Aviation for Women

MAR-APR 2016

Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.

Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/638688

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M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 6 Aviation forWomen 73 many different projects such as writing an ERJ 170 class/jet transition course, composing an intern record book, and mak- ing delivery kit checklists. I never knew what went on behind the scenes of an airline, and this internship showed me how people dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety of passengers and a great fight experience. ; A L E X W H I T E Lewis University Major: Aviation Administration with a minor in Aviation Flight and Dispatch I f someone had asked me in January how I planned to spend my summer this year, my answer would have been, "Great question—probably fying." A decision I made in the spring, however, cleared up any uncertainty. I was fortunate enough to attend the International Women in Aviation Conference in Dallas last spring with my school, Lewis University, and I met with professionals from around the world. Among those were pilots and recruiters from Republic Airways. I gave them my ré- sumé and business card and hoped I left a good impression. A couple weeks later, I received a call to come in for an interview for a summer internship. I was drawn to Republic because I had always heard great things about the company, but actually meeting with my soon-to-be supervisors cinched my decision that Republic was where I wanted to be. My internship has been an incredible ex- perience. I worked mainly in human re- sources but also had the opportunity to work with the fight operations group. As an aviation administration major with a double minor in avia- tion fight and dispatch, I wasn't sure what to expect. I felt like I was going to be out of place working in HR, but it turned out that it was one of the best experiences I could have as a pilot. I saw the process from recruiting to hiring frsthand, and it pro- vided invaluable insight as I prepared to advance in my career. The internship allowed me to see the behind-the-scenes aspect of an airline, too. I worked on numerous projects for fight ops, which gave me an understanding of what pilots do when they aren't fying, such as recurrent training and other responsibilities. Our internship class visited Republic's train- ing center, its Indianapolis hangar, Columbus' heavy check base, and the Indianapolis ATC tower. My favorite feld trip, though, was to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I've dreamed of going since I was a kid, and Republic let me fulfll that dream by working our recruitment booth and giving me front-row access to much of the action throughout the week! This internship was invaluable for me to gain professional experience within aviation. It showed me that there is more to the industry than just fying and opened my eyes and inter- ests to several different aviation career paths. ; As a student, consider the kind of work you'd like to do one day, and look for opportunities to lend a helping hand and learn. As an employer, consider what you and your business unit could teach an intern—and how a positive experience might ripple out in the industry with well-trained, skilled candidates entering the workforce at your company and the companies you work closest with. The internship experience can be rich and far-reaching on both sides of the table. ✈ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Nelson, WAI 18201, is a private pilot and director of communications for WAI. Alex at EAA AirVenture Alex Visit EAA (Booth 716) and Republic Airways (Booth 622) at the 27th annual International Women in Aviation Conference.

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