FSF Seeking Nominations for Gloria Heath Trophy Honoring Women in Aviation

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — Flight Safety Foundation is accepting nominations for the Gloria Heath Trophy, which is awarded to recognize a woman for notable achievements in civil aviation.

The trophy is named to honor Gloria W. Heath, one of the founders of Flight Safety Foundation. She played a critical role in the Foundation’s first two decades, developing the first formal course in aircraft accident investigation and serving as a driving force behind the Foundation’s efforts to disseminate aviation safety information worldwide. Later, she pioneered methods used in search-and-rescue operations.

Heath was an aviator in the U.S. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II and was a pioneer and a leader during the early days of the commercial aviation industry. Heath was designated by Women in Aviation International as one of the 100 most influential women in the first 100 years of the aviation and aerospace industry.

She was honored with numerous awards, including the Amelia Earhart Award, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, Smith College Medal, Engineering Sciences Award of the International Academy of Astronautics, the Women in Aerospace Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Congressional Gold Medal. Heath died in 2017 at age 95.

The Flight Safety Foundation Gloria Heath Trophy recognizes women currently working in aviation for demonstrated leadership, achieved excellence, communication, collaboration and mentoring, among other criteria. The inaugural award was presented in 2022 to Poppy Khoza, South Africa’s director of civil aviation, for her leadership of the South African Civil Aviation Authority and for her role in promoting gender diversity in international aviation.

Nominations for the 2023 award, which will be presented during the Foundation’s Networking and Awards Dinner on July 11 at the National Press Club in Washington, will be accepted until April 28, 2023. More information on the award, selection criteria and nomination process can be found on the Gloria Heath Trophy webpage on the Foundation’s website.

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About Flight Safety Foundation (www.flightsafety.org)
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety.

Media Contact:
Frank Jackman
Director, Communications and Research
+1 703.739.6700, ext. 116
jackman@flightsafety.org