firefighting in summers, dropping retardant on forest fires. She worked as a mechanic in winters. Louise then flew around remote Alaska, hauling diesel fuel into gold mines and native villages before she got hired to fly Boeing 747s hauling cargo to more than 50 countries.

 She has owned Piper Cubs on floats and skis that she used for flying her two sons around.

Louise now has her commercial helicopter license, but she is flying the Boeing 777 for her day job.

Along with flying, Louise is an artist who writes flying poetry and books. Her aircraft artwork sells in galleries in Coronado, CA.

Louise splits her time between Coronado and New Zealand, and she loves being involved in volunteer work for women’s aviation groups. Her advice to aviation enthusiasts is to create the life of your dreams and keep your heart open to abundance.

Kat started her aviation journey later than most when she joined the Army at age 36 as a crew chief on the OH-58d Kiowa Warrior.

After leaving the Army, she attended A&P school in her hometown of Camden, Arkansas. Upon graduating, she was invited to stay and teach. 

She loves sharing her passion as an aviation mechanic and teaching the importance of what they do with the new generation.

Lindsay is 33 years old and grew up in San Diego. She was hired as a flight attendant with Delta Airlines in 2015. She will share what it’s like to work for a major airline, the hiring process, and the exciting lifestyle of a flight attendant.

Born and raised in California, Joanie graduated from Embry Riddle Prescott in 1998. She worked as a flight instructor there until 2000 when she was hired by SkyWest Airlines. During her 22-year career at SkyWest, Joanie was married and had two children.

She went on to become a First Officer at Alaska Airlines in 2022. Today, Joanie lives in Livermore, CA with her husband and their two teenagers.

Born in Rome, NY and a graduate of the University of Virginia, Captain Graham earned her Wings of Gold as a designated Naval Aviator in 1996. She flew H-60 helicopters off of aircraft carriers for many deployments in support of operations from the Middle East to Asia.

She became an instructor pilot and training specialist before serving as the Southeast Asia Divisions Chief for Special Operations Command. She then led the legendary Black Knights of HS/HSC-4.

Capt. Graham is a two-time recipient of the CNAF Navy and Marine Peer Leadership Award,

a former squadron Pilot of the Year and NHA Region One Instructor of the Year. She is a graduate of the Navy’s Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor School, holds a master’s degree in National Security Studies, and has over 3000 flight hours in the venerable H-60.

Following retirement from active duty in 2023, Capt. Graham continues to support the Navy as a government civilian. She is a wife, a mom, and the proud daughter of a career Air Force officer and Vietnam Veteran.

We are so excited to announce that we will be hosting our Girls In Aviation Day 2023 at the USS Midway. Lunch will be included.

Walk up and touch the fighters, bombers, and helicopters that took naval aviation into the jet age. Find out first-hand what it takes to take off and land on the world’s most compact airport. Beneath the bustle of the Flight Deck, see the high-tech command center, and the global radio communications complex, and explore from the bridge to the engine room.

Lots of fun activities are planned for our attendees!