How Women Pilots Broke Into The Aviation Industry

A photo of four women pilots walking in front of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in 1944.

If the average person going on vacation were to be asked to think of who the captain of their flight is, the first image that comes to mind will likely be a man in a black-and-white uniform, with his hat tilted just right, sitting relaxed while he maneuvers the plane confidently. That makes sense—for decades, flying was viewed as a dangerous, skillful, and usually male pursuit. Yet, despite this perception, female pilots have played a significant and remarkable role in the evolution of modern aviation, and it’s time we recognize that.

One of the first female trailblazers was Frenchwoman Raymonde de Laroche. In 1910, she became the first woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license. Her achievement stunned the general public, as headlines of newspapers wrote her name in big, black, and bold letters. De Laroche displayed to the world that the male-dominated industry of aviation had a place for women.

Just one year later, another woman defied the typical idea of a “normal” pilot. In 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first American woman to earn her license. While dressed in her stunning, iconic purple satin flight suit, she also became the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel in 1912. Tragically, her life was cut short when she died in an air show accident just a few months later. However, despite the tragedy of her death, her short life inspired a legacy that motivated countless women to act against traditional gender stereotypes. Early women pilots were flying airplanes and disrupting societal expectations, and every plane they maneuvered, every flight they took, was a radical slap against traditional gender stereotypes.

Next, after the 1910s, let’s enter the 1920s and 1930s. During these decades, there was one name that stuck out to everyone: Amelia Earhart. She was the most famous female pilot to ever cross the skies, as she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. Her captivating style and image left a lasting impression on the American public for decades to come.

Although Amelia is primarily known for her personal aviation records and accomplishments, she also contributed to non-profits that supported women. In 1929, she co-founded The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots that still exists today. Their mission was to support women aviators by providing free mentoring, training, and connections.

After the 1930s, the 1940s saw women pilots step into the spotlight even more. With the introduction of World War II, many men were called out to combat or carry out other responsibilities. Now, with the relative absence of male pilots, women were suddenly pushed into roles that, previously, were often closed to them. This is when the WASP, or the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, came to life.

Throughout the duration of World War II, over a thousand women ferried aircraft to the U.S., taught their fellow male pilots, and even towed targets for live ammunition training. Although women didn’t participate in combat missions, they dominated many other aspects of the aviation industry.

Despite their important role in the war, the women part of the WASP were not granted veteran status until 1977. Still, their contributions and presence showed the world that women were capable of handling high-performance planes under pressure, broke many stereotypes, and paved the way for future female pilots.

However, after the war ended, many women pilots were pushed back to the sidelines as the men returned home. When a few years passed, the role of these women in aviation was largely forgotten, and the aviation industry reverted back to its traditional gender lines. But the dream didn’t die. Thousands of women continued to participate in air races and join flight schools to become a pilot, all with the hope that they would be able to achieve their flying dreams.

A photo of Emily Howell Warner sitting in the cockpit of an airplane.

By the 1960s and 1970s, the women’s liberation movement and feminist movement had gained momentum, especially in the aviation industry, and their efforts soon became fruitful. In 1972, Emily Howell Warner became the first woman to be hired as a permanent commercial airline pilot in the United States. As part of Frontier Airlines, she also became the first woman to get the title of captain. Her achievement was extraordinary—up until then, airlines openly refused to permanently hire women as pilots, citing that they did not believe women had the stamina or determination for the role. Warner’s entrance into the cockpit soon set the stage for the late 20th century.

Finally, after the early 1970s, the divide between men and women in the aviation industry began to crack. In 1974, the U.S. Navy began training its first female aviators, but they were restricted to only non-combat roles. In 1993, those restrictions were lifted as women began flying alongside men in fighter jets.

Significant individuals in that era include Jeanne Leavitt, who became, in 1993, the first female U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. Fast forward to the present, we can see that the century-long effort to include women in the aviation industry has succeeded. Today, in the modern age, women fly all sorts of fighter jets, ranging from F-35 stealth fighters to helicopters. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), women make up around 7-9% of all pilots in the U.S. Although women are still a minority in the industry, progress is undeniable. Women now serve as captains for major airlines, command combat squadrons, and lead entire cabins. What a difference from the 1920s!

From the hidden figures of women pilots in the 1920s to today’s bold commercial captains and fighter pilots, women have spent the better half of the century proving that flying the sky isn’t exclusive to men. Despite all their efforts today, discrimination still exists. However, many women are combating that by taking to the skies, one flight at a time.