Airline Pilot - Melissa Ward - Brief Article

Melissa Ward, 36 Captain, United Airlines Salary Range: $170,000-$300,000

"I never had any interest in being a pilot. When I was a senior in high school, the Air Force offered me an ROTC scholarship, suggesting that I could become a pilot. At the University of Southern California, I made the basketball team as a walk-on. I played with Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper and Pam and Paula McGee. We won the national championship my freshman and sophomore years--and it made us set high standards for our lives. We all expected to do well.

"After I graduated in 1986, I entered the Air Force and spent a year in pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas. I was an instructor pilot for four years, then flew C-141 cargo planes for about a year. I've been with United for eight years, starting as a DC-10 second officer and upgrading to captain on the 737-300 in 1998. I am now a 737-300 standards captain in Denver: I train and test pilots on simulators to ensure they are meeting Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines standards. I also fly three days a week to maintain my skills. As captain I'm the final authority on any flight. I believe every crew member must participate and cooperate to get things done right.

"I was the first Black female to become a captain at any airline. We now have 273 Black pilots at United; eight are women. I've always believed we all need to set good examples. I hope I'm doing that, not only for the women at United but also for other aspiring women pilots. It's not about the individual accolades; it's about what I am doing for us as a group. It's the greatest career choice I could have ever made. It's a blast! No office. No paperwork. A chance to travel. And even a revolving view."

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