2022 AVIATION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

Aviation Week.

March is International Women’s Month and, therefore it seemed fitting to highlight South Carolina’s Women in Aviation. Women have been flying powered aircraft since1908, but prior to 1970, most women were restricted to working privately or in support roles in the aviation industry. Women’s participation in the field of aviation has increased over the years but the number of women in aviation remains low compared to men. Check out these Q&A interviews with four remarkable women in aviation in our state. They are great role-models who are all working to spread the word to youth, especially girls, about career opportunities in the aviation industry. Happy International Women’s Month to these, and all, women aviators!

How long have you worked in aviation? I have been in aviation for almost 11 years. I graduated from Auburn University, and soon after graduation I started my career at the Georgia Department of Transportation as an Aviation Project Manager. I was the state aviation planner for a couple of years and then spent some time on the consulting side as a planner and project manager. My job at GSP is my first position on the airport/owner side.

How did you get into this occupation? I went to college planning to graduate with a degree in Professional Flight Management with the goal of being an airline pilot. This was around 2008, and the recession hit. The timing for me didn’t work out. I changed gears and started looking into airport management. I am happy I did. I find my career very rewarding and look forward to the future. I still fly on the side as a CFI/CFII and I am part owner of a Piper Lance.

What do you love about aviation? I have been passionate about airports and airplanes since I was little. My dad took me to our local airport and asked if I wanted to learn how to fly when I was 14 years old. Nineteen years later, I’m still amazed at this industry. I love how aviation connects us to each other. Some of my best memories involve flying or working at airports.

Who is your idol in aviation? Eileen Collins. She was the first female to serve as pilot of the Space Shuttle. She was also the first female to serve as commander of a shuttle mission.

How long have you worked in aviation? My first aviation job, at age 22, was at Butler Aviation as an Aircraft Marshaller in Louisville, Kentucky for UPS. I stayed home to be with my children for 10 years and then got back into aviation at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Airport Operations. I worked in the operations position for 8 years and then decided to go back to school. I received a bachelor’s degree in professional Aeronautics with a minor in Airport Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I worked in Airport Operations at Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport and Augusta Regional Bushfield for several years and then accepted a position at Fairfield County Airport where I am now the Airport Director.

How did you get into this occupation? I started loving aviation when I was a kid. My dad was an Air Traffic Controller and private pilot, so I was immersed early in aviation. I’ve been flying since I was 19 years old but did not get my private pilot’s license until I was 38.

What do you love about aviation? I love all aspects of aviation! I’ve hit a lot of avenues in aviation … I’m a pilot and now an Airport Director. Aviation is a very dynamic field to work in; it is ever changing. Every day is different and never boring, and that’s what I love about it.

Who is your idol in aviation? The WASP group are my aviation idols. Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) was a civilian women pilots’ organization, and the members were United States federal civil service employees. Members of WASP became trained pilots who tested aircraft, ferried aircraft and trained other pilots. These women proved that they could fly almost every type of aircraft in the U.S. military arsenal at the time, including the heaviest bombers and fastest fighters. Their pilot training became the same as their male counterparts. I was able to meet one of these women in Florida many years ago, and this was a very special time for me. Today, in aviation, the industry is changing … the number of women in the industry is increasing and the frame of mind is changing. Women are proving that they do have a place in aviation and can be just as viable as men.

Jill Warren Assistant Emergency Management Director/Airport/Grants Saluda County Emergency Management Saluda County Airpor t

How long have you worked in aviation? I’ve been in aviation since 2008, and I moved into a management role with the Saluda County Airport in 2009.

How did you get into this occupation? I first began my aviation career assisting Saluda County with their airport grants. One thing led to another, and they were looking for someone to manage certain tasks, and I volunteered. I honestly thought that I was just filling in while they found a manager to take over. And here I am still in this role 14 years later.

What do you love about aviation? I love meeting all the different people that come through the airport. Several times a year, I get to meet and greet the Marines that fly in. I also love that I am not sitting behind a desk all day. Just today, I was working on fuel checks outside of the building. I never thought that aviation was a passion of mine. I don’t have a pilot’s license, but I absolutely love working in aviation!

Who is your idol in aviation? When it comes to aviation, I look up to Mr. Phil Hodgens, our FBO. I have a lot of respect for him, and he has done a lot to help me out with the airport.

Carolyn Donelan Lead Flight Director at the Challenger Learning Center of Richland One

How long have you worked in aviation?

I have been at the Challenger Learning Center of Richland One since 2011.

How did you get into this occupation?

I have always loved aerospace. When I was a child, my father was stationed in Virginia, so my family spent many Saturdays exploring the various museums of the Smithsonian. The Air and Space Museum was one of my favorites. (My father was a pilot, so it was one of his favorites, too.) My parents nurtured my enthusiasm for all things aerospace … planning a family trip to Kennedy Space Center, attending every air show within driving distance, visiting Gibbes Planetarium. When Richland One advertised the Lead Flight Director position, it seemed like a natural fit.

What do you love about aviation?

My favorite part of aviation in South Carolina is the community. That community welcomed me when I first started at Challenger and has supported our mission of inspiring students to pursue STEM careers ever since.

Who is your idol in aviation?

Chuck Yeager

Is there anything that you would like to add?

I would like to add a huge THANK YOU to all of you who have been involved with me and Challenger in some way. Whether you were the person who taught me the difference between VFR and IFR, you sponsored a summer camp scholarship, you donated your time to talk to students about careers in aviation or you allowed a student to volunteer on your aircraft restoration team (you can see how this list could get very long…), thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, your expertise and your time to help us inspire the next generation of aviators.