LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bluegrass Chapter of Women in Aviation International hosted its "Girls in Aviation Day" at Bowman Field airport, where some young women were introduced to a career that could take them to new heights. 

Participants sat in planes or flew in a simulator and learned about aviation.

“I’m experiencing what … it is like to be a pilot,” said participant Olivia Waithe.

Waithe, 6, said she has wanted to fly ever since she learned to talk.

“It sounds very fun, and you get to fly a plane,” she said.

She flew in a simulator and absorbed all the skills she could. 

“I learned that when you're going this way, but when you want to stop, you go the other way,” she said.

Her dad, Von Waithe, flies an Airbus A300 for UPS. His love for flying has rubbed off on his daughters, he said.

“This is mind-blowing, to see my kids want to also follow in the same dreams and the same aspirations," Von Waithe said. "It is humbling."

The event targets 8 to 18-year-olds to encourage them to work in the aviation industry

“It's really good for young women to take advantage of, and it's a ceiling that we want to crack,” said Shacara Waithe, Olivia’s mom.

According to the Women in Aviation Advisory Board 2022 report, women make up less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation occupations. 

“Every year it does get better, especially pilots," said Crystal Korff, event planner for the Bluegrass Chapter of Women in Aviation International. "I think … we have a lot more women pilots now than we used to have. But in other areas like mechanics, air traffic control, even aviation business managers, we just need to fill those roles with women,”

Korff said the organization plans to host a seventh annual "Girls in Aviation Day" in 2025. Women in Aviation International hosted events all over the world Saturday, Sept. 21, to inspire the next generation of women in the field.