Black Hawk Helicopter Among Highlights of Girls in Aviation Day Saturday in Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — A West Virginia Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will be among the highlights Saturday as Girls in Aviation Day returns to North Central West Virginia Airport for its fifth year.
The free event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at the former North Central West Virginia Airport terminal, located at 2000 Aviation Way in Bridgeport.
This year’s theme is “A Day in the Life at an Airport,” with hands-on activities designed to show young people what it takes to operate and fly out of a local airport.
Organizers with the Women in Aviation International Mountain State Chapter confirmed this week that the Black Hawk will fly into the event with an all-female West Virginia National Guard crew.
The National Guard also participated in the event in 2024, when an all-female crew brought a UH-60M Black Hawk to Bridgeport for Girls in Aviation Day.
Saturday’s event will give participants a closer look at a wide range of aviation careers, including opportunities involving pilots, aircraft mechanics, airport operations, security and other aviation-related fields.
In addition to the Black Hawk, scheduled displays are expected to include Cessna aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol and Fairmont State University’s Aviation Center of Excellence, along with airport fire and rescue equipment, a fuel truck and other airport service vehicles.
Several organizations involved in the region’s aviation industry are also expected to participate, including MHI RJ, Pratt & Whitney Engine Services and Pierpont Community & Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program.
SpaceTrek, an aerospace and engineering program for high school girls, is also scheduled to participate with a satellite-building activity.
The event comes as aviation education and workforce development continue to grow around North Central West Virginia Airport, including new investments in aviation maintenance training and related aerospace industries in the Bridgeport area.
Girls in Aviation Day is open to anyone under age 18. Youth participants must be accompanied by an adult, and both children and accompanying adults are required to preregister.
The event is free.
Registration is available at:
Photos courtesy of Women in Aviation International Mountain State Chapter.
