I am a female pilot – this is the expression I use to get the attention of the passengers

Carole Hopson does not take no to answer.

She became a pilot at the age of 50, flying with United Airlines, then eight years later the rank of Captain – and has now published her first book.

In an exclusive chat with MailOnline Travel, the 60-year-old explains her inspiration, reveals why she thinks women make the perfect pilots and the unique expression she uses to attract the attention of her passengers.

It was a fatal journey in a first class hut that aroused Carole’s interest to fly. The former journalist and brand manager ate De Cockpit from her chair when the pilot saw her watch.

“He said,” Come in the front. ” And I sat all night in the jumping chair over the North Atlantic Ocean and looked at the stars and buttons of the pilot and I just knew that I had to do this, “Carole reveals.

It was her boyfriend – now husband – who bought her her first flying lesson, who describes Carole as the ‘moment’ that she knew ‘he was a keeper’.

That first flight? “It was inexplicable. It was orgasmic, “says Carole. From that moment she knew that she had to cancel and cancel her job and start her school.

And it was at Flying School that Carole first heard from Bessie Coleman, the subject of her debut novel A Paar Wings. Bessie became the first Afro -American woman to earned a flight permit in 1921.

Carole Hopson does not take no no answer -the leader of the United Airlines became a pilot at the age of 50, made Captain at the age of 58 and has just published her first book

It was at Flying School that Carole heard for the first time from Bessie Coleman, the subject of her debut novel a few wings

Carole says: ‘It has changed my life. I had been to different universities and yet I had never heard of Bessie Coleman. How was that like? It disturbed me deeply and I said, “dear, I should do something about this”. And I wrote the book.

“Bessie’s mother was born as a slave in Texas. Her mother had 13 children, nine lived and Bessie is 11 when the Wright brothers make their first flight. Bessie is stunned and she knows she just has to do it.

‘But none of the escape schools on both coasts, none of them will admit a black woman.

‘So she goes FranceWhich means she has to learn French. At the age of 26 she starts learning French at the night school and when she is competent, she goes to France and learns to fly from fighters soldiers. She returns to the US and Barnstorms throughout the country. ‘

Carole says she was incredibly inspired by Bessie’s huge journey and courage. Just like Bessie, she is also confronted with barriers for her career.

Although she quickly went through the flight school, Carole had a child shortly after completing her exams, followed by a second.

She explains: ‘It seemed that I had worked so hard to bring these children into the world, why should I come from their world now? So I stayed at home and I blinked and for 14 years flew by and I was 50. By that time I said to my husband: “Whether I will come to the airlines, or I will never get there”.

“I got a lot of NRS. “Oh, you’ll never get a large airline. Oh, you’ll never make captain. You’re too old for that! You’re too black for that! You’re too much of a woman.”

Although he has become a published author, Carole wants to keep flying for so long

Bessie Coleman (above) became the first African -American woman who earned a flight permit in 1921. Carole says: ‘At the age of 26 she starts learning French at the night school and when she is competent, she goes to France and learns to fly from the fighters soldiers’

Carole is one of the approximately 150 black female pilots, who make up less than one percent of American pilots. She wants to change that.

The pilot runs the Jet Black FoundationWhose goal is to send 100 black women to Flight School by 2035.

“The majority of our talent pool as pilots came from the army,” explains Carole. “They were and are beautiful. But we have to look for a talent pool that has never been tapped.

‘Women are mainly built for this mission. We are resourceful. We understand how we can build teams quickly. Prioritization is something that I have learned as a mother, you have so many things you juggle. And if I can do it, if I can make that [career] Change everyone can. ‘

The mother of two even uses her experience as a parent when she has to attract the attention of her passengers on board.

Carole reveals: ‘I come out for every flight and say’ ladies and gentlemen, welcome on board ‘. And occasionally the PA system is not as loud as I need. So I usually say: “Ladies and Lord, I’m going to use my mother voice”. It always brings a giggle. ‘

Although he became a published author, Carole would continue to fly for as long as possible.

‘There is something with the miracle of looking at a plane above the head that gives me the tingling even now. The responsibility, the training, the work, everything in it all revolves around the people behind you.

‘The plane does not know if I am a woman or a man, if I am black or white, when I am young or old. The plane knows how I recommend it. ‘

A few wings from Carole Hopson is published by Cassave Republic and Available on Amazon” WH Smith And other retailers.