Carole Hopson flies as a first officer for United and is part of the team supporting the airline’s Aviate program. [Photo: Karston Tannis]
Key Takeaways:
Pilot and author Carole Hopson wrote "A Pair of Wings," a novel inspired by pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman, with a larger mission to fund aviation scholarships.
Through her Jet Black Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) and partnership with the Luke Weathers Academy, Hopson aims to send 100 Black women to flight school by 2035, requiring $7 million.
Hopson's own inspiring journey from a corporate executive to a United Airlines first officer fuels her dedication to diversifying aviation and honoring Coleman's legacy.
The initiative builds upon the proven success of the Luke Weathers Academy, which has already graduated Black female flight instructors, to inspire and train more Black women in aviation.
For Carole Hopson, the goal has always been beyond herself. The story of Bessie Coleman took hold in the heart of this pilot and former executive more than 12 years ago—and Hopson set her sights on bringing it to fruition in a way that had never been shared before.
