Girls with Goals: the new Scholarship Program for women in aeronautical maintenance in Latin America

Panama, March 8, 2024 - 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 to enrich their experience and the necessary certifications to start 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 enrolled in the Aeronautical Maintenance Technician program at the Aeronautical Training Institute (IFA) in Costa Rica, an organization with high academic standards that is a member of ALTA's Educational Hub, which has bases in Heredia and Alajuela. In addition to receiving financial support, students will have the opportunity to interact with experienced executives from globally recognized companies.

"Over the years we have seen a progressive interest of women in specializing as Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, but we still have a very important growth space and initiatives like this are key to inspire more young women who are interested in developing a technical career in aviation to believe that it is possible, that they have the support of international organizations and that there are opportunities for them in the aviation industry. We are very excited to join this program that will greatly benefit, encourage 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," said Jorge Valverde, Deputy General Manager.

According to a Boeing study, Latin America and the Caribbean will require 41,000 new aeronautical technicians in the next 20 years. This figure 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 increasingly sustainable, efficient and inclusive.

For its part, ICAO's latest global survey on the status of professional aviation personnel by gender reveals that the share of women working as pilots, air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians has increased overall worldwide, 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 the participation of women is still low and can grow at an even faster pace. The inclusion of technical women in aviation is crucial to 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 direction. Creating a working group dedicated to attracting and training female talent is a concrete action that will enable us to move forward in this direction. The scholarship program is a significant step towards greater equity and diversity in an industry that is convinced of the importance of increasing 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 meaningful opportunities for women in aviation."

The working group has four subgroups: evaluation of candidates, communications, sponsorships, relations with educational institutions, which are open for professionals interested in joining efforts in this mission to participate. "We have an incredible and very committed group, but we want to go much further, so on the occasion of the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference 2024 we will open a sponsorship so that companies from the entire aviation ecosystem interested in supporting this mission can make their contributions and thus impact more young people in the region," adds Santiago Valencia, director of maintenance and technical procurement at ALTA.

Last year's conference featured the study "Takeoff to Leadership: Advancing Women in Aviation," conducted by IAWA and Oliver Wyman, which surveyed 450 senior executives and found that only 3% of the 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 enthusiastic about working on the inclusion of women in the regional industry.

Aviation plays a fundamental 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 regard, the airline industry has a fundamental commitment to promoting a greater balance in the opportunities available to women in the region.

"By opening 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 it, allowing for 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.