Carrying Aviation Day Forward: An Aviation Day Recap to the Vermont Aviation Advisory Council (VAAC)

Written By Beth White

Aviation Day began with a simple WHY: to lift up the many BRIGHT SPOTS across Vermont aviation and help policymakers see aviation as a statewide network of young people, educators, businesses, pilots, maintainers, volunteers, emergency responders, and communities.

At the VAAC meeting, we reflected on what worked and what we learned. We saw the power of showing up together, speaking from lived experience, and making aviation’s impact visible through real people and real stories. Seventeen airport and aviation groups helped organize the day, and nine people from across the state testified. Together, they shared one connected story about youth pathways, mentorship, workforce development, public service, economic vitality, and the future of aviation in Vermont.

The Council’s feedback was incredibly positive, and we were grateful for the invitation to share the presentation. The work now is to build from that momentum through stronger relationships, broader representation, and year-round advocacy for Vermont’s airport communities.

Beth White

Education Possibilitarian, Artist, Writer, Doula, Mentor, Aviatrix, Breast Cancer Survivor, Pilot-in-Command at Habitat for Aviation

Born and raised in Vermont, Beth worked in a variety of schools in New England, including The Met, which is Big Picture Learning, flagship public high school in Providence, Rhode Island. After a decade in the classroom, Beth returned to the University of Vermont to earn a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies. She is an education possibilitarian, artist, a writer, a Doula, a mentor and aviatrix and most recently, after winning a tough battle with breast cancer, Beth founded Habitat for Aviation to inspire the next generation of airplane mechanics, avionics, specialists and pilots.

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