In celebration of Women’s history month and Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse this week led a bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers in introducing a resolution to designate March 8, 2023, as “National Emily Warner and Women Airline Pilots Day”.
Fifty years ago, Coloradan Emily Howell Warner became the first modern female airline pilot when she was hired by Frontier Airlines–opening the sky for other female pilots. Throughout her career, Warner continued to break barriers, becoming the first female member of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the first female airline captain in the U.S. She was also a founding member of the Colorado Pilots Association, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, and the Friends of the Granby/Grand County Airport.
“Colorado’s history is full of fearless women who weren’t afraid to be the ‘first’. Emily Warner paved the way for countless other female airline pilots who saw themselves in her. This resolution reminds us of the shoulders we stand on as we push for other ‘firsts’ in our history,” said Hickenlooper.
“Colorado’s own Emily Warner soared to new heights as the first modern woman to captain an American airline – making our state proud and inspiring a new generation of young women to set their sights on our skies. I am grateful to support this resolution memorializing her role as a trailblazer in our nation’s history,” said Bennet.
“Emily Warner was a pioneer in her field and a truly exemplary Coloradan. Her accomplishments and dedication to progress left a lasting legacy for gender equality in all professions. Today, we are honoring her many contributions to this country,” said Neguse.
“Captain Emily” passed away on July 3, 2020, in Colorado. Warner’s Frontier Airlines uniform hangs in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in memory of her amazing life and legacy.
Full text of the resolution is available HERE.
