Women in Aviation: Showing Local Girls They Belong
Published 8 November 2026
Women in Aviation International is a worldwide organization for women and men in every corner of aviation, and its members in our area spend a lot of their time showing young girls that there is a place for them in flying. Girls can join as junior members for free, and the group's biggest local outreach is Girls in Aviation Day, held each summer.
At the Alamogordo airport open house on November 7, I stopped at the bright pink Women in Aviation booth and met Candace Toscano, a pilot and flight instructor who was representing the group that day.
What is Women in Aviation International?
Candace described Women in Aviation International, or WAI, as an international organization of women and men, mainly geared toward women who are involved in the flying community. That covers a lot more than pilots. She listed maintenance workers, aviation psychologists, flight doctors and research engineers. "It runs the full gamut," she said, of everything involved in getting planes up in the air.
Candace is a pilot herself and works as an instructor pilot, teaching students how to fly.
What is Girls in Aviation Day?
Candace told me Girls in Aviation Day is the group's big outreach event every summer. It exposes young girls to STEAM activities and aviation career fields and, as she put it, lets them know there are options for them and that they belong in the community too. WAI's national Girls in Aviation Day program is aimed at girls ages 8 to 18, and chapters host their own events around the world.
WAI's New Mexico chapter, the Land of Enchantment Chapter, supports an annual Girls in Aviation Day program and scholarships, and it has held member events here in Alamogordo. Its Facebook page is the easiest place to watch for next summer's date.
Where else does the group show up?
Besides Girls in Aviation Day, Candace said they go out to high schools to let kids know they have a place in aviation. They had a table at a job fair for seniors at Tularosa High School, and I told her about the Alamogordo High School Career and CTE Expo on January 22, 2027, which she planned to put on her calendar. I also asked whether they had visited Sacramento School of Engineering and Science, our free STEM high school, since its students seem like a natural fit.
What resources does WAI offer girls and young women?
The signs on the booth pointed to a long list of programs. Here is what was on display:
| WAI program | What it is |
|---|---|
| Free WAI Junior Membership | A free way for girls to join WAI |
| Aviation for Girls | Youth programs, an app and a magazine |
| Girls in Aviation Day | Yearly event with hands on aviation and STEAM activities |
| Scholarships | WAI's "Scholarships Change Lives" program |
| Mentor Connect | Pairs members with aviation mentors |
| Jobs Connect | Helps members find aviation jobs and internships |
You can find all of these through wai.org.
What does this mean for families in Alamogordo?
We live in an aviation town. Between Holloman, our regional airport and the Space Museum, there are real careers in the sky all around our kids. A free membership and one fun day at Girls in Aviation Day could be what sparks a lifelong path. For more ways kids can get into flying here, read my guide to aviation groups in Alamogordo, and if you are new to town, my Moving to Alamogordo guide has the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Women in Aviation International?
WAI is an international organization of women and men involved in aviation, from pilots and mechanics to engineers and flight doctors. Its local members focus a lot of their work on encouraging girls to explore aviation.
What is Girls in Aviation Day?
It is a yearly event that introduces girls to aviation careers and hands on STEAM activities. Candace told me the local Girls in Aviation Day is held each summer.
Can girls join Women in Aviation International for free?
Yes. WAI offers a free junior membership for girls.
Is there a Women in Aviation chapter in New Mexico?
Yes. The Land of Enchantment Chapter is WAI's New Mexico chapter, and it has held events in Alamogordo.
Is Women in Aviation only for women?
No. Candace said it is an organization of women and men, mainly geared toward women in the flying community.
Details come from my conversation with Candace Toscano at the Alamogordo airport open house on November 7, 2026, the booth's WAI materials, and the Women in Aviation International and Land of Enchantment Chapter websites, as of 8 November 2026.