First Commercial Female Pilot Takes Fellow Aviator on Final Ride

Bethany Whitfield

Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 12:12 AM ET

Verified

Emily Warner (left) and Helene Dax (right) pose
for a snapshot before Helene’s final flight.

Key Takeaways:

Pioneering female commercial pilot Emily Warner organized a special flight to fulfill the last wish of her long-time friend, Helene Dax, who is suffering from dementia.
Helene Dax was an aviation trailblazer herself, serving as the first female air traffic controller in Chicago during WWII and later becoming a pilot.
The flight, supported by Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime organization, allowed Dax to take the controls of a Cessna 172 over the Colorado Rockies, rekindling her enduring love for aviation.
The emotional event was attended by dozens of fellow aviators, including members of the Ninety-Nines, showing support for Dax's final flight experience.

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Despite having logged 21,000 hours over the years, for Emily Warner, her most recent flight was a special one. That’s because Warner, reportedly the first female commercial airline pilot hired by a U.S. scheduled airline, organized the flight to fulfill the last wish of a long-time friend and fellow aviator who has been suffering from dementia for the past several years.

Warner met Helene Dax many years ago at a cocktail party, where they were instantly drawn together by their love of aviation and their history in the field.