ERWINNA, Pa. — Professional female pilots constitute just a small fraction of the piloting workforce, but one regional airport is working to diversify the profession.
Van Sant Airfield in Bucks County — about a 40-minute drive from the Lehigh Valley — will partner with The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, for Women’s Aviation Day on Aug. 9.
The free event is targeted to young women from the age of 14 and will serve as a day-long introduction to aviation.
News release
The free event is targeted to young women from the age of 14, a release said, and will serve as a day-long introduction to aviation.
It will include a broad panel of women — general aviation pilots and professionals working in commercial aviation, air traffic control, the military and maintenance.
The day “will be structured to encourage discussion and break down the barriers that might deter women from pursuing opportunities in the field,” the release said.
Attendees also will get to experience a 15-20 minute flight over Bucks County during the event, with pre-registration required for the flights.
Event will include vintage aircraft
The historic Van Sant Airfield in Bucks County is operated by Bar and Dannie Eisenhauer, with Bar growing up watching his father, Ike, fly for the aviation division of Bethlehem Steel.
The Van Sant website recounts Bar’s memories of his dad in the cockpit of Beech 18s, DC-3s, Gulfstreams, Lockheeds and Corsairs owned by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation housed at Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton airport.
Van Sant’s own airplanes now include a number of vintage aircraft, including the 1929 Travel Air, Stearmans, a Waco, Piper Cubs and more.
Some of them will be used for the flights during the Women’s Aviation Day event.
Those interested in attending the event can register at https://www.vansantairport.com/letsflynow.html.