SEDONA, ARIZONA — As International Girls in Aviation Day marks its 12th year, pilot and flight-school co-founder Michelle Smith is encouraging girls and women of all ages to consider aviation as a career or personal passion. Smith did not become a pilot until age 49, later helping launch Untethered Aviation in Sedona to train aspiring pilots and introduce newcomers to flying. “I didn’t become a pilot until I was 49, so I’m here to say that it doesn’t matter what age you are,” Smith said. “Aviation is for females of all ages.” The annual observance is designed to introduce girls ages 8 to 18 to opportunities in aviation while encouraging them to explore flight training, simulators, aviation groups, and academic subjects such as math and physics.

Smith says one of the best ways to begin is with a discovery flight, giving potential pilots firsthand experience in the cockpit before committing to training. Untethered Aviation offers private pilot certification, instrument and commercial training, flight instructor programs, scenic flights, and introductory lessons in the challenging mountain terrain surrounding Sedona. “Flying is freedom and anyone who wants it can achieve it,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter if you are 9, 19, 49, because there’s a path in aviation for you.” Her message reflects the broader goal of International Girls in Aviation Day: helping more young women see aviation as a realistic and achievable future.