Founders of Sisters of the Skies Share a Colorful Vision of Aviation

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 09:27 AM ET

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Angel Hughes, Sisters of the Skies (SOS) cofounder and board chair, holds her cell phone as Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw, fellow SOS cofounder and CEO, leans in behind her to take a group selfie with other Black and Brown women pilots attending the 4th Annual SOS Gala held Feb. 26, 2022, in Atlanta. [Courtesy: Sisters of the Sky]

Key Takeaways:

Sisters of the Skies (SOS) was founded by airline pilots Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw and Angel Hughes to address the severe underrepresentation of Black women in aviation, who comprise less than 1% of certified airline transport pilots.
SOS operates on three core pillars: scholarships to help fund expensive flight training, mentorship to guide women through the industry, and outreach programs like "Girls Rock Wings" (GRoW) to provide visibility and inspiration to young Black and Brown girls.
The organization aims to triple the number of Black female airline pilots within five years, creating a vital support system where these women feel seen, heard, and empowered in a male-dominated profession.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series to mark Women’s History Month: March 1: Pioneers of Women’s Aviation | March 2: Carole Hopson | March 4: Martha King | March 8: Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance | March 11: The Air Race Classic | March 15: Sisters of the Skies | March 18: Women in Aviation Conference | March 22: Women In Aviation: The Numbers | March 22: The first graduating class of Air Force female pilots. | March 25: Bonny Simi of Joby Aviation | March 29: Top Female Difference Makers in Aviation

Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw remembers ditching high school to attend the funeral of Janet Harmon Bragg, the first African-American woman to earn a commercial pilot certificate. “I took two trains and a bus to the city of Chicago from the suburbs,” she says. Upon arriving at the church, she was disappointed to find there was no viewing of the body.