WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED?
Amanda Gray’s life and career took off to .92 mach after be-
ing awarded the CAE SimuFlite 500 series Citation type rating
aManda Gray
scholarship at the 2007 Women in Aviation International Confer-
ence in Orlando. When she received the scholarship, Gray was teaching the single-engine G-
1000 program at Cessna Aircraft Company. Two months after accepting her scholarship, she
was offered a Captain position with Deere & Company flying
the Citation X & Citation 680.
Gray was inspired to apply for the scholarship that would
provide a 500 series Citation type rating to advance her career from instructing in
single engine airplanes to
flight testing the Citation
Mustang. Her immediate
goal was to be the first female Production Test Pilot
at Cessna’s Independence,
Kansas, facility. The 500
type rating would have
provided an ATP multiengine rating and her first
jet type rating. She never imagined the next level would lead to a test pilot position, but instead
would be her dream job
flying a Citation X.
In addition to the Citation 500 series type ratings she obtained through
the WAI scholarship, she
has also earned Citation
680 and Citation X type
ratings and is currently
flying as Captain in both
aircraft at Deere.
In addition to her flying
duties, Gray has started working on a master’s degree at Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University and applied for Designated Pilot Examiner in the state of Iowa. She is actively involved with
mentoring the University of Dubuque Women in Aviation
Chapter and participates in the local aviation groups with her
husband, Spence. Gray has also accepted a Lead Representative Position with the FAA FAAST Team and has instructed at
several pilot safety seminars.
Amanda says of her scholarship, “This past year has been
nothing short of amazing. I feel so honored and grateful for
being given such an incredible opportunity. Thank you to
Women in Aviation and CAE SimuFlite for believing in me
and my talents. My story is a testament to why women should
apply for scholarships through Women in Aviation. Your
name could be called at the next conference in Atlanta and
your life changed forever.” ✈
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
More than 40 different scholarships will be awarded to Women
in Aviation, International members from all over the world at
the 20th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference
during the Banquet on Saturday, February 28. Come help us
celebrate these members’ achievements!
