Media Releases

22 March 2010 - Airservices supports young women’s flying dreams - 11/10

The dream of a career in aviation is closer for four young women with financial support from Airservices Australia.

The four pilots have won Flight Training scholarships offered in conjunction with the Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA). The winners were announced at the AWPA Annual General Meeting in Ballarat, VIC on Saturday, 20 March.

Each winner receives $6,000 to subsidize the cost of obtaining a private or commercial pilots' Licence. An additional $2,000 is awarded to the young women as bonus payments on achieving milestones.

The four were chosen from a large field of applicants who had a demonstrated interest in flying and were supported by their flying instructors. Applicants must be a member of AWPA, at least 18 years of age and have commenced flight training.

Airservices spokesman Rob Walker said the scholarships were designed to support the sustainability of the general aviation community.

"We are very pleased to support AWPA and its goals for women pilots in the future of Australia aviation. It's important we continue to promote entry paths into the industry. Airservices congratulates all the winners, and encourages them to pursue their commercial pilot’s license," Mr Walker said.

Recipients of the 2010 AWPA and Airservices Flight Training Scholarships are:

• Jasmine Brockdorf-Attuell, 22, Bundeena, NSW. Flight training at TVSA, Bacchus Marsh, VIC.
• Kathryn Gibney, 20, Mt Gravatt, QLD. Flight training at Airline Academy of Australia, Archerfield.
• Sarah Jayne Duivesteyn, 20, Heathfield, SA. Flight training at Forsyth Aviation, Parafield.
• Margaret Smith, 23, Collie, WA. Flight training at Bunbury Aero Club.

Airservices also sponsors two PPL Charts and Documents Awards ($550 including GST) of the geographically relevant charts and documents required by a student pilot for the navigation phase of their PPL training. The winners are: Bethany Watson, Darling Heights, QLD and Jenny Emonson, Mackay, QLD.

For enquiries or to contact the scholarship winners, please call Airservices Media on
Ph: +61 2 6257 2828 (24 hrs) or
Email: media@airservicesaustralia.com

Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing air traffic control management services to the aviation industry. In a region covering 11 percent of the world’s surface, Airservices manages air traffic operations for around 63 million passangers on more than four million domestic and international flights every year. Airservices website: www.airservicesaustralia.com