Aviation has a community problem — not enough people know the community exists. Two organizations working hard to fix that in Colorado are the Colorado Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation International (WAI). Neither organization is about making noise or staking claims. They're about showing up, building connections, and making sure the next generation of pilots has more runway to work with than the last one did.
The Colorado Ninety-Nines: Who They Are
The Ninety-Nines are the oldest women's aviation organization in the world, founded November 2, 1929, when 99 of the 117 licensed women pilots in the United States became charter members. Amelia Earhart became the organization's first president in 1931. Today the organization has chapters worldwide, and the Colorado chapter is one of the more active ones in the Mountain West.
The Colorado Ninety-Nines meets regularly — check colorado99s.org for the current schedule and location. Meetings are open to anyone — you don't have to be a licensed pilot, and you don't have to be a woman to attend (though membership is open to licensed women pilots). The chapter draws a mix of student pilots, private pilots, instrument-rated pilots, and CFIs, plus aviation enthusiasts who just like being around the community.
What the Colorado 99s Actually Do
The chapter runs a range of activities — community outreach, youth engagement events, scholarship programs for female student pilots, and social fly-in gatherings. Check colorado99s.org for the current lineup.
Airmarking is one of the 99s' oldest traditions. The organization has been repainting and maintaining airmarkers — the large compass rose and town name markings painted on rooftops and airport surfaces — since the 1930s. These are genuine VFR navigation aids, especially useful in remote areas without clear landmarks, and the 99s take their stewardship seriously.
The chapter also administers female student pilot scholarships, providing financial support to women pursuing their certificates. If you know a student pilot who could use a boost, the Colorado 99s scholarship program is worth applying for — or spreading the word about. Details are on colorado99s.org.
March 7, 2026: Soaring with the Ninety-Nines
Last month the Colorado chapter hosted "Soaring with the Ninety-Nines" at Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight near Centennial Airport (KAPA). The event brought together pilots, students, and aviation enthusiasts at one of the Front Range's better aviation museums, with interactive programming focused on the history and future of women in aviation. If you missed it, keep an eye on the chapter's calendar — they run events like this several times a year, and the Wings Over the Rockies venue is genuinely excellent for this kind of gathering.
Women in Aviation International: Colorado's Connection
Women in Aviation International (WAI) is the professional-track organization for women working in and around aviation. While the Ninety-Nines skew toward the pilot community and flying activities, WAI serves a broader audience: flight crews, mechanics, ATC, aerospace engineers, airline professionals, and students at every stage of their careers.
The WAI annual conference is the organization's flagship event, and Colorado has a notable history with it. In 2025, WAI brought roughly 5,000 attendees to the Gaylord Rockies Resort in the Denver/Aurora area — one of the largest gatherings of aviation professionals in the country, and a significant endorsement of Colorado as an aviation community hub. The 2026 conference was held March 19–21 in Dallas, but Colorado isn't done hosting: WAI returns to Denver in 2029. That's a date worth knowing if you're planning your career trajectory or your organization's event calendar.
WAI chapters exist at many colleges and universities with aviation programs, and there are professional chapters in the Denver area that hold local events throughout the year. The organization also runs scholarship programs across disciplines — not just pilot training, but mechanics, aviation management, and STEM pathways. The wai.org scholarships page is regularly updated with new opportunities.
How to Get Involved
For the Colorado 99s, the easiest entry point is showing up to a monthly meeting. Second Saturday of the month, somewhere on the Front Range — check colorado99s.org for the current location. There's no pressure to join immediately; come once, see what the chapter is doing, and talk to the people there. The membership is welcoming to students and newcomers.
For WAI, wai.org has a chapter finder, conference registration, and scholarship applications. If you're a student pilot or early-career aviation professional, the WAI network is one of the better investments you can make in your career — the mentorship connections that come out of the annual conference have a way of opening doors that wouldn't otherwise open.
Both organizations are building something worth being part of. Colorado's aviation community is richer for having them, and they're genuinely not hard to find.