IN PICTURES: MILLION AIR HOSTS GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY

The next generation of female pilots, technicians and more had the chance to meet their role models on Sept. 21 as Million Air Florida Keys hosted a Girls in Aviation Day celebration at the Marathon International Airport. Opening up the hangars to display a host of aircraft, from privately-owned vintage planes to mission-critical aircraft like Trauma Star and Florida Keys Mosquito Control District helicopters, ladies already working in all areas of aviation met with little admirers and their families to inspire a continued interest in the field. Photos by ROSS SMITH/IslandExposureCo.

Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.