The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking for leaders in aviation and related industries (yes, that includes drones) to join what could be a transformative movement to shape the future of women in aviation. Applications are now open for the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee. This committee marks a new initiative named after the groundbreaking legacy of Bessie Coleman, who was the first African American and Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license.

What the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee entails

This Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee was designed to develop actionable strategies to attract and retain more women and girls in aviation careers. It came about as part of a Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB) report titled “Breaking Barriers for Women in Aviation: A Flight Plan for the Future” which was released back in March 2022. 

With it, the FAA says it aims to assemble 25 leaders from across the aviation industry. That includes small business owners, aviation specialists and innovators.

Committee members will:

• Contribute unique perspectives to address gender disparities in aviation.
• Collaborate with other experts to design and implement actionable recommendations.
• Help shape the future workforce by inspiring the next generation of female aviators.

The committee will meet at least twice a year, with a focus on driving meaningful change to increase diversity in aviation.

Why the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee matters

Currently, women make up only 10.3% of total pilots as of Dec. 31, 2023, according to data released by the FAA. Within the drone industry, the rate is even more bleak. Just 8.4% of Remote Pilots (aka drone pilots) are female. That’s a total of 30,935 female drone pilots in the U.S.

For what it’s worth, the rate of female drone pilots is slightly higher now than it has been in past years, but not by much. The prior year, women made up 7.9% of all certified remote pilots. Women and Drones compiled a neat graphic visualizing that exact data, which you can see below:

The Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee seeks to close these gaps by addressing challenges, increasing opportunities and inspiring a more inclusive future.

This initiative not only honors the contributions of pioneers like Bessie Coleman but also lays the groundwork for ongoing innovation in the aviation industry.

Who should apply (and how do you do it)?

The FAA is looking for a diverse range of nominees who can bring fresh ideas and perspectives. If you:

• Have experience in aviation or related fields,
• Are passionate about empowering women and girls in STEM and aviation careers,
• Want to contribute to driving positive change in a historically male-dominated industry,

…then this opportunity is for you.

Interested candidates can apply here to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Applications are open now and will be considered through Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 at 6 p.m. ET. It’s all spelled out on the official application page, but expect to include a short biography, resume and statement.

And yes, men can apply too.

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DJI’s annual photo and video contest is back for another year, but this SkyPixel 2025 contest has a special sort of milestone. This is the 10th year of the massive online aerial art contest, which is put on by SkyPixel, the online drone community affiliated with drone maker DJI.

The contest constantly evolves to embrace the trends in drone technology, and this year is no different. In fact, this year expands beyond drones. In a nod to DJI’s handheld “Osmo” line of cameras, this year’s contest includes the first-ever “Handheld” category.

Of course, the contest still largely centers around drones. And for folks who enter, there’s a total prize package worth more than $170,000 up for grabs.

How to enter the SkyPixel 2025 Photo and Video contest

The entry window is open now, and it closes on Feb. 10, 2025. Now in past years, entrants had to upload their photos to the SkyPixel website. But for the first time, contestants can also submit their entries via all DJI social media channels.

In a departure from the many categories of past year, SkyPixel got more streamlined as it entered double digits. This year’s contest has been simplified to just three separate categories: Aerial Photography, Aerial Videography and Handheld Videography. Here are some specific details on each category:

Aerial Photography

DJI recommends a shot “overlooking the world, framing moments of eternity. Whether awe-inspiring nature or grand architecture, energetic sporting moments or portraits brimming with emotion – all show the charm of the art of photography.”

Entries must be shot on aerial photography equipment and entered as a single work with a single image of no less than 3MB and a resolution of no less than 300dpi. 

Aerial Videography

DJI recommends videos where you “soar through the skies and capture the magnificent beauty of the earth. From natural wonders to urban jungles within cities, from impassioned sporting events to tranquil or colorful getaways – push the limits and let your creativity shine.”

With this category, DJI requires you use actual DJI products to shoot. More specifically, entries must be no longer than 5 minutes in length. At least 30 seconds of footage must have been shot on DJI drones. According to DJI, DJI FPV, DJI Neo, as well as the Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini, Avata and Phantom series are all eligible.

Handheld Videography

With these entries, DJI wants you to “hold the camera and record the most intimate moments of life. Whether it’s the pulse of the city, the serenity of nature, the speed and passion of the sports field, the excitement and experience of travel, you are free to interpret the spirit of the footage and tell your unique story.”

As is the case with the Aerial Videography category, DJI requires you use actual DJI products to shoot. And again, entries must be no longer than 5 minutes in length. At least 30 seconds of footage must have been shot on any of the following DJI products: Ronin Stabilizer, Ronin Cinema Cameras, Osmo Action, Osmo Pocket or Osmo Mobile series.

Maximize your odds of winning the SkyPixel 2025 Photo and Video contest

Winning the SkyPixel 2025 Photo and Video contest is no easy feat. For starters, brace yourself for extreme competition. Over the course of its past nine years, DJI says its SkyPixel contest has received a combined 400,000+ submissions from around the globe.

That said, there are some ways you can boost your odds of winning.

Embrace the theme: This year’s theme is “Explore Without Limits.” Rather than uploading a generic beach, try to tie it into the theme — even if it is a generic beach. Of course, be creative and try to snap a photo that leans into the ‘exploration’ or ‘no limits’ vibes.

Enter early: While there is the big, overall prize, there are also smaller prizes along the way. Each month will feature “Popularity Awards.” DJI says the winners here are those that “recognizing content that explores “explore new trends or innovate art.”

Play to the judges: I’ll clue you in to who they are, so you can tailor your submissions to their interests. The photography judges are Anne Farrar (Assistant Managing Editor-Photography at National Geographic Magazine), Weimin Chu (landscape photographer), Daniel Kordan (landscape photographer) and Luke Stackpoole (travel and adventure photographer).

The video judges are: Claudio Miranda (Academy Award-winning cinematographer known for projects including Life of Pi, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Top Gun: Maverick), Chenyu Jin (Director of Photography known for Blossoms Shanghai and Like A Rolling Stone), Tianhong Pan (founder of MediaStorm) and Sam Newton (travel filmmaker).

Get inspired: Use the past winners to glean insights into what the judges like. I’ve shared the best drone photos of 2023 and the best drone videos of 2023, highlighting the 2023 SkyPixel contest winners. And more recently, I shared the best drone photos of 2024 and the best drone videos of 2024, again highlighting last year’s SkyPixel winners.

What are the prizes?

SkyPixel will announce the awards on March 27, 2026. So what’s up for grabs? This year, three Grand Winners (that’s one from each of the categories) will win the best prize package. But that’s not all. DJI plans to give away more than 80 prizes over the course of the competition.

Here’s what’s in those prize packages:

• Photo Grand Winner prize: A Hasselblad X2D 100C, XCD 3.5-4.5/35-75mm, and an XCD F4/45P (worth over $14,000)
• Video Grand Winner prize: A DJI Inspire 3 drone, a DL 18 mm F2.8, PROSSD 1TB, and two TB51 Batteries (worth over $20,000)
• Handheld Grand Winner prize: A DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema camera, DJI Transmission, and two TB50 batteries (worth over $15,000)

Find out about the other smaller prizes on the official SkyPixel website.

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