UK’s first female 747 captain retires
The first British women to captain a jumbo jet has hung up her wings after 27 years piloting Boeing 747 aircraft for Virgin Atlantic.
Yvonne Kershaw became the first British woman to gain her captaincy for the 747 in 1993, and has since clocked up over 2,000 flights totalling 18,000 flying hours in the flight deck of the 455-seater, 377-tonne aircraft.
After 27 years at Virgin Atlantic and a total of 46 years flying, Yvonne’s final commercial flight took place on Wednesday as she returned holidaymakers from Cancun to London Gatwick, landing into the airport 10.30am.
The 64-year-old grandmother from Petworth, West Sussex, learnt to fly at 19 and joined Virgin Atlantic in 1990 when the airline’s fleet comprised only four Boeing 747s.
After three years, Yvonne was granted command of the aircraft and became the first female 747 captain in the UK.
She said: "It has been a privilege to fly the flag for female captains over the past 24 years.
"After overcoming traditional gender stereotypes I’ve been humbled to act as a role model for young aspiring female pilots."
"After being in the driving seat of the world’s most iconic plane for years it will be an odd feeling to board as a holidaymaker. It’ll be odd to be a backseat pilot."
About 4% of UK pilots are female, although 30% of Virgin Atlantic’s pilot cadets are women.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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