A Pair of Wings

Carole Hopson is a Boeing 737 Captain for United Airlines, based in Newark, NJ.

At what many would call the height of a remarkable 20-year business career, Carole walked away from executive-level positions, which included a seven-year stint as a journalist, an Executive at the National Football League, Vice President at Foot Locker, USA and a Director-Level position at L’oreal Cosmetics.

With gusto, at age 36, she completed flight training. But September 11th loomed and as she followed her dream to become a pilot, the time was right to have children. While raising her family, she shared her passion with others as a flight instructor for the next 15 years. Carole got to a regional airline at age 50, United Airlines at age 54 and became one of the few African American captains at a major airline at age 58. She holds that rank today.

True to her roots as a writer, Carole published her debut novel: A Pair of Wings, based on the life story of pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman, the first American to earn a French civilian pilot’s license. Bessie Coleman inspired Carole to help others. She founded, and also heads, Jet Black Foundation, dedicated to sending 100 Black women to flight school by the year 2035.