Dr Jo Salter, the first woman to fly a fast jet in the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), officially returned to open an aviation academy. Salter opened the academy by piloting a Diamond DA42 Twin Star aircraft on Saturday, which also marked Girls in Aviation Day.
An academy to close the personnel gap
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which launched the academy, said it found concerning figures that showed the aviation industry is facing a major workforce shortage. 1.4 million new professionals are expected to be needed by 2034, including pilots, engineers, and technicians.
Salter’s new academy aims to close the personnel gap and encourage more people, especially women, to enter the aviation industry.
The academy is open to aspiring pilots and engineers with no previous experience in the industry. Successful applicants must commit to serving with MAF overseas for at least six years.
About Jo Salter and MAF
Salter is a former RAF pilot and became the UK’s first female fast jet pilot in 1994, flying the Panavia Tornado with 617 Squadron. In 2000, Salter left the RAF after maternity leave, and later became an inspirational speaker and joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a director and chief of staff. In 2022, Bournemouth University awarded Salter an Honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of her efforts to promote inclusivity and motivate others.
Salter said her story showed the importance of women in aviation:
“We need more women in aviation, but we also need to recognise and believe in the talents, skills and potential that each of us possesses. Never underestimate human capacity, especially if you’re a woman. If Greene could do it, we can do it, girls!”
MAF was started by several World War II pilots who had a vision for how aviation could be used to spread their Christian faith. Now, MAF provides aviation, communications and learning technology services to over 1,000 Christian and humanitarian agencies around the world, and thousands of isolated missionaries and indigenous villagers in the world’s most remote areas.
Chief executive of MAF International, Donovan Palmer, said:
“[Our] services are needed now more than ever to reach vulnerable, cut-off communities facing the devastating impacts of climate change, poverty and war.”
MAF operates from three major centres: Nampa, Idaho; Ashford, England; and Cairns, Australia and provides support to programs in the Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.
What are your thoughts on Salter’s new aviation academy? Let us know in the comments below.
