Date: July 26th, 2022 8:52 AM
Author: Greedy center
Very early this morning in Vegas, I was sitting quietly waiting to board my 6 am flight to Denver when I noticed two pilots walking up to the gate with intention and joy—smiling as if they were genuinely happy to be flying us out of Vegas before the sun rose.
Then I noticed one of them was black. And a female.
Then I felt guilty, as a 55-year old white guy, noticing her race and gender.
Then I got excited noticing her race and gender.
It shouldn’t be so rare.
How do gender and race affect one’s probability of success in being an airline pilot??
I don’t know the official stats but based on my personal sample size of millions of miles…it shouldn’t be so rare.
So then once we took off and we leveled off, she came on the P/A with her greeting: “This is your Captain Tomica Adams…” and I audibly said “Yes!” Then a little less audibly: “She’s the freaking Captain!”
So we landed.
We smiled at each other as I exited.
And then I thought to myself: “I want to know her.”
So, I waited by the gate for her to deplane.
Again, 55-year old white guy here…what do I say?!
So I walked up to her and said, “Do you have a time for a quick chat?”
She smiled and said, “Sure!”
I said: “I don’t want to say the wrong thing or offend you, but I’ve gotta know how long have you been flying…and as a Captain?”
She laughed and her First Officer, a white guy laughed…and said, “this has been happening this entire trip…”
Captain Adams said: “Yes. I’m kind of a unicorn…”
I said: “I’m glad you are but I wish you weren’t.”
We both smiled and nodded.
She has been flying since 2006, originally with Continental before the merger, and her name is Captain Adams.
United’s new brand campaign is GOOD LEADS THE WAY.
That’s a pretty bodacious promise in a very volatile industry.
Captain Adams is GOOD LEADING THE WAY.
And I am grateful to know her.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5161186&forum_id=2)#44915617)