Women Who Fly: True Stories by Women Airline Pilots

by International Society of Women Airline Pilots 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

Women airline pilots share their stories, including an emergency landing in Russia, a flight over Antarctica, and a trip to Washington, D.C. to accept a Congressional Medal of Honor. These accounts, thirty-six in all, will entertain, thrill, and inspire while giving you a glimpse inside the lives of these female aviators. The book includes over 70 photos and all proceeds go to support the ISA+21 scholarship fund. ISA+21 has already helped over 200 women by donating over $1.3 million dollars to aviatrices whose stated career goal is to become an airline pilot.

Genres: Aviation, History

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2018

Reviews

[Nick Thorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of inspiring, exciting & educational aviation stories from trailblazing pilots. All of the stories are unique, however they share the extremely challenging environment these pilots faced during their careers. In all stories these challenges were overcome in the most impressive ways. Some of the things these women have achieved in a lifetime are incredible. I found the book also gives a rare glimpse into the life of an airline pilot. I especially liked the photos and small blurbs at the end of each story. A terrific read for a pilot or aspiring pilot which will leave you inspired to achieve your goals.

[Majel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a good book. It was organized by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, so it heavily features pilots who know each other. So, missing the stories of many other important women pilots who just werent in this crew of friends. But thus, it also heavily features many of the women who were the first women pilots hired at their airline -- United, American, Frontier, you name it -- and of course, the ground-breaking Beverly Bass, who was the first woman captain at American Airlines as well as one of the captains who brought a 747 into Gander Newfoundland on 9/11. It left me with the profound impression: The first women ever allowed to fly comercial airliners started 50 years ago (1971-1973 thereabouts) and are alive and well today, still flying (for fun, now retired from commercially). Women's equality is so young. Some of my favorite stories were some spectacular stories of women competently and calmly dealing with emergencies. The pilot of the Aloha Airlines flight that had its roof ripped off in flight over Maui, pilots who were check airmen (yes that's **still** the term, infuriating) on the Sully investigation (and were featured in the Sully movie!), pilots flying thru 9/11, flying thru IFR emergencies back with fewer technological resources. One particular story was so in-love with the sights, sounds, smells, and feeling of flying that it could make anyone fall in the love with aviation. So many of these women had tons of doubters, but importantly, so many of them also had someone in their life who told them they could do anything. So many of them had sons who, when asked as children if they wanted to be pilots, replied, "No, that's a girl's job." It's a reminder that all we know is what cultural experiences teach us, whether or not it's actually true/reality, and thus it shapes our beliefs and choices. Its a reminder that we need to believe in a person's potential, unconditionally, and give them the support and encouragement to break barriers. Thank you to Dr. Danny Guest for buying this as a Christmas gift and as a thank you for taking him up on a flight in my club's airplane. I'm glad to have read it.

[Rosemarie E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechlessly Inspired and Tearful

Thank you for your Amazing Bravery and Inspiration.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your stories.

My First Flight at age 11 as a UM on Lüfthansa KLM was to Deutschland. I was so excited. I don’t know what plane except that it was a Double decker with a spiral staircase. That is where my Dream to Fly started.
Years later at age 36 I became a Flight Attendant on Dec.5, 2003 (Aviation’s 100th Birthday). I worked for almost 14 years on Regional AC. CRJ 200, 700 and 900. EMB ? and Dash-8s. Every time we had to Ferry, I hoped I could ride up front. (Of course being fair minded of the other FA, in case they may also like the idea) I got to many times. It amazed me. I kept very still and quiet and just observed. We were offered an early buy out which I ended up taking. Thinking I would go to a Mainline Carrier. To avoid Reserve apply as a German LODO. Instead I ended up getting my CDL and Driving Metro.
I’ve often considered the school ‘Aviate’ but I’m almost 60.

Fantastic book for one with the Dream.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖊 My review: I enjoyed reading these short memoires, and it reminded me of the great career I had in the aviation field and the interactions I had with pilots. Recommended.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🔲 Excerpt of note:

🔹The International Society of Women Airline Pilots began in 1978 when 21 female pilots met in Las Vegas, Nevada. Forty years later, ISA+21 is 500 female pilots strong. Our annual conferences are held around the world and are met with great enthusiasm. They are “energizing,” one attendee said, and a wonderful way to renew and re-ignite old friendships and make new ones. ISA+21 has also awarded over 1.3 million dollars in scholarships to over 200 women whose career goal is to be an airline pilot.

✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿

[Sharon Wishnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This entertaining collection of 36 stories from women airline pilots who are members of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots is lesson in both women's history and aviation. The pilots who share their stories have literally flown through the glass ceiling changing the ranks of commercial aviation. These essays highlight the struggles of sexism women have always faced as they pursue their dreams. But the stories also show a love of flying, camaraderie, and professional respect found across both genders in this specialized profession. While the women honestly write about their struggles to get into their captain's chairs, they also laud their mentors and the many men who embraced and welcomed them to the cockpit.

[K.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed being in cockpit thru the stories of female pilots

Sadly, I am will never be a pilot. One of the ways I experience flying is through reading stories from pilots. I really enjoyed these stories, I got to experience different experiences in the cockpit. I applaud the ISA for publishing this book on their 40th anniversary. I suspect that some like me may not be the intended audience. I suspect that in addition to commemorating their 40th anniversary that the ISA wanted stories in one volume to encourage women to become airline pilots. The only drawback for me is no glossary of aviation terms and links to airport abbreviations.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different authors throughout - good read, wishing I had read this before retirement age - oh, to fly!