Becoming a pilot wasn’t always a realistic dream for Carole Hopson. In fact, after graduating high school, the very idea of flying seemed “ridiculous” and “impossible.” But decades later, she has proven that the seemingly unreachable is often just a detour—not a dead end.
Today, Carole is among a pioneering few: one of only about 150 Black female professional pilots in the United States—a figure that represents less than 1% of all pilots in the country. Her path to the cockpit was anything but conventional, but her story is one of unwavering purpose, historical inspiration, and the quiet power of self-belief.
A Dream Delayed, Not Denied
Carole Hopson’s story is unique not just because she became a commercial pilot, but because she did so after a full, successful career in an entirely different field. For more than 20 years, she worked as a journalist and a brand executive—high-performing roles that, while impressive, weren’t what she truly wanted to do.
Flying had always lived in the back of her mind as a silent, persistent dream. She knew she wanted to be in the sky—but life, like it often does, introduced detours. Finances, family obligations, and the glaring lack of representation in aviation were just a few of the barriers she faced. But while her dream was deferred, it was never abandoned.
Hopson’s resolve remained strong, quietly growing with every year that passed. She was fueled not only by her personal ambition but also by the deep belief that she could—and should—claim her place in the sky.
The Spark That Reignited Her Journey
Sometimes, the smallest things ignite the biggest changes. For Carole, that spark came in the form of a coffee mug.
While attending a Women in Aviation conference, she was handed a cup by a friend. One side showed the portrait of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to receive a pilot’s license in 1921. The other side contained a short 50-word biography summarizing Coleman’s life and historic achievement.
“Those 50 words have changed my life,” Carole says.
Until that moment, Hopson hadn’t fully realized that someone who looked like her had already carved a path into the sky. Bessie Coleman—born to Texas sharecroppers, trained in France when no school in America would accept her—had done the unthinkable. For Carole, this wasn’t just a moment of revelation. It was permission.
Bessie Coleman became more than an inspiration—she became a symbol of possibility, proof that defying the odds was embedded in Black women’s legacy.
Flight Training in Her 40s
Most pilots begin their training in their 20s or even earlier. Carole Hopson started hers in her 40s. It was a decision that many questioned, and one that required immense personal and financial investment. Flight training is notoriously expensive, and transitioning careers midlife often comes with added pressure.
But Carole wasn’t deterred.
She attended flight school at Delaware State University and endured the long, rigorous process of becoming flight-certified—earning ratings one by one until she had enough flight hours to qualify for a position at a commercial airline.
Finally, at age 50, she joined United Airlines as a commercial pilot. She didn’t just meet the industry standard; she exceeded it with the maturity, work ethic, and discipline she had cultivated across decades of professional life.
Representation in the Skies
To say that Carole’s presence in the cockpit is rare is an understatement. In a field still dominated by white males, the lack of Black female pilots is staggering. With fewer than 150 Black women in professional pilot roles across the U.S., representation remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges.
Carole knows this. She speaks openly about the obstacles she faced—not just technical and financial, but also social and systemic. And she carries the responsibility of representation with grace.
Beyond flying, Carole has become a mentor and advocate for diversity in aviation. She frequently speaks to students, especially young girls of color, about the world of aviation—reminding them that careers in the sky are not reserved for a privileged few. They belong to anyone willing to dream and do the work.
Legacy and Education: “A Pair of Wings”
Carole’s mission doesn’t end in the cockpit. She is also the author of A Pair of Wings, a novel inspired by the life of Bessie Coleman. Through her storytelling, she ensures that Coleman’s legacy—and the broader legacy of Black aviators—isn’t erased from public memory.
She has also worked closely with organizations dedicated to educating and training the next generation of diverse aviators. Carole believes that the key to inclusion is access—access to training, to role models, and to belief in oneself.
Her advocacy is not theoretical; it’s personal. She’s been on both sides—someone who once thought becoming a pilot was a fantasy, and now someone who brings passengers safely across the country, every day.
Flying with Purpose
Now 60 and living in New Jersey, Carole Hopson continues to fly for United Airlines. But more than that, she continues to fly with purpose.
She is the embodiment of grit and vision—an “internally driven” woman, in her own words, who never gave up on herself. Her journey serves as a beacon for anyone who feels sidelined by time, circumstance, or doubt.
Carole’s story isn’t just about flying. It’s about rising—through stereotypes, through challenges, through societal expectations. It’s about dreaming with eyes wide open and proving that no dream has an expiration date.
Her voice, her presence, and her flight path are helping reshape the face of aviation—one determined mile at a time.
