YARS and airport hosts KSU Women in Aviation Published Feb. 27, 2012 By Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr. 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- A group of members from Kent State University's (KSU) Women in Aviation (WIA) chapter visited here and Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, Feb. 24, 2012. Lisa Dory, an air traffic control student at KSU and spokesperson for the six person group, said the international organization's purpose is to further people's knowledge and interest in aviation. Although membership in the group is open to everyone, WIA primarily focuses on women's role in the aviation industry, she added. In addition to meetings twice a month, the chapter arranges to visit aeronautical facilities in the Northeast Ohio region. The itinerary for the visit to YARS and the regional airport fit right into the group's goals of building interest in everything that goes into flying. After a welcome briefing, the group met with Lt. Col. Cathy Miller, a C-130 Hercules pilot assigned to the 910th's 757th Airlift Squadron. Miller talked with WIA members about being an Air Force Reserve pilot and some of the challenges of being a woman in aviation. She said, however, it is a "can-do" attitude that helped her succeed in her field. "Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this," she said. "If you want it, if you want it bad enough and you work hard enough, you can do it." Besides words of encouragement to the students, Miller shared what she enjoys about her career as a pilot with the Air Force Reserve. "I've travelled all over the world. It's a really great job and it's a fun job," Miller said. The group shared their respective courses of study with Miller, which included air traffic control, aeronautical systems studies and flight technology studies. After concluding their talk with the 757th pilot, the group's visit continued to the 910th Maintenance Squadron's propulsion shop. During their walkthrough of the shop, the group had the chance to see the inner workings of C-130 engine and propeller assembly up close as well as receive an overview of how the parts operate together from the propulsion flight chief. From the propulsion shop, the YARS visit moved onto the 910th Operation Support Squadron (OSS) Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) section. During the stop, AFE specialists gave the group a demonstration and hands-on review of several pieces of aircrew equipment that the section is responsible for maintaining including survival vests, signaling devices, night vision goggles, rafts, life vests and more. The students asked how the aircraft crewmembers could keep all of the equipment straight. "It can seem overwhelming and they have a plane to fly. If they remember to put it on and pull the cord and we do our job then they come home," said Senior Master Sgt. Jim Haupt, 910th OSS AFE superintendent. "In the end, that's what matters." After their visit to the AFE section, the WIA group stopped for lunch at the YARS Community Activity Center and then proceeded from YARS to the adjacent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. The students received an overview of ATC operations from the tower and radar room staff members. Afterwards, the WIA group moved onto to their final stop at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport passenger terminal. They completed the day with a behind the scenes look at terminal operations at a regional airport and better understanding of some aspects of the aviation industry. "We saw a lot today. It will give us a lot to think about," Dory, the group spokesperson, said. The WIA group's visit escort, Lt. Col. Perry Sorg, 910th Airlift Wing Chief of Safety, hoped their experience at YARS and the regional airport helped the students as they worked to determine their future career paths. "They are trying to figure out what to do with life. (I hope) talking with (Lt. Col.) Kathy (Miller) and the tower folks gave them a perspective of where they want to go and how to get there," said Sorg. He then echoed what Miller had said earlier in the day concerning women's current and future roles in the aviation industry. "The diversity is there now and it encourages them to pursue these careers," he concluded. For more information on careers in aviation in the Air Force Reserve, call 1-800-257-1212 or visit the website at www.afreserve.com.