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Patrice Washington

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Patrice Washington
Born
Patrice Francise Clarke

(1961-09-11)11 September 1961
Nassau, The Bahamas
NationalityBahamian
Other namesPatrice Clarke Washington
Occupationpilot
Years active1982-present
Known forfirst black female pilot hired by UPS

Patrice Washington (born 1961) is a Bahamian airplane pilot, whose career was marked by a series of firsts. She was the first black woman graduate of Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida; first woman pilot of Bahamasair; first black woman captain of a major U.S. air service and first black female pilot hired by the United Parcel Service.

Early life

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Patrice Francise Clarke was born on 11 September 1961 in Nassau, The Bahamas[1] to Peggy Ann and Nathaniel Clarke.[2] From the age of five, when she took her first flight, Clarke was interested in aviation.[3] Raised by a single, divorced mother, along with her two sisters, Clarke learned responsibility at a young age.[4] During her high schooling in Nassau she participated in career week activities hoping to become a stewardess,[1][5] by the time she graduated, she had dreams of becoming a pilot. In 1979, intent on her goal, Clarke enrolled in the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Florida, despite the fact that she was the only black student and spoke only Bahamian Creole.[4] In April 1982, Clarke graduated as the first black woman in the school's history with a BS in aeronautical science and her commercial pilot's certification.[1]

Career

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Soon after her graduation, Clarke began working at a charter company, Trans Island Airways, in the Bahamas, as a pilot. She continued her studies and was able to earn her qualifications to fly Boeing 737 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft over the next few years. In 1984, Clarke became the first woman pilot of Bahamasair,[6] when she was hired as a First Officer by the air service. Though often facing discrimination Clark persevered[7] and in 1988, she was hired by United Parcel Service (UPS) as a flight engineer.[1] Her three-person crew flew routes from Louisville, Kentucky to Anchorage, Alaska, as well as to Australia and Cologne, Germany. In 1990, Washington was promoted to First Officer with UPS.[3]

In 1994, Clarke married Ray Washington, a pilot for American Airlines.[1][4] In December 1994, she was promoted to captain by UPS, becoming the first black female, and one of only eleven female captains, to command planes for a major U.S. airline.[8][9]

Legacy

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In 1995, Washington and other female pilots founded the Bessie Coleman Foundation[9] with the purpose of preserving Coleman's legacy, promoting the aviation profession among African American men and women, and providing a network for mentoring women in the airline sector.[10] In 2000, Washington was presented with the Trumpet Award from Turner Broadcasting for her pioneering work in aviation on behalf of women.[8]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e San Diego Air & Space Museum n.d.
  2. ^ Moss 2012.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Bracks & Wynn 2015, p. 473.
  4. ^ a b c Ebony 1995, p. 76.
  5. ^ Ebony 1995, p. 74.
  6. ^ Tribune 242 2012.
  7. ^ Ebony 1995, p. 78.
  8. ^ a b Horton 2000, p. 14.
  9. ^ a b Ho 1995.
  10. ^ Sulton III 2008, p. 4.

Bibliography

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  • Ho, Rodney (12 February 1995). "Black Woman Pilot A Role Model". The Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • Horton, Phyllis R., ed. (February 2000). "M'Lis Ward: First Black Female Captain in Commercial Aviation". Ebony. 55 (4). Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company: 14. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • Moss, Shavaughn (8 June 2012). "Flying High". Nassau, The Bahamas: The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • Smith, Jessie Carney; Bracks, Lean'tin; Wynn, Linda T. (2015). The Complete Encyclopedia of African American History. Canton, Michigan: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-1-57859-583-9.
  • Sulton III, James E. (June 2008). African-American Women Pilots' Perceptions of Barriers to Success in Flight-Training and Strategies to Enhance Their Presence (PhD). Pepperdine University. Retrieved 23 December 2016 – via ProQuest LLC: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • "Soaring to New Heights". Ebony. 50 (9). Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company: 74–78. July 1995. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • "Trio Of Female Captains Make History". Nassau, The Bahamas: Tribune 242. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • "Women at the Forefront". San Diego Air & Space Museum. San Diego, California. n.d. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
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