American Airlines celebrated Black excellence by putting together a special crew both on the ground and in the air for a historic flight departing from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona.
Everyone involved in the flight operation- pilots, flight attendants, gate agents, and technician crews-were Black women.
The Texas-based airline organized the August 8 flight as a tribute to Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to receive a pilot’s license, in 1921.
“She bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the path for many to follow,” American Airlines said in a press release.
American Airlines invited members of the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars to be passengers on the commemorative flight, Simple Most reported. The group works with students to “promote the legacy of Bessie Coleman through STEM programming” and introduce young people to possible careers in the field of aviation.
Gigi Coleman, who is the CEO and president of the organization, as well as the grandniece of the pioneering pilot, joined the contingency of students who attended the historic event.
“I am grateful for American Airlines to give us this opportunity to highlight my great aunt’s accomplishments in the field of aviation,” Coleman said in a video that was posted on the AA’s YouTube Channel.
Dr. Sheila Chamberlain, who acts as the organization’s national chair, said that the flight was a representation of everything Coleman advocated for in her life.
“Her dream has been fulfilled,” Chamberlain added. “From the bottom up, African American women are doing it in the field of aviation and aerospace.”
Unfortunately, putting together such a flight took a lot of work because there is still a scarce amount of Black women working in the skies. The airline added that it is intentionally trying to boost efforts to include more women of color among its flight decks, with trips like this being used to raise awareness.
“Black women have been notably
underrepresented in the aviation industry, especially as pilots, representing less than 1% in the commercial airline industry,” American Airlines said in its press release.
Crew members who participated in the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars flight said they felt honored to be role models for the younger generation of Black women who are exploring career paths.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be part of the crew where we’re inspiring young girls, young girls of color, to see the various roles that these women play in every aspect to make this flight possible,” said Capt. Beth Powell, the pilot of the flight, in the YouTube clip.
American Airlines was on the cutting edge when they put women in the cockpit. In 1973, the company became the first major airline in the U.S. to hire a woman pilot, Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo.
In 1992, the company had its first Black woman pilot come on board, Brenda Robinson, who also made history with the U.S. Navy.
