All-Black female crew flies from Dallas to honor Bessie Coleman

DALLAS — In honor of the a hundredth anniversary of Bessie Coleman turning into the primary Black lady to earn a pilot’s license, American Airlines operated a flight from Dallas to Phoenix with an all-Black female crew. 

Bessie Coleman, who grew up in the Dallas suburb of Waxahachie, broke down boundaries within the aviation world and pioneered a path for generations of Black girls to come. Her aviation abilities drew out nicknames like “Brave Bessie” and “Queen Bess.”

Coleman bought her pilot’s license in 1921 and, in 1922, carried out the primary public flight by Black lady. 

To honor the legacy of “Brave Bessie,” American Airlines hosted her nice niece, Gigi Coleman, on the flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The flight was operated by an all-Black Female crew — from the pilots and flight attendants to the cargo crew members and the aviation upkeep technician, the airline stated.

Here is a take a look at the complete flight crew: 

• Beth Powell: pilot, captain 737-3
• Charlene Shortte: pilot, first officer 737-3
• Cheryl Gaymon: flight attendant
• Mary Roberson: flight attendant
• Vanessa Bennett: flight attendant
• Breana James: flight attendant
• Sharron Brooks: crew chief
• Nicole White: crew chief
• Maya Matthews: fleet service agent
• Natasha Williams: fleet service agent
• Alisha Bates: fleet service agent
• Patricia Milfort: MOD, buyer operations
• Arlene Law customer support coordinator
• Lynette Daniels Moody: customer support coordinator
• Lillie Hayes: customer support coordinator
• Tracy Brown: customer support agent
• Muju Abdul-Qadir: IAM Control Center coordinator
• Pamela Calton: TWU Aviation upkeep technician
• Audrey Van Hook: TWU crew chief ramp
• Crystal Tochi McDaniel: obligation supervisor, cargo companies
• Sandra Butler: TWU crew chief ramp
• Jessika Mejia: premium buyer companies rep
• Veronda Butler: senior supervisor, premium visitor companies operations

Black girls have been notably underrepresented within the aviation trade, particularly as pilots, representing lower than 1% within the industrial airline trade, in accordance to American Airlines. The airline stated that via the American Airlines Cadet Academy, it’s dedicated to increasing consciousness of and rising accessibility to the pilot profession inside numerous communities.