NASHVILLE (AP) - Thousands of women involved in the aviation industry, including the head of the National Transportation Safety Board and female pilots from World War II, will be in Nashville for a three-day conference.

The International Women in Aviation conference will start on Thursday and run through Saturday at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman is scheduled to speak about aviation safety, and Boeing commercial airplanes executive Neil Planzer will talk about the air traffic control system.

The conference will also highlight female aviators in the military. Lt. Col. Jill Long, who has flown more than 50 combat missions in Afghanistan, will talk about her experiences prior to a panel discussion by four female pilots who served during World War II.