Aviation diversity getting off the ground
By Anna Yue Sep. 25, 2024
Motivated by her lack of opportunities and resources as a woman in aviation, Michelle Galvis co-founded Hera School with her uncle in October 2023. She hoped to increase participation in the aviation field for marginalized youth such as women and people of color; Pilot Institute reports that only 9.57% of the total pilot demographic are women—and only 10.7% of aircraft pilots and flight engineers are Hispanic or Latino, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. To combat this discrepancy, Hera School boasts a fully funded program for low-income students who wish to obtain their private pilot’s license; the first classes began in June.
Galvis began her flight journey in 2019 when her uncle, George Rodriguez, introduced her to flying and sponsored her private pilot license. As Galvis continued to fly, she noticed the lack of gender diversity in her field, leading to her dream of opening her own flight school.
“While my uncle gave me the opportunity to fly when I was still young, I wished I would have started earlier. In high school, I had never seen women pilots, so I did not realize this was a career option I could pursue. With the opening of Hera School, I wanted to give back to the community and teach girls how to fly for free so they could be aware of this career option,” Galvis said.
Aside from their youth program, Hera School also hosts additional programs for adults. Galvis described how the school’s drone programs and private pilot license lessons only require adult students to pay for instructor and oil replacement costs, significantly lowering the high price of entering the aviation field.
“We are trying to show the community that you can use this airport as an opportunity and a springboard for your career, not just to be a pilot but also an airplane mechanic and a drone flier. We consider ourselves the bridge between aviation and the community, demonstrating how those two things can be mutually beneficial,” Galvis said.
Students like Sofie Beard, a 16-year-old Hera School student in her junior year at Abraham Lincoln High School, recognize Hera School’s valuable education.
“Hera School is such a unique experience. I love how easy it is to connect with Michelle because she is a woman and a pilot. Deepening my introductory insights into flying through structured learning brings me more confidence when I introduce myself as a flier,” Beard said.
Senior Molly Daley grew up flying with her dad, a private pilot, and started to learn to fly when she was around 10 years old. She is excited to hear about Hera School’s potential to involve more women in aviation.
“Even after being a part of the aviation world for so long, I still rarely meet other female pilots, so when I do, it is very exciting. Although I am not a part of Hera School, I think that encouraging female minorities to fly while alleviating the high expenses could be a major step towards empowering women in a historically male-dominated field,” Daley said.
Galvis continues to inspire the next generation with her story and her school. However, her journey is not one without struggles. Starting up as a non-profit, all of Hera School’s materials—including their plane—are being paid out of pocket by Galvis and Rodriguez; purchasing a more powerful and reliable airplane had cost $130,000, and regular maintenance consisting of monthly oil changes, inspections and annual examinations results in an additional $15,000 per year.
However, the school continues to seek grants and sponsorships, and Galvis persists on installing improvements and advancing their resources—buying another airplane for instruction, establishing an electronics library and developing a transportation system between high schools and the aviation academy.
“Through our programs, I want girls to understand: this industry is for you, too. It may seem like an overwhelming mountain, but coming from someone who has just put one foot in front of the other, you can do it too. You can put yourself through school while climbing the ladder in aviation. Do not feel intimidated. Some people say women make better pilots anyway,” Galvis said.
About the Contributors
Anna Yue
page editor
Anna Yue, page editor for the Entertainment and Lifestyle, is a second-year Journalism student who has greatly enjoyed the class's collaborative process. She enjoys all sorts of food and loves cute fluffy animals. She loves sleeping and hanging out with friends.
Dana Lim
art director
Dana Lim is a Senior at Leland High School and the Charger Account's Art Director. She loves the creative aspect of art and this is her fourth year in journalism. She likes listening to music, nights out with friends, and cats.
Comments