Gabrielle Harding has a strong desire to work in aviation since she was a child. In August 2023, Harding informed United Aviate, a pilot career development program, that she became interested in flying at the age of fifteen. Harding stated that she enjoys flying since it gives her with stability as a mother while also allowing her to go to new locations.
Fast forward to 2024, and Harding, a Hampton University graduate, has recently made history by joining United Airlines’ all-female crew during Women’s History Month.
Harding, the company’s second black female line check pilot in history, led the all-female crew on flight 1215 from EWR to SRQ.
Harding was accompanied by First Officer Julia Ewalefo, who began her career as a flight attendant with United Airlines and flew her first trip. She previously worked as a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines before transitioning to the flight deck and flying for Endeavor before joining United.
“It was wonderful having an all-women crew, and Julia did a great job,” Harding told ABC 7 in a post-flight interview. “It’s critical to promote these events to inspire the next generation of female aviators. I hope any young girl who reads this narrative knows she can achieve her goals if she sets her mind to it.”
Harding is the only black woman to have flown commercially since graduating from Hampton University’s HBCU pilot program in 1997. She is also a member of the “Hampton 6,” a group of all-Hampton graduates who are now captains with United Airlines, and the only woman among them.
“I graduated in 1997. “I was the only female in the airways science department for four years,” Harding told 13NewsNow.
She has spent nearly 20 years working for United Airlines, one of the world’s largest airlines. According to WGN9, Harding stated in 2021 that the Boeing 787 is the most enjoyable airplane he has flown, having previously flown 737 and 777 models.
According to the Women in Aviation Advisory Board, women will account for 4.6% of all air transport pilot positions in 2022. Harding stated that one of her reasons for becoming a Line Check Pilot and training new hires was to help them overcome hurdles.
“There will always be some negative feedback,” Harding said of women who want to be pilots. “That’s what fuels the soul, and that’s what makes you keeps on pushing.”
“Also, that was one of the things that made me want to become a line check pilot, so that I could help people like Julia get through those barriers so that they don’t have to go through some of the pushback that I had to go through.”
Harding has always been grateful to the Girl Scouts for sending her to space camp and the Tuskegee Airmen Detroit chapter for accompanying her on the plane journey that sparked her desire to become a pilot, according to WGN9.