News Release
NR-CAS 07.001 - February 16, 2007
OTTAWA—Major Dee Brasseur, one of Canada’s first female military pilots, will be inducted into The Women in Aviation, International Pioneer Hall of Fame on February 17th, in Orlando, Florida.
The Women in Aviation, International Pioneer Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to honour women who have made significant contributions as record setters, pioneers, or innovators. Special consideration is given to individuals or groups who have helped other women be successful in aviation or opened doors of opportunity for other women. It is sponsored by Women in Aviation, International – an organization established in 1990 to encourage women to seek opportunities in aviation. It has chapters in the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa.
In 1981, Maj. Brasseur went from office clerk to one of the first two women in the world to fly the
CF-18 Hornet. Later, she would become the first female military aircraft accident investigator in Canada.
“I’m tremendously pleased that Maj. Brasseur’s achievements are being recognized on an international level like this,” says Lieutenant-General Steve Lucas, Chief of the Air Staff. “She has inspired women worldwide to take up a career in flying, and she has mentored many others in Canada’s Air Force. We are extremely proud of Maj. Brasseur and her accomplishments.”
Maj. Brasseur has served 27 years of regular and reserve service and logged more than 2,500 hours of extensive jet flying experience throughout North American and Europe. She currently works in the Directorate of Air Strategic Planning and is military co-chair of the Defence Women’s Advisory Organization in Ottawa.
“There’s no resemblance between today’s military and the military I joined in 1972,” says Maj. Brasseur. “Back then the Canadian Forces had a hard ceiling that only allowed 1,600 women in limited occupations out of a total of more than 83,000 Regular Force personnel… Being a fighter pilot is the hardest thing any woman or man will do in their lifetime. I made the choice to do it and I have no regrets.” Today, there are more than 8,300 women in a Regular Force of about 63,000 and all occupations are open to women.
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Notes to editors:
To learn more about The Women in Aviation, International Pioneer Hall of Fame and Women In Aviation, International, please visit: http://www.wai.org/resources/pioneers.cfm.
To arrange an interview with Maj. Brasseur, please contact the DND Media Liaison Office at (613) 996-2353/54.
