No.4 HAMILTON PLACE
National Aerospace Library 
The Amy Johnson Lecture was established in 2011 to honour a century of women in flight.
Amy Johnson CBE was a pioneering English aviator who became the first woman to fly solo from Britain to Australia in 1930 and broke a string of aviation records between 1930 and 1936. Amy Johnson was a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War, and in 1941 was the first member of the ATA to die in service.
The Lecture is traditionally held on or close to the 6 July to mark the date in 1929 when Amy Johnson received her pilot’s licence.
This year’s lecture looked at how The United States and United Kingdom share essential roles and responsibilities as defenders of Western values, promulgators of commerce, and exporters of security. Yet, in a time of fiscal austerity, vital defence and aerospace capabilities could be diminished. The U.S. potentially faces nearly $600 billion in congressionally mandated defence and space cuts, known as sequestration, harming defence modernisation, civil space and aeronautics programs and the industrial base. Both the U.S. and the United Kingdom face the challenge of underinvestment at home and the need to deal with rising powers such as China. The West must invest in new technologies and leverage unique advantages in areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, space and cyber systems.
Recorded: July 5, 2012
For more information about future Women in Aviation and Aerospace Group events visit the Specialist Group page on the Society website.
About the speaker:
Marion C. Blakey
President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association, USA
Marion C. Blakey is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). AIA is the most authoritative and influential voice of the aerospace and defense industry, representing nearly 150 leading manufacturers, along with a supplier base of nearly 200 associate members – the largest membership in AIA’s 91-year history.
Ms. Blakey became the eighth full-time executive of the association in 2007. Before that, she served a five-year term as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Prior to being named FAA Administrator, she served as Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Ms. Blakey serves as chair of the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations. She also serves on the boards of directors of Alaska Airlines, Noblis, the non-profit science, technology, and strategy organization and the NASA Advisory Council.
This Lecture was sponsored by:
