Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

The Bayou Beacons: Lighting the Way
And full flight circles
include the Bayou Beacons,
the Gulf Coast chapter
of Women in Aviation
International. The
nonprofit connects aviation
professionals, students, and
enthusiasts to support women
in every corner of the skies. Through mentorship, scholarships, and STEM outreach, they’re fueling the future of flight.
“It’s not just about flying,” said flight instructor and chapter president Taylor Dickey. “It’s about showing women that the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.”
Dickey founded the Bayou Beacons last year and is now leading the charge for Girls in Aviation Day on October 4 at Trent Lott International Airport. The hands-on event will give girls 18 and under the chance to tour real planes, dive into exciting STEM activities, and meet the trailblazing women shaping aviation on the Coast.
“We’ll have all kinds of activities to get these young women excited about aviation,” she said. “Our charter members will be there to share their stories—each one representing a different career path.”
The inaugural event will coincide with the airport’s third annual Flying High and Cruising Low family celebration—proving that whether it’s a child’s first glimpse inside a cockpit or a seasoned pilot mentoring the next generation, flight is more than a destination. It’s a calling.
Taylor Dickey.
64 | September 2025 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
From Solo Student to Leader in the Sky
Captain Alice Furr, a
contract pilot who flies
jets for corporations and
individuals, heads up the
NOLA 99s—a powerhouse
chapter of women pilots
spanning the Southeast.
She began flying in 2015
and said the aviation
landscape for women has transformed dramatically in the last decade.
“When I started, it was tough. I was the only female flight student in my class,” she said. “There just weren’t many of us. But now? It’s a whole new world. In just ten years, I’ve seen a huge shift—it’s incredible.”
Her chapter has seen that shift firsthand. “We had maybe 24 members when I joined,” Furr said. “Now we’ve quadrupled. There’s this amazing influx of young women becoming pilots. I’ve learned so much and had the privilege of mentoring others—it’s beautiful to see how far we’ve come.”
Alice Furr.