Wings for All Program: Enhancing Diversity in Brazilian Aviation
The Wings for All Program aims to enhance diversity in Brazil’s airline industry. Collaborating with the Ministry of Women, the National Civil Aviation Agency, and the Ministry of Ports and Airports, the program leads a training and inclusion initiative, with a focus on women and individuals from low-income backgrounds.
“Today, in Brazil, only 3.2% of pilots are women, 2.4% are maintenance mechanics, 18.9% are flight dispatchers and only 10.6% of engineers in the sector are women,” Ministry of Women, Brazil.
The program envisions collaborative ventures with universities to provide professional training and scholarships for aspiring pilots and maintenance technicians, prioritizing women and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Wings for All initiative encompasses 15 projects across three key areas: inclusion and diversity, women in aviation, and professional training and qualification within the airline sector.
“We are, effectively, creating wings for visibility. I congratulate Anac and the Ministry of Ports and Airports for their commitment to this cause, which is so urgent and necessary. Actions like these show that it is possible to speed up time and build equality between men and women, respecting all the diversity within these groups,” highlighted Ministry of Women, Maria Helena Guarezi during the program’s launch ceremony.
Additionally, a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) was signed as part of a government pact with the Ministries of Human Rights and Citizenship, Racial Equality, and Tourism. This agreement aims to implement measures fostering social inclusion and diversity in Brazilian civil aviation, while combating discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and ability.
Uma iniciativa da ANAC em parceria com o Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos para promover a diversidade, inclusão e formação na aviação civil brasileira. pic.twitter.com/KB4ec87f9X
— Ministério das Mulheres (@mindasmulheres) April 4, 2024
Key signatories include the Brazilian Association of Airlines (Abear), Aeroportos do Brasil (ABR), Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, Infraero Aeroportos, Airbus, the International Association of Women in Aviation (IAWA), and the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur).
Furthermore, partnerships have been established with three federal universities: the University of Brasília (UnB), the Federal University of São Carlos (UFScar), and the Federal Rural University of the Semiarid (Ufersa). These institutions will conduct research, provide data for program development, and offer support for the inclusion of women, individuals from low-income backgrounds, and marginalized social groups in the civil aviation market.
Maria Helena Guarezi, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Women, commended the program, emphasizing its significance for both the Ministry and women in general. The launch ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including ministers and executives from relevant organizations.
The program aims to inspire girls and women to pursue careers in civil aviation, addressing the low representation of women in various roles within the sector. It aims to create a respectful environment free from harassment, increase women’s participation in the labor market, combat gender inequality, promote sustainable growth, prevent talent loss, combat discriminatory practices, and develop a new generation of civil aviation professionals.
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
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