All-Black female pilot crew honors Bessie Coleman

Pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman was honored in a big way.

Bessie Coleman honored

On the 100th anniversary of Bessie Coleman becoming the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, American Airlines operated a flight from Dallas to Phoenix with an all-Black female crew.

The Texas native, who grew up in the Dallas suburb of Waxahachie, broke down barriers in the aviation world and pioneered a path for generations of Black women to come. Coleman’s aviation skills drew out nicknames like “Brave Bessie” and “Queen Bess.”

Bessie Coleman got her pilot’s license in 1921 and, in 1922, performed the first public flight by Black woman.

To honor Coleman’s legacy, American Airlines hosted her great niece, Gigi Coleman, on the flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

“My great-aunt received her license two years before Amelia Earhart,” shared GiGi, according to CBS News. “She wasn’t in the history books. No one knew about her.”

The flight was operated by an all-Black Female crew — from the pilots and flight attendants to the cargo team members and the aviation maintenance technician, the airline said.

Representation matters

Black women only represent 1% in the aviation industry, according to American Airlines. The airline said that through the American Airlines Cadet Academy, it is committed to increasing awareness and accessibility to pilot careers within diverse communities.