Meet Beth - get to know our founder

I was fifteen years old when I first realized what I could become. 

In school, I loved all subjects with numbers. When my teachers presented math problems on the board, I would solve them one way and then go on to make up another way to solve them, just because I enjoyed the challenge. 

My teacher was so excited to see this talent. He encouraged me to pursue a career that would make the most of this innate affinity with numbers. 

WIth his guidance, and the support of my parents, we explored the possibility of becoming a pilot. We found the only flight school in Jamaica for my discovery flight. From that first flight, I felt a deep connection with the plane and knew that this was the path for me. 

“Can women be Pilots? Because I’ve never seen one.” 

This was an innocent question that my dad asked when I was preparing to enroll in flight school. It led me to seek the answer. I found that at that time there were three female pilots in Jamaica: Maria Hadad, Marlene Smith, and Michelle Ya. These women became my inspiration, and Marlene even signed off on my private pilot license. 

I passed my FAA medical and enrolled in Wings Jamaica for flight school. My flight school was like a family, always asking “what’s next” and supporting each other as we moved through our studies. My classmates and I formed a tight knit support network that I am grateful for to this day. My mentor suggested moving to America to pursue a commercial pilot’s license. 

During flight school, my mentors advised me to find a position as a flight instructor as my next step. 

So at eighteen years old, when I had accrued enough flight time to qualify, I did exactly that; I moved to Florida and began working as a flight instructor at American Flyers in Pompeno Beach. 

My time as a flight instructor not only gave me the hours I needed to get my commercial pilot’s license, but helped me to perfect my craft and hone my skills as a pilot by teaching and mentoring others. This was such a rewarding experience, and I am grateful for my mentors who recommended it, because it truly helped me become a stronger and more confident pilot. 

Once I had enough flight hours to qualify, I applied for my first regional airline: American Eagle Airlines. 

I started at American Eagle with a restricted airline transport pilot license at 21 years old. I was the youngest pilot in my cohort, with the nickname “Junior.”

During training, my flight simulation was with a Boeing 707, a far cry from the single engine planes that I was used to. However, thanks to my years of experience and dedication to doing my best, I successfully completed my training.

Now, I was officially a Pilot for a regional airline.

From the ages of sixteen to twenty-one, I advanced from flying two-seater planes in my local area, to flying sixty six passenger jets to places I had only read about in books. I flew with American Eagle for four years, piloting the ATR 42/72 and Embrier Jet. 

But for all of these years, I had a bigger dream in mind.

I had always dreamed of flying for American Airlines. 

One of the most important lessons I learned from my mentors was that success = preparation + opportunity. At just sixteen years old I had read the book “The Art of Thinking Big”, which walked me through the process of knowing myself and what I want, so that I can make my big goals happen.

Flying for American Airlines was the big goal! Unfortunately, making his dream a reality took longer than I had hoped. The challenges that airlines faced after 9/11 and the subsequent economic downturn meant that jobs in the aviation field were limited. In fact, American Airlines didn’t post any open positions at all for several years. 

However, I put these lessons I had learned when I was younger into practice and stayed true to my goal. I spent those years that American Airlines wasn’t hiring preparing for the moment any positions opened up by staying diligent with maintaining my flight log and building my professional network. 

When they finally posted openings in 2013, I was ready. I was the 19th applicant in line. 

My career track with American Airlines has been heavily influenced by my parents.

In Jamaica, my parents would have been known as “village parents”: true pillars of the community. 

My father, who despite not having a formal education, achieved his goals through a positive attitude and determined work ethic. He became a developer after a connection he made as a bartender became his first investor. As his success grew, he never forgot where he came from, and never stopped supporting the village he grew up and the families that supported him when he was growing up. 

My mother took in every child she could to support the parents in our community. She was heavily involved in our church service and missions programs. So much so that at her funeral, the building could not contain the people who came to pay their respects. 

With these influences, it was only natural that I have always been driven to carry on their legacy and give back to my community in whatever ways that I can. 

In 2014, I started my first scholarship with OBAP (The Organization for Black Aviators and Pilots). I had the honor of personally awarding it to a single mom, who through her own dedication and determination, became a successful pilot. 

This experience really touched me and inspired me to deepen my service to the aviation community: I became an advisor for Sisters of the Skies and a board member of OBAP. 

My superiors at American Airlines saw all of the work I was doing in the community and approached me to help with their own diversity initiatives, which grew into leadership roles, and eventually a promotion to Pilot Manager. 

Now, I am stepping out on my own with LadyAv8rBeth and Queen B Productions. 

Lady Av8rBeth is my education platform that seeks to bring awareness to the opportunities in aviation to all schools, and inspire the next generation of Pilots. 

For those that are interested in pursuing this path, we provide mentorship, accountability, and encouragement for the next generation so that they can know themselves, set goals, navigate through tough times, and stay accountable to reach their goals with success. 

Queen B productions aims to inspire and encourage aspiring aviators through the magic of storytelling. 

We aim to capture the essence and spirit of aviation, encourage a sense of community, and inspire the connection and support that is the true nature of a pilot. 

There is so much more to come in the future, I hope that you’ll join along for the ride.