Sydney Flying College (SFC) has set a target of 25% female students by next year.
Named "25 by 25", the initiative was highlighted as part of International Women's Day celebrations held at the school's Bankstown base last Friday.
SFC Head of Marketing Raymond Toutounji said the school was getting close to their ambitious target.
“We are thrilled that we have a current female intake of 21%," he said. "As we strive towards our target of 25%, we will continue to create a voice and help females feel confident and supported while training."
Currently, the aviation industry is overwhelmingly male, with only 5% of the industry female.
SFC marked International Women's Day with a panel discussion answering industry questions from current female students, comprised guest women pilots Dominique Estival from the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA), Flight Lieutenant Sarah Hume of the Royal Australian Air Force and Erin Douglas, 2023 winner of the Flying Excellence Award and Recreational Pilot of the Year.
As a way of further encouraging women, SFC also awarded their Women Pilot Scholarship to student pilot Sophia Poole.
SFC Chief Executive Officer Joseph Pilo said that flying schools across Australia play a key role in creating growth for women in the Australian aviation industry.
"We need to open doors for women pilots across Australia, and it starts at the grass-roots level with our flying schools and academies,” he said.
“We proudly celebrate the achievements of women in aviation, and it’s clear that their unique contribution to aviation inspires many others to follow."