403 Squadron celebrates International Women’s Day

News Article / March 7, 2022

Major Nadine Dale
Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Officer, 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron

International Women’s Day is March 8 every year and Women of Aviation Worldwide Week is observed during that week. In January 2010, Mireille Goyer, an aviation educator and airline-rated pilot, launched an international grassroots initiative to celebrate the centennial of the first female pilot license worldwide earned by Raymonde de la Roche on March 8, 1910. This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the outstanding work that women accomplish every day as members of Canada’s Defence Team.

Women have been serving in many military occupations for decades, but in 1989 the Canadian Armed Forces opened all occupations to women.

Currently at 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron (HOTS), women are represented within 11 of the 23 military trades employed within the unit plus civilian employee and contracted support. As important team members they support the tactical aviation enterprise and our ability to train the next generation of tactical aviators.

These women serve within the squadron’s flight operations, aircraft maintenance, training development and logistic support cells every day.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Break The Bias. Collectively we create a world that is diverse, equitable and encourages women to work in occupations where they can excel individually and as members of the team.