MIAT Women Aviation Maintenance Students to Share Experiences
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HOUSTON, Texas, (Oct. 4, 2018) – The Houston campus of MIAT College of Technology will serve as a platinum level sponsor of the Fourth Annual Girls in Aviation Day Houston from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Lone Star Flight Museum.
The Houston Chapter of Women in Aviation International is hosting this event with sponsorship support from the Lone Star Flight Museum, MIAT, and Whataburger. Admission and lunch will be provided on a complimentary basis; however, those who are interested are asked to register via the website www.girlsinaviationdayhouston.com. Approximately 100 to 125 girls aged 10 to 17 will have the opportunity to meet and speak with licensed female pilots, learn about air traffic control, hear from aviation maintenance professionals, see how an aircraft engine works, learn about aerodynamics, and enjoy exhibits at the Lone Star Flight Museum.
In 2017, an estimated 9,700 girls participated in 74 Girls In Aviation Day events worldwide. Created by Women in Aviation International (WAI), Girls in Aviation Day is designed to introduce and educate girls about the many career choices and lifestyle possibilities offered by the aviation/aerospace industry. In addition to over 50 Girls in Aviation events that will be presented from coast to coast in the United States, the international chapters in WAI’s network will ensure that Girls in Aviation Day is celebrated around the globe.
MIAT, which operates campuses in Houston and in the Detroit metropolitan area, offers 20-month and 24-month aviation maintenance programs that are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Women account for roughly two percent of all certified aviation mechanics in the United States. MIAT is committed to encouraging girls and women to consider a career as an aviation mechanic. Girls in Aviation Day Houston provides us an effective platform for sharing information and insights about options available to girls who are interested in aviation occupations. Several of MIAT’s women aviation maintenance students will be on hand to share their experience,” commented John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston president. “MIAT is qualified to showcase career and technical education for girls and women who are interested in aviation maintenance. Our college has been offering aviation maintenance training and certification programs for almost 50 years with a track record of success within the aviation community. MIAT has over 6,400 alumni across the country.”
Jessica Garcia, president of the Houston Chapter of Women In Aviation, International and a licensed Learjet pilot who learned to fly when she was 19, explained: “Women in the aviation industry are underrepresented. Through our Girls in Aviation Day events, we hope to reach girls at an age when they begin making career and life choices. Our intention is to introduce them to jobs that they may not have previously considered. MIAT’s sponsorship helps our Houston chapter cover hard costs of hosting this event so that we can make the museum and our program accessible for girls of all backgrounds. If we reach just one girl and open her eyes, we have accomplished our mission!”
Statistics suggest opportunities for improvement in engaging women in aerospace and aviation careers – especially in roles that require the mastery of science, engineering, math and technology (STEM) disciplines. Here is a sampling of statistics provided by FAA Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2017 data):
| All | Women | ||
| 609,306 | Pilots (total) | 42,694 | 7.01% |
| 671,222 | NonPilot (total) | 195,993 | 29.20% |
| 86,268 | Mechanic (all) | 6,855 | 2.39% |
About MIAT College of Technology
MIAT College of Technology was founded in Michigan in 1969 and has built a strong reputation and effective, mutually beneficial working relationships with leading employers throughout the United States. Having almost 50 years of vocational and technical education experience, MIAT serves several hundred students at its 125,000 square-foot headquarters facility in Canton near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport and its 40,400 square-foot campus in Houston near the Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Houston campus, which opened in 2010, is approved to accept international students and is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Both campuses offer admissions guidance, career services, financial services, housing assistance, and a Learning Resource Center, and are approved for Federal Military and Veterans Education Benefits (VA).
With the support of highly qualified and actively engaged faculty and staff, MIAT College of Technology has graduated thousands of students since its inception. MIAT equips its students with the industry-relevant skills, experience, relationships and connections to employers that it takes to pursue rewarding technical careers.
MIAT develops its programs and curricula in direct response to feedback and input from industry leaders who are seeking qualified employees. The school collaborates with its employer partners to tailor its programs to address the highest needs and priorities of the end users in the industries that they exist to serve. MIAT graduates gain the confidence and extensive preparation that facilitate a smooth transition into the workplace through their industry-influenced, practical training.
MIAT also offers customized industry-specific training for strategic employment partners locally and nationally, which include the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Siemens, Marathon Oil, DTE, and many others. The Canton campus offers co-op programs with numerous local high schools, and the Houston campus also offers a co-op program via the Houston Independent School District at Sterling High School near Hobby Airport.
In addition to Aviation Maintenance Technology, MIAT offers programs full-time in Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR), Energy, and Wind Power. The school\’s curriculum for the Aviation Maintenance Technology Associate in Applied Science degree and Airframe and Powerplant Technician certificate is approved by the FAA under CFR Part 147. MIAT is now also offering programs in Welding at its Houston campus and for Electro-Mechanical Technology at its Canton campus.
For more information, please visit www.miat.edu or call the Canton campus at 800-447-1310 or the Houston campus at 888-547-7047. Tours at each campus are welcome and available by appointment.
MIAT is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
About Women in Aviation
Women in Aviation International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests. Our diverse membership includes astronauts, corporate pilots, maintenance technicians, air traffic controllers, business owners, educators, journalists, flight attendants, high school and university students, air show performers, airport managers and many others. Girls of any age can join Women in Aviation. There is a reduced student membership rate that gives students full membership including the magazine Aviation for Women. This membership gives them access to applications for millions of dollars in scholarships, access to mentors and participation in the annual Women in Aviation Conference each spring. For more information, visit www.wai.org. A two-minute video on Girls in Aviation Day may be viewed here.