Discover Flight Launches in UAE at Dubai Airshow to Empower Young Women in Aviation

Awarding 15 Emirati Female Students with Orientation Flights and Mentorship, Celebrated at Dubai Airshow

 

Waldwick, NJ and Dubai, UAE – October 13, 2025  –  Discover Flight, a new global youth initiative powered by Kallman Worldwide and the U.S. Exhibitors at the Dubai Airshow, will debut in the UAE this fall through a collaboration with International Community Schools (ICS), Emirates National Schools (ENS), Women in Aviation International, Informa, and the Dubai Airshow. The program will select 15 outstanding female students (ages 16–18) from around the Emirates to experience the thrill of piloting an aircraft for the first time through an all-expense-paid orientation flight at a certified flying school. The program is sponsored by Top Aces and AmCham Dubai. 

 

More than a single event, Discover Flight awardees are invited to participate in a year-round mentorship program, connecting virtually with astronauts, airline captains, military pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers and accomplished female leaders in the aerospace industry, who will share their experiences and answer student questions. Students receive a commemorative flight jacket and mission patch, signifying their entry into a growing global community of young aviators.

 

Discover Flight directly complements the UAE’s commitment to youth empowerment and aviation talent development. Building on initiatives such as Emirates’ National Talent Acceleration Programme and government-backed youth strategies, the program provides an early-stage feeder path for students to pursue aviation and STEM careers.

 

“On the occasion of Kallman Worldwide’s and the USA Partnership Pavilion’s 30th anniversary at the Dubai Airshow, we’re honored to align with UAE government initiatives and the airshow’s NextGen Leaders Programme to present our first UAE team in November,” said Tom Kallman, CEO of Kallman Worldwide.  “Our goal is to expand the pipeline of future talent, inspiring young women with their first flight and then sustaining that inspiration through mentoring and global connections.”

 

“At Informa, we are committed to spotlighting emerging talent and leadership in aviation,” said Kate Manson, Project Manager, Aerospace at Informa. “By recognizing Discover Flight students within the NextGen Leaders Programme, we highlight how opportunities to fly today can spark the innovators, pilots, engineers and aerospace leaders of tomorrow.”

 

“Emirates National Schools takes great pride in preparing students to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Graham Corbyn, Director of Education at ENS. “Discover Flight perfectly complements our mission to cultivate ambition, curiosity, and confidence within our future leaders. By pairing first flight experiences with purposeful mentorship and recognition, the program fuels their passion for aviation and broadens their horizons toward the limitless opportunities this industry offers.

 

At ENS, we are committed to empowering every student to dream ambitiously, achieve with integrity, and take their aspirations to new heights, while becoming future leaders who will drive innovation, inspire others, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.”

 

“Discover Flight is a bold leap forward for UAE youth — offering exceptional young women the chance to soar, not just metaphorically but literally, as they step into aircraft for their first orientation flight and engage with leaders in aviation,” said Mohamed Al Shamma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of International Community Schools.

 

Discover Flight is an aviation empowerment initiative that builds on the success of the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship Program. Since 2019, Endeavour has introduced more than 120 students and 30 STEM educators from 11 countries to advanced STEM learning through the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s “Space Camp” in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

To expand its reach – nearly four times larger than Endeavour’s space focus – and address the underrepresentation of women in aviation, Kallman Worldwide created Discover Flight positioning it alongside its flagship offering, the Endeavour Scholarship. The program combines first-flight experiences, mentorship with aviation professionals, and recognition at international aerospace events, providing students with inspiration, visibility, and a pathway into STEM and aviation careers.

 

Discover Flight is a CSR initiative by international trade show company Kallman Worldwide. For more information about Discover Flight, partnership opportunities, or ways to support, visit www.endeavourscholarship.org.