The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announces the launch of the Girls with Goals Scholarship Program with the objective of promoting the development of women in the aeronautical maintenance sector, facilitating their access to world-class educational programs, mentoring that enriches your experience and the certifications necessary to begin a professional career.
This program is the result of the voluntary and committed work of a group of industry executives. This group was formed during the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference 2023 and its mission is to execute actions that contribute to a more diverse and inclusive industry, stimulating the interest of young women in aeronautical maintenance and supporting their academic and professional training.
In this initial stage, Girls with Goals will provide scholarships to women who are studying the Aeronautical Maintenance Technician program of the Aeronautical Training Institute (IFA) of Costa Rica, an organization with a high academic level that is a member of the ALTA Educational Hub, which has bases in Heredia. and Alajuela. The students, in addition to receiving financial support, will receive the opportunity to interact with experienced executives from globally recognized companies.
"Over the years we have seen a progressive interest among women in specializing as Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, but we still have a very important space for growth and initiatives like this are key to inspiring more young women who are interested in developing a technical career in aviation to believe that it is possible, that they have support from international organizations and that there are opportunities for them in the aeronautical industry. “We are very excited to join this program that will greatly benefit, promote and motivate young women in Costa Rica and we thank ALTA and all the participating companies for choosing us as an educational partner for the launch of these scholarships,” says Jorge Valverde, Sub -Managing Director.
According to a Boeing study, Latin America and the Caribbean will require 41,000 new aeronautical technicians in the next 20 years. This data not only represents a challenge in terms of education and talent attraction for the aviation industry in the region, but also an opportunity for these new talents to be men and women who can contribute their best to make the industry better. ever more sustainable, efficient and inclusive.
For its part, the latest ICAO global survey on the status of professional aviation personnel by gender reveals that the participation of women working as pilots, air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians has generally increased throughout the world. world, going from 4.5% in 2016 to 4.9% in 2021.
José Ricardo Botelho, executive director and CEO of ALTA, mentions that "the numbers presented by ICAO are encouraging, but women's participation is still low and can grow at an even faster rate. The inclusion of technical women in aviation is crucial for the growth and sustainability of aviation. Creating a working group dedicated to promoting the attraction and training of female talent is a concrete action that will allow us to move forward in this regard. The scholarship program is a significant step towards greater equity and diversity in the sector that is convinced of the importance of an increase in the participation of women in key roles. As executive director and CEO of ALTA, I am convinced that together we can transform our industry and create significant opportunities for women in the aviation".
The working group has four subgroups: evaluation of candidates, communications, sponsorships, relations with educational institutions, which are open so that professionals interested in joining efforts in this mission can participate. “We have an incredible and very committed group, but we want to advance much more, so on the occasion of the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference 2024, a sponsorship will be opened so that companies from the entire aviation ecosystem interested in supporting this mission can make their contributions and thus impact to more young people in the region,” adds Santiago Valencia, director of maintenance and technical purchasing at ALTA.
At last year's conference, the study "Takeoff to Leadership: Promoting Women in Aviation" by IAWA and Oliver Wyman was presented, which surveyed 450 senior executives and found that only 3% of CEOs of the world's top 100 airlines are women. The study also mentioned that the aviation industry cannot be sustainable if more than 50% of the population does not see it as a viable career for women, recalls Valencia, who is excited to work on the inclusion of women in the regional industry.
Aviation plays a critical role in our society, and its importance goes beyond transporting millions of people safely and efficiently, even to remote locations. It is also a crucial source of economic opportunity and employment, generating a significant impact on diverse communities and economies. In this sense, the airline industry has a fundamental commitment to promoting a greater balance in the opportunities available to women in the region.
“By opening the doors to more women in technical and leadership roles within aviation, we are not only driving diversity and inclusion, but also strengthening our industry for the future. This initiative not only benefits the women involved, but also enriches them, allowing sustainable growth and greater representation at all levels. Ultimately, by working together to foster a culture of gender equality in aviation we are building a more inclusive and prosperous future for all,” adds Botelho.