Beverly Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beverly Lynn Burns
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Beverly Lynn Burns in January 1993
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| Born | August 15, 1949 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Occupation | Retired Continental Airlines captain |
| Known for | First woman in the world to captain the Boeing 747 jumbo jet |
| Spouse(s) | Captain Robert Allen Burns, Flight Instructor of Year, 1972 |
Beverly Lynn Burns is a pioneering pilot. She made history as the first woman to captain a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. This amazing flight happened on July 18, 1984. She flew a People Express plane from Newark International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.
Contents
A Career Soaring High
Becoming a Pilot
Beverly Burns had a long and impressive career. She retired in February 2008. By then, she had been an airline captain for 27 years. She had flown for over 25,000 hours! That's a lot of time in the sky.
While working for People Express, she captained several types of planes. These included the Boeing 727, Boeing 737, and the famous Boeing 747.
Flying Many Different Jets
In 1987, People Express joined with Continental Airlines. Beverly continued to fly many different jets. Between 1987 and 2000, she added more planes to her list. These were the DC-9, DC-10, Boeing 757, and Boeing 767.
In May 2001, she became a captain on the Boeing 777. This was one of the most advanced airplanes of its time.
More Than Just Flying
Beverly Burns understood how airlines work. She didn't just fly planes. From 1971 to 1978, she worked as a stewardess for American Airlines. At the same time, she was going to flight school.
In 1978, she taught people how to fly. She also flew planes for special trips at Hinson Airways. The next year, she became a captain for Allegheny Commuter. Then, in 1981, she started working for People Express.
Unique Roles at People Express
While at People Express, Beverly had many different jobs. These were not typical for pilots. She worked in reservations, scheduling, and as a gate agent. She even worked as a baggage handler and taught about airplane electronics.
The company's CEO wanted pilots to do many different tasks. This was new for airlines in the 1980s. He had to get special permission from the FAA. This allowed Beverly to become the first woman to work as a certified aircraft dispatcher while also being a line captain.
Awards and Recognition
Captain Burns received many awards for her achievements.
- On January 31, 1985, she received the Amelia Earhart Award. This was for her historic flight as captain of the Boeing 747.
- Before that, on August 14, 1984, she got an Award of Recognition from Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer. He called her one of Baltimore's best.
- On August 16, she received a letter of congratulations from New Jersey Senator C. Louis Bassano. He even prepared a special resolution in her honor.
- On August 21, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey praised her. He said she was "opening doors for millions of American women." Her accomplishments were even read into the Congressional Record.
- On October 17, Maryland Governor Harry Hughes sent her a letter. He named her an "ambassador of goodwill" for the state.
- On November 16, she received a letter of congratulations from President Ronald Reagan. She was also invited to a special presidential event.
Later Honors
More recently, she received other honors.
- In 2001, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland recognized her.
- On August 7, 2001, she received a letter of congratulations from President George W. Bush.
- On February 6, 2002, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley declared it "Beverly Burns Day" in Baltimore.
- In 2003, she received an award from USAF General John W. Handy. This was for her support during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She helped as a member of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
Captain Burns's life story can be found in her autobiography.
