The episode of Manchester: Your Airport, MAN was recorded in front of a live audience at the airport’s inaugural Aviation Careers Festival, attended by secondary school and college students keen to learn more about opportunities in the sector. The special episode is being released in both audio and video formats to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March.
Hosted by former BBC Radio 6 Music, Key 103 and Rock FM presenter Hywel Evans, the event featured a live Q&A session where pupils asked the panel about careers in aviation and what it takes to succeed in the industry.
The panel included Melanie Lawley, Head of Airfield Operations at Manchester Airport; Kate Wild, an Air Traffic Controller with NATS; Lauren Wigglesworth, a Captain at Virgin Atlantic; Laura Moskal-Beresford, a member of Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew; and Abi Owen-Hodgson, an apprentice aircraft engineer with easyJet.
The speakers answered a wide range of questions, from how to enter aviation careers to what happens when air traffic controllers encounter unexpected situations in the skies. They also discussed their favourite destinations to fly into and the day-to-day realities of working in a busy international airport environment.
The discussion also highlighted the aviation industry’s ongoing efforts to address gender imbalance. Women currently account for only around five per cent of commercial pilots, although panellists said they are seeing steady progress.
Virgin Atlantic captain Lauren Wigglesworth emphasised the importance of representation in encouraging more women to pursue aviation careers.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” she said. “If someone imagines an airline captain, they might not picture me, but I hope seeing women in these roles today shows young people what’s possible.”
The Manchester: Your Airport, MAN podcast launched in 2023 and has since produced four series, building an audience of more than 10,000 listeners. The International Women’s Day special is available on major podcast platforms, with a video version also available on YouTube.
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