Why We Do What We Do
Minorities in Aviation aims to overcome the primary obstacles that prevent low-income minority communities from accessing opportunities in aviation and other technological industries. These barriers typically involve a lack of resources and community support programs. Despite the challenges of poverty, violence, and broken families, we firmly believe that the next generation of aviators lies within these underrepresented communities.
As of 2023, we can proudly say we have exposed over 300 minority children to aviation by giving them to opportunity to sit in the front seat of aircraft and make discovery flights. Minorities In Aviation also runs a camp that allows appropriately aged children to build a real airplane with the assistance of our partners.
These opportunities are beyond invaluable for children who come from communities where access to aviation is out of reach.
Please note: Minorities In Aviation intentionally and unapologetically targets communities of color, however, the founder and supporting staff aggressively objects to any form of discrimination based on race. We welcome all to experience the exciting field of aviation with us.
Our Plans
Minorities In Aviation has held tours at local airports where groups of 50 children at a time were allowed to take tours of the helicopters, airplanes, and aircraft in the museum. They were also taken on 20 to 30 minute flights in 2 and 4 seater aircraft and were given the opportunity to take control of the airplane!
By the year 2025, and in conjunction with our supporters, we will provide scholarships to thousands of underprivileged minority children across the globe, to be able to have access to pilot training, and aircraft maintenance training certification.
We have also held events centered around aircraft electronics maintenance utilizing donated equipment from Azimuth Aerospace.
In addition, Minorities In Aviation plans to build our own aircraft hangar in the St. Louis/Metro East area!! This opportunity will give the community, adults and children, the opportunity to get hands on, real life experience in aircraft maintenance.
About the Founder
Geanovea West was born and raised in East Saint Louis, Illinois. She graduated from East Saint Louis Senior Highschool in 2003. A year after graduating from highschool, Geanovea joined the Marine Corps where she served for 9 years as an avionics/electronics technician on attack helicopters and did 1 tour in Iraq. She earned her B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2010 and has worked as an electrician on helicopters, fighter jets, general aviation aircraft and wind turbines. Geanovea is also one of the VERY few African American women in the world to hold a FAA A&P License which she earned in 2017 from the National Aviation Academy. She has been in the aviation industry for almost 20 years and is extremely passionate about aviation and giving back to communities in need.
