Beverley Bass made aviation history as a trailblazing pilot who broke the glass ceiling on a commercial flight. Her path from being a little girl captivated by aviation to becoming 
American Airlines
‘ first female captain illustrates perseverance, dedication, and the power of pursuing one’s aspirations despite cultural obstacles.
Photo: American Airlines
From rooftop dreams to the captain’s seat
Beverley Bass was just a curious seven-year-old when her lifelong love affair with aviation took flight. Growing up in Fort Myers, Florida, she would climb atop the family washing machine, jump off, and dream of soaring through the sky. “I’ve never lost my love for it,” Bass would later reflect.
Unlike many pilots, Bass had no direct ties to the aviation industry. Her childhood was filled with horses, not planes. Yet her fascination with flights intensified as she watched National Airlines’ Boeing 727s
touch down near her home each evening. Bass’s aunt would dutifully drive her to the airport fence, where the young girl would gaze in awe at the “gods” in the cockpit.
The pilot said in an interview with the Fort Myers local newspaper, The News-Press:
“I would climb up on the washing machine and try to fly,” Bess said, “Fortunately our kitchen had carpeting, but my knees would be bruised. I jumped off thinking I could fly. Back then it wasn’t about airplanes. It was about me flying. I’ve never lost my love for it.”
However, the road to becoming a pilot was not immediately apparent. Her father, strongly committed to the family’s horse business, reportedly initially opposed her interest in flying. He was sure that working with horses would be a better way to keep his daughter away from the common teenage problems of the time.
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Bass’s enthusiasm for flying, however, would be hard to ignore. According to the Equine Chronicle, she attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and studied Spanish and interior design. During her college years, her parents finally relented to her aviation aspirations.
The Telegraph reports that Bass took her first flight lessons in 1971 at Page Field in Fort Myers. Her parents arranged lessons with a local instructor. After her very first lesson, Bass’s conviction was stronger than ever. She returned home and declared to her parents that flying was what she would do for the rest of her life. At this point, she started taking her dream of becoming a pilot seriously.
Breaking barriers for women pilots
Beverley Bass began flying commercially in 1976, becoming just the third woman employed as an American Airlines pilot. At the time, the aviation business was still dominated by men, and women had limited opportunities to work in the cockpit. There were only a few female pilots in commercial aviation, and none flew large aircraft for major carriers. Bass’s experience with American Airlines was groundbreaking. She became the airline’s first female captain in 1986, at the age of 34, paving the way for women in aviation.
Photo: Eliyahu Yosef Parypa | Shutterstock.com
Bass’s key achievements include:
- The third female pilot hired by American Airlines: Joined American Airlines in 1976, becoming the only third woman to fly for the airline.
- First female captain at American Airlines: Made history in 1986 by becoming the first female captain at American Airlines, breaking gender barriers in commercial aviation.
- Led American Airlines’ first all-female flight crew: In 1986, she captained American Airlines’ first all-female commercial flight crew, demonstrating women’s capability to lead in aviation, according to UPI.
-
First pilot to fly the Boeing 777 for American Airlines: In 1998, she achieved another milestone by piloting the new
Boeing 777, further solidifying her pioneering role.
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In addition to being a personal victory, this accomplishment represented a turning point for women globally. Her achievement cleared the path for the next generation of female pilots and demonstrated that women could succeed in the industry. However, Bass retains a generally modest attitude toward these successes, saying that her continuous success was merely the natural flow of her profession.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
Tragedy, resilience, and the power of kindness
One of the most challenging moments in everyone’s life, including Bass’s career, came the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Bass was piloting a transatlantic flight from Paris to Dallas when she received the news that the United States was under attack. All flights bound for the US were directed to land in Canada, and Bass’s aircraft, along with numerous others, was diverted to the small town of Gander in Newfoundland, as CBS reported.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
In the following hours and days, she took on a vital leadership role, ensuring her passengers’ safety and working alongside the residents of Gander, who famously welcomed nearly 7,000 stranded passengers. The experience was emotional for Bass, who recounted the overwhelming hospitality and kindness she and her passengers experienced in Gander. She has since described it as a testament to human kindness and resilience in the face of tragedy.
Inspiring change continues
This 9/11
experience later inspired the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away, in which Bass’s character and story play a central role. The musical helped bring wider recognition to her pioneering career and the events of 9/11, which demonstrated the best of human nature in the face of tragedy.
Photo: American Airlines
Even in retirement, Beverley Bass remains a passionate advocate for women in aviation. She has:
- Participated in programs like JetBlue’s “Fly Like a Girl” to encourage young women to pursue careers as pilots
- Served as a mentor to countless aspiring female aviators, sharing her experiences and advice
- Used her platform to inspire the next generation, demonstrating that no dream is out of reach
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Today, Bass is a celebrated figure in both aviation and popular culture. Her role in the musical introduced her story to a global audience, inspiring people from all walks of life. Her legacy as a trailblazer, a captain, and a mentor continues to open doors for future generations of women in aviation.