For as long as she could remember, Carole Hopson wanted to fly planes. Throughout her career in journalism and business, the Philadelphia native never gave up her goal of becoming a professional pilot for a major airline. Today, Hopson is a United Airlines captain on the Boeing 737, based in Newark, New Jersey.
“I was 34 years old when I learned who pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman was,” said Hopson. “If she could do it 100 years ago, I knew I could do it.”
Coleman is known for being the first African-American woman to earn an international pilot’s license, paving the way for Black women in aviation. Inspired by Coleman’s story, Hopson published her debut novel, A Pair of Wings, in 2024. The historical fiction book follows the pioneering aviator’s journey, and 20% of proceeds from each sale support the Jet Black Foundation. However, despite the achievements of Black women in the field, they continue to comprise only a minuscule fraction of all pilots.
“It doesn’t feel good at all knowing that Black women make up less than 1% of the U.S. professional pilot population,” said Hopson. “As our nation and the world is facing an unprecedented return to travel post-COVID, as goods are being shipped at record rates with the rise of online shopping and services, global travel will need to be supported with a robust pipeline of pilots.”
“Add to this the fact that the military, which had been the constant supply of pilots, is no longer training the record number of aviators that it had, and we have a condition— short supply and vigorous demand. This is a classic business problem. We need a visionary business solution. That solution is to look for talent where we have never looked before,” the United Airlines pilot and author added.
Barriers preventing Black women from pursuing careers in aviation include limited access to training, mentorship, and financial resources. Flight training can cost upward of $100,000 after college. Hopson’s Jet Black Foundation was formed to address those barriers. Through the organization, she and her team are working to source and uplift 100 Black women into aviation by the year 2035. They aim to help recruit, train, and assist in the cost of the flight training, and they are hoping to raise $7 million with which to achieve the goal. In October 2026, Hopson shared on social media that the Jet Black Foundation is currently only open to high schoolers.
“The costs and barriers to entry are what they are. We may not be able to change those, but we can surely lead the way to help others through the maze. We want each woman to pay for her first step. It is the hardest. It is the Private Pilot License. After that first crucial step, the costs soar and so does the training commitment,” she told TN. “Without guidance and vigorous support, it is easy to lose focus and direction.”
Hopson is on the board of advisors of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, which created the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Flight Academy to offer training taught by airline pilots. Located in Olive Branch, Mississippi, near Memphis, Tennessee, the nonprofit flight school offers training at approximately one-third the cost of comparable programs.
“Black women need to be a part of that solution — part of a talent pool that has never been sourced. The ramp-up for a professional pilot is a process and can take five to ten years to get an aviator ready for the major airlines. We must begin now. When we improve the lives and fortunes of women, we improve the lives and fortunes of nations,” emphasized Hopson.
With securing the resources required to send candidates to flight school at the heart of its mission, the support of the Jet Black Foundation is a critical element of its success. Contributions can be made at jetblackfoundation.org.
Though not easy, a successful career in aviation is possible, and Hopson looks forward to helping the next generation of Black women pilots achieve their goals. She offers this simple piece of advice: “Follow your dream. It’s yours. But put a date on each step. Make each step a goal. Then find a mentor. You will need a guide in order not to make costly missteps. Then get to work!”
