WAI Conferences

In March 1990, 150 people gathered for the first Women in Aviation Conference in Prescott, Arizona, on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus.

No one knew what to expect at that first conference, but after a weekend of networking, it was clear there was a need for more women in the aviation industry. Soon, the conference became an annual event, and in December 1994, Women in Aviation International was established as a professional, non-profit organization.

At #WAI18, we marked 29 years of coming together, mentoring, networking, and sharing the trademark positive energy found at our annual conference. Our members make WAI the passionate, dynamic organization it is, and the future is bright.

In 2018:

Attendance of 3,200 including representatives from 21 countries, joined WAI in Reno, Nevada for the 29th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference.
The exhibit hall hosted 162 companies and organizations representing all aspects of the aviation community, including drones.
A total of 142 scholarships were awarded to WAI members at every stage of their career. The $695,500 in scholarships awarded this year put the total of all WAI scholarships awarded since 1995 over $11,000,000.
The WAI chapter network reached 117 global chapters in 17 countries worldwide.