MADISON, Wis.— In a male-dominated field like aviation, women across the state are taking to the skies, to change the trend.

Sarah Pozdell is the President of the Four Lakes Chapter of Women in Aviation. Chapters across the state are trying to inspire young girls to become pilots.

“We love aviation. We will talk about aviation all day long,” says Pozdell.

She’s encouraging girls to get involved in a field where 90% of pilots are men. Pozdell says Wisconsin’s a great place for girls to take up flying.

“Find an airport, ask for a discovery flight and just get up in the sky and be inspired by that and then know that there are other women that you can reach out to if you want that network,” says Pozdell.

The Women in Aviation group holds an event each year. Attendees learn about physics, weather, flight instruments and more. Some are interested in aviation careers. Others just think flying is fun. Eleven-year-old Hilimah Moujahid has a specific goal.

“I want to take my dad to Morocco some time,” she says.

Girls looking for inspiration can turn to Kai Ficek, who pilots the Med Flights helicopter for UW Health. She was at the controls recently for the first all-female flight crew for that program.

“I was used to flying with mostly men and so here are these women who are used to flying with men as well. This is brand new for all of us. It was exciting,” says Ficek.

Flight Nurse Deb Volgarino was also aboard the historic flight.

“I hope that young women and maybe some girls out there see this and see the different avenues that their career could possibly have, whether that’s a pilot, a nurse, a physician…I hope it inspires people,” says Volgarino

Inspiration is a two way street for Ficeki. She got a late start to flying after previously pursuing several other careers.

“I’ve met girls as young as twelve that are already going to school geared toward aviation. I’m just blown away to see what those girls achieve,” says Ficek.​

For more information on the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of Women in Aviation International, click here.

For more information on the Oshkosh Chapter of Women in Aviation International, click here.

For more information on the Four Lakes Chapter of Women in Aviation International, click here.