Just in! If you drive by Renton Airport in the greater Seattle area in Washington state, you won't be able to miss the beautiful new banner on the airport fence.

On December 5, Karlene Pettit is organizing a huge celebration event in Renton, WA, with the goal of introducing between 150 and 1000 girls and women to flying.

I am calling on all pilots to show his or her support for Karlene’s effort. Please conduct introductory flights at your local airport on December 5. If you can’t fly, please ask one of your pilot friends to take a girl or women on an introductory flight for you.

Let’s make sure that girls and women worldwide know that we welcome them to our unique world and that we are eager to share flying with them.

Karlene Petitt, Delta Airlines A330 pilot and author, is offering a $100 USD cash reward to one lucky pilot. To qualify for the price, pilots must introduce girls or women to flying between March 6 and December 31 2010 and send a flight report to register the flights before January 6, 2010. One flight = One entry. The drawing for the $100 USD price will be held on January 7, 2010.

In the fall of 2011, the Indiana Aerospace Junior/Senior High School (IAJ/S HS) will open its doors to 7th and 8th grade students, providing specialized instruction in the fields of aviation administration, mechanics, engineering, air traffic control, piloting, and other related aerospace disciplines.

“Working with airplanes, getting a chance to fly, and learning how to read scientific instruments makes for an incredibly fun way to learn skills and apply critical thinking,” said Dr. Marie Theobald, IAJ/S HS principal.