The airline industry is built on the legacies of those who were willing to make sacrifices just for an opportunity. When Marlon Green launched his six-year court battle to be able to fly for Continental Airlines, he opened the door for every Black airline pilot.

Those who dream of becoming a pilot don’t see the sky as the limit; they see it as a starting-off point. Bessie Coleman had every excuse to give up on her dream of becoming a pilot. In a time when American flight schools admitted neither women, nor African Americans, Coleman relentlessly pursued her passion for flight. 

 

Finally putting the pandemic in the rearview, 2022 was a year of rapid growth for our union as pilot hiring numbers took off and operations generally returned to normalcy. When outside threats to air safety such as telecommunications signals in the 5G C-Band and attempts to raise the retirement age arose, we responded with new resources for members and Calls to Action. And by the end of the year, we added roughly 5,000 new members to our ranks.

Aviation history is filled with tales of trailblazers. From shattered records to broken barriers, aviators have pushed the envelope far beyond speed records and marathon flights around the world. Throughout Black History Month, we’ll highlight the stories of heroes who helped pave the way for the Black-American aviators today: 

Over a career, many pilots remember a moment when we felt close to the line that separates a flight’s safe outcome from a tragedy. Even a decade later, we can easily recall exactly what made the difference.