CAE Women in Flight

Frequently Asked Questions

In a nutshell, the Women in Flight program works with different aviation partners to offer a variety of scholarships that help pay for training programs. But there’s much more to it!

As a Woman in Flight Ambassador, you will participate in many networking opportunities and meet key people within the aviation industry. As an ambassador, you represent the women who aspire to one day soar through the sky or just don’t know that a career in the skies is an option for women!

In addition, you become a role model for future generations of women pilots. As a pivotal pillar of the movement, you show girls and women that becoming a pilot is an achievable, sustainable, and truly wonderful profession.

Pilots are in increased demand globally, and there are many opportunities within the aviation industry. The time is now for more women to get on board!

We’ve partnered with airlines across the globe, each offering different opportunities. For example, one airline might offer partial funding for training, and another full funding, some include an employment opportunity. It all depends on what is offered in your region of eligibility.

The process is simple.

First, you need to be enrolled in a cadet or training program before you can apply to Women in Flight. Then you’ll be invited to apply, if eligible.

Our team will contact you with the next steps, which will include creating an application video answering a series of questions like: Why do you want to become a pilot? What will it take to achieve that goal? What are some of your hobbies? What does this scholarship mean to you? What would being a Woman in Flight Ambassador mean to you?

The selection process differs slightly by program, but one thing remains the same: we want to find out if you have what it takes to be an ambassador.

In all cases, many groups are involved in the selection process. Your application will be reviewed by different stakeholders who will consider a variety of factors.

We are looking for women with a strong sense of confidence and professionalism, outstanding communication skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to inspire other women to consider a career in aviation.

Your role as an ambassador is to inspire the next generation of female pilots.

As a Women in Flight Ambassador, you will help women discover a career in aviation. In your day-to-day activities, at events and networking opportunities, we want you to bring your experience to life and spread the word with your network on social media.

This is an opportunity to give back, tell your story, share your journey, and inspire others.

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Meet our ambassadors

View our ambassadors

American Airlines

Alicia Hunt

United States of America

United States of America

Delta, British Columbia

Our partners

Together, we are making the aviation industry stronger and more diverse than ever. See how our partners are contributing to aviation scholarships for women.

easyJet will provide one European candidate access to their first employment opportunity and CAE will fund pilot training as part of the CAE Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme at either CAE Brussels, CAE London Gatwick, or CAE Madrid.

Learn more

Air Canada and CAE have joined forces to double the 2023 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships which help support more Canadian women studying to become commercial pilots. Awarded with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, the annual Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships, established in honour of Air Canada’s first female pilot, will help foster the next generation of women as they follow in her trailblazing footsteps.

Learn more

Captain Judy Cameron

Judy Cameron has been breaking barriers since she became the first female graduate of Selkirk College – and she was only getting started.

In 1978, she became the first woman to fly for Air Canada. At the age of23, she was only the second woman to fly for a Canadian commercial airline. Later, she became the first Canadian female captain of the Boeing 767 and Boeing 777.

In 2015, Judy Cameron was awarded the Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Award. She retired shortly thereafter following an exemplary 37-year career with Air Canada.

In honour of Judy Cameron, Air Canada started a scholarship to foster the next generation of women pilots.

Learn more about the scholarship

Lynn Rippelmeyer

As a first officer for Seaboard Airlines from 1980–1981, Lynn Rippelmeyer is best known as the first woman to pilot the Boeing 747. But did you know that in 1977, she was also part of the first all-female crew of a scheduled flight in the United States? Lynn started her aviation career as a TWA flight attendant in 1972, but becoming a pilot was her ultimate goal! This all-star pilot accomplished many firsts throughout her career and as a result, has been honoured for her achievements with her uniforms on exhibit in museums like the Smithsonian.

Shaesta Waiz

In 2017, Shaesta became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft, visiting five continents and 22 countries. She took on this mission to inspire other women to pursue careers in the sci¬ence, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. And inspire she did. Truly passionate about inspiring the next generation, Shaesta founded Dreams Soar, a non-profit organization running outreach programs and funding scholarships to encourage girls and women to enter aviation and STEM careers.

Emily Howell Warner

Being the first often means having to work hard to defy the odds. Emily Howell Warner was the first woman to become a US airline captain. Warner served as a first officer for Frontier Airlines, a position the former flight school instructor and single mom worked very hard to achieve. Warner earned her wings in 1973 after watching many of her male students from the Clinton Aviation Academy graduate and easily secure jobs with commercial airlines. When Warner was hired in 1973, there were no other women working as pilots for the major commercial airlines. She challenged the status quo and fostered measurable change. Just five years after she got her first pilot job, there were some 300 women flying as commercial pilots in the United States.

Anny Divya

Anny Divya never allowed age to get in the way of her dream. She completed her pilot training when she was just 19 years old, and soon began her career with Air India. At age 21, she left for London to train on the Boeing 777, and in 2017, at age 30, became the youngest woman to pilot that aircraft type.

Zara Rutherford

At only 19 years old, Zara Rutherford became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, closing the loop on a five-month record-breaking journey. During her Guinness World Record adventure, Zara flew 28,000 nautical miles, landing in 41 countries on five continents along the way. Rutherford didn’t have a strong role model as there were very few women in aviation and computer engineering when she was young. Her mission is to change that.