Captain Theresa Claiborne Interview

·32 min·3 clips

Captain Theresa Claiborne, the first black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, reflects on her 34-year career in her first podcast interview.

This episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge features an interview with Captain Theresa Claiborne, hosted by Gordon Smith. Claiborne retired from United Airlines after 34 years, having flown tens of thousands of hours. She was the first black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force and United's second black female pilot. The conversation begins with her transition from the Air Force to commercial flying, where she faced a height requirement at American Airlines. Her experience flying the KC-135 led the airline to change its rule. Claiborne reflects on the industry's evolution, noting increased opportunities but persistent barriers. She discusses her lack of role models early on, citing only knowledge of the Tuskegee Airmen and Bessie Coleman from a college course. A personal anecdote about a teacher grading on a curve illustrates her drive for excellence, which she passes on to mentees. The interview covers her experience with Boeing aircraft, from the 727 to the 787, with the 747-400 as her favorite. She explains career shifts due to events like SARS, the Continental merger, and COVID-19. Claiborne chose Lisbon for her retirement flight for its shorter duration and layover, prioritizing family over personal preferences. She co-founded Sisters of the Skies, which started as a social group and now awards scholarships, with support from United and Boeing. As she steps back from the presidency, she highlights the nonprofit's growth and individual donations. Advice for aspiring pilots emphasizes resilience and aiming for excellence despite societal challenges. In the second part, Claiborne shares her favorite landing at Hong Kong Kai Tak airport, describing the challenging approach and proving herself on her first 747-400 flight. She discusses coping with jet lag without a definitive technique. Her final landing in Newark will be bittersweet, following a water cannon salute and celebrations organized by United's BEACON group. Claiborne concludes with a message to industry leaders, urging bravery in diversifying workforces and sharing a compliment from a male crew member about the effectiveness of an all-female team.

As heard by us

A grounded conversation about aviation firsts, representation, and life after the cockpit.

Captain Theresa Claiborne gives this Airline Weekly Lounge episode a focused through line: how a pilot can move through aviation firsts while keeping people, access, and representation in view.

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Want an aviation career story that connects cockpit firsts with the work of opening doors?

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