Rosella Bjornson
Rosella Marie Bjornson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 July 1947 |
| Occupation | Aviator |
| Spouse | Bill Pratt |
| Children | 2 |
Rosella Marie Bjornson (born July 13, 1947 in Lethbridge, Alberta) is a retired Canadian airline pilot, who holds the distinction of being the first female pilot for a commercial airline in North America and the first woman member of the Canadian Airline Pilots Association.[1]
Career
Rosella was educated at Champion School and County Central High School in Vulcan.[2]
She first learned to fly at the Air West Flight School in Lethbridge, as a birthday gift from her parents in July 1964. She went on to become an instructor at the Flying Club in Winnipeg.
Her ground-breaking flight as a commercial pilot was in April 1973 from Thompson, Manitoba to Winnipeg, on a Transair Fokker F-28.
In 1990, she became the first Canadian woman to be promoted to the rank of captain, when flying for Canadian Airlines International. She later flew with Air Canada and Zip before retiring in 2004.
Honours
In 1997, Bjornson was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.[3] In 2004, she was inducted into the Women in Aviation, International Hall of Fame.[4]
In 2014, Bjornson was honored with a commemorative postage stamp.
References
- ^ Klinkenberg, Marty. "Canada's first female commercial pilot honoured with commemorative stamp (with video)". Edmonton Journal.
- ^ "Palliser Wall of Fame". Palliser Regional Schools.
- ^ "Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame".
- ^ "2004 Pioneer Hall of Fame". Women in Aviation, International.