This Monday marks the 100 year anniversary the first woman earned a pilot's license. On March 8, 1910, French balloonist Raymonde de Laroche became the first female to earn a pilot license worldwide.

Locals started their celebration this weekend. Sunday, a group of female pilots took women up in the sky, all directed by a female air traffic controller.

It is billed as a "salute" to the new airport, while saying goodbye to the old one. Even though women have been pilots for 100 years, they only represent about 7% of the flying population.

Locals want to encourage more women to earn their wings.

"It's typically been considered a male profession, although I do know a lot of commercial pilots who are female. It's just been a little slower to be accepted, I guess, as a female thing to do," said local pilot Linda Artman.

Girl Scouts will be visiting the Panama City airport tomorrow for a centennial celebration aviation career day. For more information on this event, call Flight Deck Aviation at 785-4325.