Fairmont State’s aviation program sees growth in female pilots
In October 2018, Victoria Grace was celebrated as the first woman to complete her
Private Pilot Single Engine Land Rating through Fairmont State University’s flight
program. Grace went on to be the first woman to graduate from the aviation program
and then became their first female flight instructor.
Since that time, the flight industry has seen a drastic decline in certified pilots. With the increased demand for air travel comes the urgent need for skilled aviators. Programs like Fairmont State are not just training and educating pilots, they’re shaping the future—a future where women will play a larger role in the aviation industry.
The United States is short roughly 17,000 pilots. With most pilots being men, diversifying the pool of talented aviators is one solution to the shortage. More and more women are joining the aviation industry and helping attract others to the career.
"We are definitely seeing an uptick in the number of ladies applying and being accepted to the flight program. Each one of these women is looking down the track of a six-figure career flying aircrafts,” said Chief Pilot and Director of the Aviation Center of Excellence Joel Kirk. “Due to the program being selective, those admitted must meet high-quality standards. These students are exceptional in every respect and this program is the best return on investment of any education program in the State. And it leads to the most exciting career one can imagine."
Seeing the community of women pilots continue to grow through Fairmont State’s program is especially promising as the population of certified pilots is expected to continue to decline in the next decade. Fairmont State is addressing this by educating students to be well-rounded aviation professionals who will go on to be exceptional pilots. Many flight program alumni have already gone on to have successful careers in different areas of aviation.
“Fairmont State’s Aviation program was the first of its kind in West Virginia and remains second to none,” said President Mike Davis. “Aviation is a crucial, growth industry for the state, so it’s essential that we continue to create opportunities for women to excel in the field. Doing so will both help meet the industry’s need for exceptional pilots and provide pathways to rewarding careers for these talented women.”
Since 2017, five women have graduated and become certified pilots through Fairmont State’s program. Currently, 12 lady Falcons are flying in the program.
While there is a pressing demand for pilots, that does not mean any aspect of a Fairmont State student’s training is glossed over. The aviation program takes the time to skillfully educate future pilots. The program’s accomplished faculty and staff bring decades of experience that is being passed on to new aviators and are always looking for professional development opportunities for their pupils. The most recent of these opportunities was the Women in Aviation International (WAI) 2024 Conference.
A group of 10 Fairmont State University female aviation students and alumni, dubbed the “Mountain State Fly Girls” attended the WAI Conference in Orlando, FL this spring.
Those who attended were:
- Isabella “BO-PEEP” DiSaia - TRIDELPHIA, WV
- Riley “NARCO” Thorpe - MORGANTOWN, WV
- Lauren “JENNY” Bubarth - CONNELLSVILLE, PA
- Natalie “SUNSHINE” Zemba - CHARDON, OH
- Willa “SCOOTER” Sharbaugh - FRIEDENS, PA
- Callie “JA-POOH” Carpenter - BELINGTON, WV
- Morgan “CARRIE” Domenico - HAGERSTOWN, MD
- Chloe “DIPSTICK” Blake - LEON, WV
- Heather Pitsenbarger - BRIDGEPORT, WV
- Makenzie “MUSH” Lundquist - ORLANDO, FL
"We were excited to send this first group of professional women pilots to the conference to represent the quality of aviators we train at Fairmont State. It was also exciting to see a local Fairmont State trained alumna Ms. Heather Pitsenbarger giving back by funding and escorting the group to Florida,” said Kirk. "Being an Aviator is undeniably thrilling. We hope that by creating and highlighting events like this, we will inspire young girls in the community who dream of pursuing one of the most extraordinary careers on earth."
WAI is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of women involved in aviation and aerospace. Founded in 1990, and formally established in 1994, WAI has grown to be the largest organization of its kind in the world.
Each student who attended got to learn from industry professionals and network with other women who make up the small percentage of women pilots.
While students have much to learn at the Aviation Center of Excellence, professional development opportunities like the WAI Conference are essential to creating well-rounded aviators. Perhaps as the population of women in aviation grows, so too will the number of organizations and opportunities focused on enhancing the professional education of women pilots.
Learn more about Fairmont State’s Aviation program by visiting the Aviation program webpage.
