Women in Aviation India (WAI)

About Us

Women in Aviation India Chapter (WAI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. On December 7th, 2015, the India chapter was launched on the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day. The India Chapter, supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India is a group of women who are stalwarts of the aviation industry representing multiple fields and interests - astronauts, military and commercial pilots, AMEs, air traffic controllers, entrepreneurs, academicians, journalists, flight attendants, high school and university students, airport managers and are passionate to give back meaningfully to the future generation. Aligned with the policies and astute vision of the Prime Minister of India, WAI aspires to build a strong foundation for women by providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities with a clear goal to encourage them to make aviation their preferred choice of career. WAI is committed towards fostering and promoting education in aviation, especially for women as well as to cultivate, foster, and promote interest and understanding among the public in the accomplishments and contributions of women to the aviation industry through mindfully planned initiatives and events undertaken throughout the year. In their quest to support and promote the astute vision, mission and objectives of WAI, women are encouraged to participate as members of India chapter.

Our Mission

As the nation proceeds to celebrate 75 glorious years of India’s independence this year, Women in Aviation reiterates its commitment to achieve gender equality in this industry and is determined to empower young girls and provide them with a strong platform to outshine. Inspired by the slogan launched by the visionary Prime Minister of India, ‘beti bachao, beti padao’ (save the girl child, educate the girl child), Women in Aviation India unveiled the slogan ‘Beti ki Udaan, Desh Ka Swabhimaan’ (the flight or success of a girl child is the pride of a nation) on 8th March, 2017 on the occasion of International Women's Day. The organisation is growing from strength to strength, inspiring thousands of young girls to transcend all differences, traditional mind sets and obstacles to give wings to their dreams.

Overview: The Indian Civil Aviation Industry

The aviation sector acts as a growth multiplier including economic output, jobs and trade enabled through better connectivity and has proved to be one of the largest contributors to the Make in India initiative. Rapidly changing dynamics of the sector, focusing on new business acquisition opportunities and investment, policy formation and regional connectivity, India's Civil Aviation industry is among the fastest-growing aviation markets globally and contributes USD 72 billion to the GDP. India also is the 3rd largest aviation market in terms of domestic air passenger traffic. 75 airports opened in 75 years of Civil Aviation in India while under the aegis of UDAN, within a span of 3 years, work has been initiated to provide scheduled connectivity to 97 unserved, under-served airports, 31 helipads and 10 water aerodromes. There are 587 aircrafts of scheduled Indian carriers operating year around. Private scheduled airlines plan to add over 900 aircrafts in the next 5 years. Freight traffic has grown substantially.

The number of operational airports is envisaged to grow to 190-200 by the year 2040. India is also committed towards building a greener airspace. Comprehensive regulatory policies and strategies have been adopted to reduce aviation carbon footprints. The new policies pertaining to helicopters, drones, MRO and flying training organization stand as testimony of the Government’s commitment to transform India into the world’s top civil aviation hub.

Read more:
Ministry of Civil Aviation | DGCA | ICAO | AAI