A Journey of Determination and Inspiration
Carole Hopson is a woman who has never accepted “no” as an answer. At the age of 50, she became a pilot with United Airlines and, just eight years later, achieved the prestigious rank of captain. Now, at 60, she has taken another significant step in her life by publishing her first book. In an exclusive interview, Carole shares her story, revealing what inspired her to pursue flying, why she believes women make exceptional pilots, and the unique phrase she uses to capture her passengers’ attention.
Her journey into aviation began during a fateful flight. As a former journalist and brand executive, she was seated in first class when the pilot noticed her peeking into the cockpit. “He said, ‘Come on up front.’ And I sat in the jump seat all night across the North Atlantic, watching the stars and the pilot’s buttons and switches. I knew then that I had to do this,” she recalls.
It was her boyfriend, now husband, who gave her the first flying lesson that would change her life. “It was unworldly. It was orgasmic,” she says. From that moment, she knew she had to leave her job and retrain for a new career.
During her time at flight school, Carole learned about Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a flying license in 1921. This discovery profoundly impacted her and inspired her to write her debut novel, A Pair of Wings. “I had been to several universities but had never heard of Bessie Coleman. How was that? It disturbed me deeply, and I decided I needed to do something about it.”
Bessie’s story resonated with Carole. Born to a mother who was once a slave, Bessie grew up in Texas and was fascinated by the Wright Brothers’ first flight. However, no flight schools on either coast would accept a Black woman. So, at the age of 26, she moved to France, where she learned French in night school and eventually earned her license from combatant soldiers. She returned to the U.S. and barnstormed across the country, becoming a trailblazer for future generations.
Carole found herself inspired by Bessie’s courage and resilience. Like Bessie, she also faced numerous obstacles in her career. After completing her exams, she had two children, which led her to take a break from her career. “It seemed like I had worked so hard to bring these children into the world, now why would I run out of their world?” she explains. “I stayed home, and 14 years flew by. By the time I was 50, I told my husband, ‘Either I get to the airlines now, or I’ll never get there.'”
She encountered many “nos” along the way. “People told me I’d never make it to a major airline, that I’d never become a captain. They said I was too old, too Black, and too much of a woman.” Despite these challenges, Carole persevered.
Today, she is one of around 150 Black women pilots in the U.S., representing less than one percent of the country’s pilots. To address this disparity, she founded the Jet Black Foundation, aiming to send 100 Black women to flight school by 2035. “Most of our talent pool has come from the military, but we need to look elsewhere,” she explains. “Women are built for this mission. We’re resourceful, team players, and great at prioritizing—skills I learned as a mom.”
Carole even uses her experience as a parent to connect with her passengers. “Before every flight, I say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard.’ Sometimes the PA system isn’t loud enough, so I add, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m gonna use my mom voice.’ It always gets a laugh.”
Despite becoming a published author, Carole still finds joy in flying. “There’s something about the wonder of watching an airplane overhead that gives me the tingles,” she says. “The responsibility, the training, everything about it is about the people behind you.”
For Carole, the plane doesn’t care about gender, race, or age—it only cares how she commands it. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, inspiration, and the power of believing in oneself.
A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson is published by Cassava Republic and available on Amazon, WH Smith, and other retailers.
