AWPA encourages women to spread their wings in pursuit of a career in aviation

Young women follow in foot steps of Nancy Bird-Walton (pictured in 2008).

Airservices Australia is encouraging young women across the country to consider a career in aviation by offering a range of competitive scholarships, with the hope of producing the nation's next record-breaking aviatrix.

Pioneer Aviator Nancy Bird-Walton was just 19 years old when she first took to the air with a commercial pilot license.

And in a time when the aviation industry was still thought of as a boys' club, she was the first woman to gain the right to work as a professional pilot in the British Commonwealth.

Born in the small town of Kew, New South Wales, in 1915, to humble beginnings this fearless young woman with a passion for flying would later go on to work with the Royal Flying Doctor service and receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1966.

Sadly, the 'First Lady of Aviation' passed away in 2009 at the age of 93, but her legacy lives on in the form of a number of scholarships aimed at promotion women in aviation and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

Continuing in the tradition of Bird-Walton and her support of charities and services in remote areas is the Australian Women Pilots' association (AWPA).

The organisation, which was founded by Australia's most prominent female member, works tirelessly to get more women on planes and in the air by providing a number of Flight Training Scholarships.

Airservices Australia and AWPA spokesperson Rob Walker said that young women looking for a career in aviation should consider applying for one of these scholarships.

"We hope these scholarships will encourage women who are passionate about flying to become active, long-term members of the aviation community and beyond," he asserted in an official statement.

Mr Walker also made it clear that keeping the program up and running was a challenge, but also an important way of reminding people about the role women play in this area.

"The continued sponsorship is part of our wider contribution to promote the aviation industry and we look forward to continuing our association with AWPA."

"We're proud to support the work of the association as they help young women learn to fly and possibly consider a future career in our industry," he said.

Money from the scholarships can be put towards initial or ongoing pilot training, as well as the cross-country flying component of a private pilot licence.

This year there is a total of four opportunities on offer split between two separate categories and each scholarship is valued at $8,000 – applications close at the end of this month.

Photo credit: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/17/3014685.htm?site=brisbane