I began my airline career with American Airlines in March of 1973. Until my retirement in August of 1998 I was flying as a senior Captain on the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft. In addition to flying the domestic Trans-Continental routes, I flew American’s international routes to the Caribbean Islands, South America and Europe.
Prior flying duties as a Captain with American included flying the Boeing 727. As the workhorse of our fleet, the Boeing 727 provided a great opportunity to fly into most of the domestic cities that are served by American Airlines. In addition, I have flown as a Flight Engineer and First officer on the B-727 on both domestic and international routes.
Professional Licenses and Ratings
Airline Transport Pilot – Multi-Engine Land: Boeing 727, 757, 767
Commercial pilot – Multi-Engine Land, Single-Engine Land and Sea
Commercial Pilot Instrument
Certified Flight Instructor, Primary, Advanced, Instrument, Single and Multi-Engine Land
Flight Engineer – Turbojet
Glider and Glider Tow Pilot
Additional Professional Activities
Trustee for the College of Aeronautics from 1990 – 2000
Trustee and Tennis Chairperson for the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club from 1999-2001
Created and produced three “Women of Accomplishment” luncheons from 1981 to 1983 for the Wings Club, Inc. in New York City. These events honored woman from various fields of endeavor. Some of the recipients included award winning actress Polly Bergen, race car driver Janet Guthrie, anchor woman Jane Paulie, feminist and author Betty Friedan, Rabbi Sally Priesand, actress and spokesperson Maureen O’Hara Blair, Moya Lear of Lear Aircraft Company, Television Workshop’s Faith Steward Gordon and opera singer Anna Moffo.
Created the “Information Bank” – a networking system for the International Society of Women Airline pilots to help further their flying careers and the careers of women pilots just starting out.
Guest speaker at many schools, colleges and private clubs including the Federal Aviation Association and the Ninety Nines, the oldest aviation organization for women aviators. The club’s first president was Amelia Earhart.
Currently involved in mentoring several pilots who are pursuing a career in
aviation.
Publications
1984 – Wrote an autobiography, “Takeoff” published by Crown Publishing Co.
Researched and co-authored a magazine article with Dr. Jonathan Scher about pregnancy and flying published in Mothers Today Magazine
Wrote the “Pilots Guide to a Perfect Plane Ride” for Woman’s Day Magazine
Featured or appeared in Working Woman, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Reader’s Digest, Gold Coast Pictorial, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Wear Daily, Vogue, Woman’s Day and Smithsonian Magazine.
Appeared in books by Henry Holden, Captain Robert Buck, John M. Capozzi, Lisa Yount and Carole S. Briggs – list incomplete.
Awards and Honors
1973 – Hired as the first woman to fly for a major US airline and the first woman ever to earn a Flight Engineer rating on a turbo-jet aircraft
1974 – Received the Amita Award given to Italian-American Women of Achievement
1979 – Recognized as a “Super Sister” and placed on a Super Sister Trading Card. These trading cards were distributed to school age children nationwide.
1980 – Given the “Amelia Earhart Award” by the northeast Chapter of Airport Managers
1982 – Featured in the Cutty Sark Salute to “Here’s to Those Who Fly in the Face of Tradition” add campaign
1984 – Received the “Women of Accomplishment Award” by the Wings Club of New York City
1985 – Received the Zonta Club of New York’s “Non-Stop Achievement Award”
1987 – Selected by Woman’s Day Magazine as one of “50 Women Who Have Changed Our Lives”
1998 – Recipient of the “Women Making History Award” from the National Museum of Women’s History in Washington, D.C.
2016 – Key Note Speaker for the New York Bar Association’s Aviation Division.
My American Airlines uniform is on display at the Smithsonian Air&Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Personal Information
My husband and I live in New York City and have two grown children.