Private aircraft began landing at Wanaka Airport last evening, ferrying in many of the flying females of the association. Those attending the four-day rally in Wanaka are aged from 20 to 85 years and range from a student pilot with 20 hours' flying experience to an Air New Zealand pilot with 15,000 hours.
Association members make up about half of the 80 registered delegates. The rest are guests and other aviation enthusiasts, including some men, several of whom are affiliated members of the association.
While not eligible to compete, those men would assume the role of ''dependable blokes'', along with other male guests attending, NZAWA president Sue Telford, of Wanaka, said. Some would help out as ''grid marshalls and gofers'', while others were flight instructors who serve on the judging panel.
''And we can't have a party without men,'' Mrs Telford joked.
The rally's competition day today features motorised aircraft events such as aerobatics, navigation, forced landings, non-instrument and precision flying. Microlight, glider, parachutist and helicopter categories are usually included in the rally programme, although there were not enough entries to run those competitions this year, Mrs Telford said.
NZAWA rallies provide an opportunity for novice and experienced female pilots to hone skills and share aviation knowledge.
''Many a new member goes from these rallies to become an airline pilot, own their own aircraft or their own aviation business, and the rally therefore plays an important role in the aviation industry within New Zealand.''
Founded in 1959, NZAWA had Jean Batten, CBE, as its patroness, until her death in 1982. The association has nearly 200 members and includes women from all kinds of aviation-related interests and careers, from recreational pilots through to captains on commercial airlines and air traffic controllers.
The public is invited to hear the keynote speakers tomorrow at 12.30pm at Edgewater in Wanaka. They are Pauline Hickey, the first woman hot air balloon pilot to represent New Zealand and to compete in a world championship, and Captain Christine Walsh, of Seattle, a test pilot for Boeing.
