National Flight Academy: Delta Closes Equity Gap in Aviation

Delta Air Lines is committed to closing the existing equity gap in aviation by spearheading programs and initiatives that introduce and encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in aviation. 

In the 11th year hosting students at the National Flight Academy, Delta held three weeks of camps this summer for community partners and Delta dependents to experience an interactive, immersive learning adventure aboard the world's largest simulated aircraft carrier at the NFA in Pensacola, Florida. One of those weeks was the annual All-Girls Week, and 144 female students attended the NFA July 14-19. 

The NFA camp experience is geared toward 7-12th graders and designed to inspire and build upon their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The camp invokes critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. 

Participants live for six days in a multi-story, 102,000-square-foot facility and experience theme-park style thrills surrounded by advanced technology, flight simulators and virtual reality games and missions that ignite imagination and encourage learning. 

The Ambition Experimental Pilots, or AXPs as the students are referred to while aboard, are provided with a series of missions throughout the week. Each mission tests AXPs' mental agility, preparedness and communication skills, while demonstrating the importance of teamwork and goal completion.

Through simulator experience and immersive role play, AXPs see firsthand how those in naval aviation respond to and mitigate emergencies in real life. 

The All-Girls Week allows girls to experience a variety of careers in aviation to encourage them to pursue roles that were historically not open to them. While gender diversity is necessary for development, studies show that female exclusive environments are beneficial in helping young girls find community in like-minded students, develop independence and self-confidence. 

In most aviation occupations, women make up less than 20% of the workforce. Delta is committed to closing the existing equity gap in aviation by spearheading programs and initiatives that introduce and encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in aviation. 

Since 2013, Delta has partnered with the NFA to help students soar and inspire them to pursue an education in STEM by sending over 3,000 students from across globe to the National Flight Academy.