Angela Masson
Encyclopedia
Angela Masson was the first woman to be type-rated
on the Boeing 747
on June 30, 1984.
. At age 21 while flying in the Powder Puff Derby
she set a record as the youngest person to fly coast to coast in a high performance aircraft.
In 1971 she trained armed forces pilot cadets at fellow aviatrix Claire Walters Flight School to build her flight experience, getting over 1,000 flight hours in less than a year. She then went on to fly as a charter pilot for Express Airways out of LeMoore NAS on a civilian contract for the Navy. Frustrated to see her former male students flying jets while females were barred from the military, she went back to school. At age 24, she wrote her PhD dissertation "Elements of Organizational Discrimination: The Air Force Response to Women as Military Pilots," which was presented before Congress during the Hearings about opening military the Academies to women (a copy can be found in the Congressional Records). Her paper was read by Robert Crandall
, then President of American Airlines
, who hired her as a pilot for American in 1976, at age 25. During her career there, she was the first woman to fly as First Officer on the Boeing 707, 767 and DC-10.
Masson earned aircraft type-ratings on the A-310, B-747, B757, B767, B777, DC-9, DC-10, and MD-11. She holds the ATP license with commercial glider and seaplane endorsements, as well as flight engineer, ground and flight instructor certificates.
Flying as Captain for over 20 years, she was the first female Chief Pilot for American Airlines
(Miami domicile, 1997). As the most senior female pilot, she retired with over 31 years total service in December, 2007.
.
Type rating
A type rating is an allowance to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority...
on the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
on June 30, 1984.
Flying career
Masson began flying lessons at age 15 at Clover Field in Santa Monica, California. Shortly after getting her pilots license, she started air racingAir racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
. At age 21 while flying in the Powder Puff Derby
Powder Puff Derby
The Powder Puff Derby was the name given to a transcontinental air race for women pilots inaugurated in 1947. For the next two years it was named the "Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race"...
she set a record as the youngest person to fly coast to coast in a high performance aircraft.
In 1971 she trained armed forces pilot cadets at fellow aviatrix Claire Walters Flight School to build her flight experience, getting over 1,000 flight hours in less than a year. She then went on to fly as a charter pilot for Express Airways out of LeMoore NAS on a civilian contract for the Navy. Frustrated to see her former male students flying jets while females were barred from the military, she went back to school. At age 24, she wrote her PhD dissertation "Elements of Organizational Discrimination: The Air Force Response to Women as Military Pilots," which was presented before Congress during the Hearings about opening military the Academies to women (a copy can be found in the Congressional Records). Her paper was read by Robert Crandall
Robert Crandall
Robert Lloyd "Bob" Crandall is the former president and chairman of American Airlines. Called an industry legend by airline industry observers, Crandall has been the subject of several books and is a member of the Hall of Honor of the Conrad Hilton college.-Life:Robert Crandall was raised in Rhode...
, then President of American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, who hired her as a pilot for American in 1976, at age 25. During her career there, she was the first woman to fly as First Officer on the Boeing 707, 767 and DC-10.
Masson earned aircraft type-ratings on the A-310, B-747, B757, B767, B777, DC-9, DC-10, and MD-11. She holds the ATP license with commercial glider and seaplane endorsements, as well as flight engineer, ground and flight instructor certificates.
Flying as Captain for over 20 years, she was the first female Chief Pilot for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
(Miami domicile, 1997). As the most senior female pilot, she retired with over 31 years total service in December, 2007.
Academic career
Dr. Masson graduated from Collegio Monte Rosa In Territet, Switzerland and got her BFA, MA, MPA and PhD in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale lists Dr. Masson's numerous Commercial Air Route Speed Awards set in the Boeing 777Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
.