NEW JERSEY- After a 20-year career in journalism and brand management, Carole Hopson became a United Airlines (UA) pilot at 50. Today, she flies Boeing 737s out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), representing one of fewer than 150 Black female pilots in the United States.
Hopson’s late entry into aviation makes her journey one of the most inspiring in modern commercial aviation. From charting planes in her grandmother’s garden to earning her captain’s stripes at 60, her story is one of resilience, purpose, and representation.
Photo: United Aviate AcademyInspiring: United 737 Pilot at 50
Carole Hopson’s path to aviation was unconventional. A former police reporter and brand executive for L’Oréal, the NFL, and Foot Locker, Hopson nurtured a hidden dream of flying. That dream reignited during a date night at 30, when she first admitted out loud she wanted to become a pilot.
Her husband surprised her with flight lessons, and by age 36, she began training full-time, graduating in 2001.
But after 9/11 and the birth of her two sons, Hopson paused her commercial aspirations and worked as a flexible flight instructor. It wasn’t until her children entered middle school that she revived her ambitions.
At 50, she joined United Express and went on to fly as a first officer with United Airlines (UA), earning captain rank in 2022.
Hopson now flies international routes including Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Photo: United AirlinesInspired by Aviation’s Forgotten Pioneer
Hopson’s inspiration stemmed from Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1921.
Introduced to Coleman’s story at a Women in Aviation conference, Hopson was moved by the lack of visibility around Coleman’s legacy. This led her to author A Pair of Wings, a historical novel chronicling Coleman’s journey from Texas to France and into the skies.
The research process for the book was immersive: Hopson took biplane lessons, visited cotton farms, and retraced Coleman’s journey. She sees the novel as a tribute to an unsung hero and a source of empowerment for future generations.
Despite being in uniform, passengers often mistake Hopson for cabin crew — a reflection of deep-seated stereotypes in the industry.
Hopson, however, remains undeterred. “I’m so internally driven,” she says. “My job is to keep people safe, and I’m not distracted from that mission one iota.”
She praises United Airlines as a supportive environment for career growth, diversity, and mentorship. Her success represents more than personal achievement — it marks critical progress in representation for women and minorities in commercial aviation.
Photo: Charles | FlickrMentoring the Next Generation
Beyond the cockpit, Hopson is committed to expanding access to aviation careers through the Jet Black Foundation, a nonprofit she founded to increase the number of Black female pilots.
The foundation’s goal: to send 100 Black women to flight school by 2035, the Independent UK reported.
Hopson encourages aspiring aviators to begin with a discovery flight and join communities like the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and Women in Aviation International (WAI). These groups offer mentorship, scholarships, and clear pathways into aviation.
“Don’t do it from scratch,” she advises. “The breadcrumbs are already there.”
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The post Woman Journalist Who Became United Airlines 737 Pilot at 50 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
