The sky’s the limit for these GOTR girls!
This September, United welcomed teams from Girls on the Run New Jersey East, Girls on the Run Puget Sound, and Girls on the Run Central Florida to airports in Newark, Seattle, and Orlando for a behind-the-scenes look at the world of aviation. The airport visits were part field trip, part career exploration, and for many girls, a chance to see possibilities they had never considered before.
Girls in Aviation Day, an annual event created by Women in Aviation International, introduces girls to aviation and aerospace careers through hands-on experiences and opportunities to meet women working in the field. United’s business resource group for women and allies, uIMPACT, has helped bring the celebration to life across the airline for nearly a decade. In 2026, United continued its commitment to helping girls discover the many career paths available in aviation.
Girls from Girls on the Run New Jersey East visit Newark Airport on Girls in Aviation Day.
For the Girls on the Run team from Washington Elementary School with Girls on the Run New Jersey East, the day at Newark Liberty International Airport felt like a VIP experience.
The girls received their own boarding passes before heading through airport security, then visited the control tower and hangar. They explored an airplane from cockpit to tail, getting an up-close look at the technology, teamwork, and different jobs that help keep an airline moving.
And there was plenty for them to discover. Jaylah said, “I really love the cockpit because it was cool to see all the buttons. And I love that we got to go behind the scenes to see all of the amazing things that many people can’t see.”
For Aniyah, the day was her first time inside an airport or airplane. “The coolest thing I saw today was the inside of the plane, because this is my first time at an airport or ever in a plane. I only saw it in movies or shows.”
They also learned that air travel can transport more than just people … even dinosaurs! “When I was in the control tower, I saw that they shipped the T. rex from Jurassic Park to the scene where they could film it,” Zuri recalled excitedly.
Girls from Girls on the Run Central Florida get up close and personal with an aircraft during Girls in Aviation Day.
Seeing New Possibilities
The experience wasn’t just about seeing airplanes up close. It was about seeing the people and careers behind them — and realizing there might be a place for them, too.
At the end of the day, the girls heard from women at United who work in a variety of roles. They shared their experiences, answered questions, and showed the girls that there isn’t just one way to build a career in aviation.
By the end of the day, girls were already imagining where aviation could take them:
- “After today, I think I might want to be a pilot because I just think controlling the whole plane is like kind of interesting and fun to do.” – Karlianne
- “I can imagine myself being a flight attendant because I really love going on trips, it sounds really fun. I really want to go on flights.” – Jazmine
- “I learned I can be an engineer, I think it’s really cool.” – Brooklyn
Girls from Girls on the Run Central Florida learn about different careers in aviation.
At Girls on the Run, girls build confidence, develop life skills, and learn to believe in their ability to set and achieve big goals. Experiences like Girls in Aviation Day give them another opportunity to put that confidence into action by asking questions and imagining themselves in places they may never have pictured before. Sometimes, all it takes is the chance to see what’s possible.
As the girls heard from the women at United, the message was simple: You can be anything.
Thank you to United for creating space for girls to explore, dream big, and see themselves in new possibilities. We’re proud to partner with a company that helps girls look toward the future and imagine where they might go next.
