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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| Died | November 1, 2025 (aged 76) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Occupation | 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 (born August 15, 1949 – died November 1, 2025) was an amazing pilot. She made history as the first woman in the world to be a captain of the huge Boeing 747 jumbo jet. This was a very important moment for women in aviation!
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Beverly Lynn Burns: A Pioneer in the Sky
On July 18, 1984, Beverly Burns made her first flight as a captain. She was in charge of People Express aircraft 604. This flight went from Newark International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. It was a big step for her and for aviation history.
Flying Many Different Airplanes
Beverly Burns flew for airlines for 27 years. By the time she retired in February 2008, she had flown for over 25,000 hours! That's a lot of time in the sky.
She started by captaining the Boeing 727, Boeing 737, and the famous Boeing 747 for People Express. Later, when her company joined Continental Airlines in 1987, she learned to fly even more types of planes. These included the DC-9, DC-10, Boeing 757, and Boeing 767. In 2001, she became a captain on the very advanced Boeing 777.
Learning the Airline Business from the Ground Up
Beverly Burns didn't just know how to fly planes. She also understood how airlines work as a business. From 1971 to 1978, she worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines. At the same time, she was going to flight school to become a pilot.
In 1978, she taught others how to fly as a flight instructor. She also flew charter planes for Hinson Airways. The next year, she became a captain for Allegheny Commuter. Then, in 1981, she joined People Express.
While at People Express, Beverly Burns did many different jobs. She worked in reservations, helped with scheduling, and even worked as a gate agent. She also handled baggage and trained people on airplane electronics. It was unusual for pilots to do so many different jobs back then. This helped her become the first woman to work as a certified aircraft dispatcher while also being a captain.
Honored for Her Achievements
Captain Burns received many awards for her pioneering work. On January 31, 1985, she received the Amelia Earhart Award. The Governor of New Jersey, Thomas Kean, and the CEO of People Express gave her this award. It was for her historic flight as captain of the Boeing 747.
Early Awards and Recognition
Before that, on August 14, 1984, the Mayor of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer, gave her an Award of Recognition. He called her one of Baltimore's best. A few days later, New Jersey Senator C. Louis Bassano congratulated her. He even prepared a special resolution in her honor.
On August 21, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg said she was "opening doors for millions of American women." Her achievements were officially noted by the U.S. government. On October 17, the Governor of Maryland, Harry Hughes, congratulated her. He named her an "ambassador of goodwill" for the state. On November 16, she received a letter from President Ronald Reagan and was invited to his inauguration.
Later Tributes and Special Days
Later, in 2001, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland honored her. President George W. Bush also sent her a congratulation letter on August 7, 2001. On February 6, 2002, the Mayor of Baltimore, Martin O'Malley, declared that day "Beverly Burns Day" in Baltimore.
In 2003, she received a special Certificate of Appreciation. This was from USAF General John W. Handy. It recognized her great support for important missions for the country's air force. She was part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet at that time.
Captain Burns also wrote her life story, which can be found as an autobiography.
Beverly Lynn Burns passed away in Baltimore on November 1, 2025, when she was 76 years old. Her husband had passed away before her.
