The Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative (PPLI) aims to accelerate the advancement of women in all pilot professions, facilitate dynamic mentoring, and enhance our leadership role in the aviation community. The program provides highly motivated 99s with the tools to develop their careers and leadership abilities. Through guided activities and formal mentoring partnerships, it strengthens and expands the network of women pilots.

This highly-structured, formal leadership and mentoring program is unique. The mentor and mentee will communicate weekly to discuss the mentoring prompts and guided activities. Participants must commit to meeting the program expectations for the entire duration of the 18-to-24-month program.

In the first five-month session, you are the Captain setting your own course, starting as a mentee in the PPLI. Your mentor is a Navigator in the final phase of the PPLI program, with whom you will create a formal Flight Plan, which is your plan for achieving short-term career goals and developing leadership and career skills. This phase is focused on your individual mentorship with your Navigator and an industry mentor.

The Captains' Circle Phase is geared towards peer mentorship. In an online forum setting, participants will be active in community-based group discussions and group mentorship. You also continue making progress on your Flight Plan and your Leadership Activities while in the Captains' Circle. On completion of the Captains’ Circle Phase, you will be equipped with the tools and experience needed to become a mentor in the next phase.

Now you can help steer another woman pilot along her path. As the mentor to a Captain just starting the PPLI program, you will give guidance, support, and encouragement as your Captain develops a plan to pursue her goals. You will also continue progressing on your Flight Plan and complete your Leadership Activities in this last session of the PPLI. When reaching the Navigator phase, it is a preference that participants would be working as a pilot by this point; however this is not a requirement.

During your time in the PPLI, you will work on developing your leadership, teamwork, and organizational skills through giving back and volunteering for the Ninety-Nines and the aviation community. These are tracked through two different styles of leadership activities: Captain and Co-Pilot. Participants are expected to complete at least one (1) Captain leadership activity and at least two (2) Co-Pilot leadership activities. Through these leadership activities, PPLI participants will practice leadership and follower-ship through volunteering roles.

Leadership Activities are a graduation requirement for the PPLI.

If you are a 99s member with at least a commercial certificate, actively flying, pursuing a professional pilot career, or you are an established professional who wants to take your career to the next level, this program is designed for you. Please read the Fact Sheet for a listing of the program requirements.

These links will get you directly to the Fact Sheet and participant application form:

Brochure

Fact Sheet

Participant Application form

Application deadlines:
July 31st and January 31st

Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/99sPPLI/

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ppli99s/

If you still have questions about the program, you can contact us at:
mentoring@ninety-nines.org

If you want to volunteer as a mentor in our program, please contact us for more information at: mentoring@ninety-nines.org. You can also fill out the PPLI contact information form and we will contact you shortly.