As many as 500 young women will take to the skies Saturday in Yellowknife as part of Women of Aviation Week.

The interrnational event runs March 5 to 11 and its aim is to increase the number of female pilots and engineers in the industry.

Trinity Helicopters pilot Kirsten Brazier started the Yellowknife group Girls Fly Too to work with local businesses and airlines to sponsor hundreds of young women to take flight.

Trinity Helicopters pilot Kirsten Brazier, who started the Yellowknife group Girls Fly Too, aims to offer 500 free flights to girls and women ages six to 22 on Saturday. (CBC)

On Saturday at the Yellowknife airport from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. she aims to offer 500 free helicopter flights to girls and young women ages six to 22.

"My goal is to get 500 girls free flights," she said. "I think people just don't think of bringing their daughter to the airport, Therefore the girls don't think of it as a career."

Canadian North President Tracy Medve says industry also has a role to play.

"For some degree it's harder for young women to know what the job requirements are for these positions and maybe they think it's unachievable or difficult to accomplish."

But Brazier said getting girls airborne is a start.

"There's something special that happens when you take your first flight," she said. "Maybe they will come to the airport and see what kind of job is out there for them."