WACO, Texas — Across the country, only about three percent of aviation jobs belong to women. However, here in Central Texas that stat has been turned on its ear.
Women representation at the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Flight School is between 15 and 20 percent per semester. Let’s introduce you to some of the women who are leading the way on campus this women’s month of March!
Angel Newhart is the first female department chair in the 55 year flight instruction history of TSTC. Over the past two decades she's seen a lot of changes from where there were two or three other women on campus to a much stronger presence today.
Angel told 6 News, "I think that by having examples of women in aviation here, whether that be a maintenance tech, a flight instructor, a department chair, a full-time faculty, by having both men and women in each of those different positions, the students get to see a balance and they get to see what the career can be!"
Luz Ramirez is in her second semester of flight instruction and she was thrilled that the faculty got her into a plane almost immediately and that she gets to do what she loves.
Luz stated, "I didn't think that I was going to be flying planes actually until like a couple of months, but it was like two to three weeks until I got into an airplane. I made a few flights and I was actually the first person in my semester to do my solo flight and I was really proud of myself and everyone is just asking me like 'How was it? How was it?' I love it it's amazing everything about it flying, the heights, the views, I just love it! "
Mechanic Kelsey McAdams is no stranger to working with men, she has gone from being an oil worker to being a certified aviation maintenance technician with full inspection authorization.
Kelsey says, "Yeah, there's a lot of liability with this, but you have to just be very confident in the work you do, I will ground a plane very quickly if I think that there is anything wrong because there are lives at stake."
One thing is for sure, the next generation in this industry is excited and they are getting the best training that the advances in technology can accommodate! Very different than when Angel first got her training.
Angel remembers, "When I was a student here back in the day, it was just few and far between. I think that there were a total of three students, one who left pilot training to become maintenance, another graduated about a year before me and then the one that was with me graduated at the same time that I did and then choose another career path.
Luz Ramirez says she has found her fit, "I feel like we are just all really excited that we are moving along and I feel like TSTC just is a really friendly place."
Angel Newhart concluded by saying, "I just absolutely love it. There's nothing like when you teach a student and you see that light bulb come on and you know that... Because I love aviation and I’ve got a passion for aviation and, but seeing that light bulb come on for a student that is trying to fly is just amazing!"
Angel Newhart also talked about the better technology that TSTC has now, from simulators, to 10 new planes that will be joining the fleet, and that has led to an almost 100 percent job placement following graduation. Really inspiring what they are accomplishing on the campus. All being done with their first female department chair!
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