Social Change in the Airline Industry

The dramatic social and cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s profoundly affected commercial aviation. Barriers against the widespread participation of women and minorities began to fall, and airlines began to hire women and African Americans as pilots.

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National Air and Space Museum Archives

First Officer
Frontier Airlines, 1973

Emily Howell broke through the gender barrier to become the first American woman to fly routinely for a scheduled U.S. commercial airline. An experienced pilot when regional carrier Frontier Airlines hired her as a second officer in 1973, Howell soon advanced to first officer (co-pilot) and then to captain.

Maternity Uniform
United Airlines, 1990s

In the early 1990s, United became the first airline to issue an official maternity uniform for its female pilots. By then the industry and the traveling public had accepted that all qualified people, regardless of race or gender, could pilot an airliner. Capt. Cynthia Berkeley wore this uniform.
Gift of Capt. Cynthia Berkeley and United Airlines

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First Officer
American Airlines, 1973

Bonnie Tiburzi became the first American woman to fly for a major carrier when she was hired by American Airlines in 1973.