United Airlines Names First Ever African American Chief Pilot

James Simons, Jr was named United Airlines' first Black Chief Pilot

United Airlines announced last week the appointment of the airline’s first black chief pilot.

Captain James Simons, Jr. will head the Northeastern Region of the airline:

‘Simons, a United pilot for 22 years, will oversee 1,450 pilots flying for the airline. Beginning in 2007, he served as assistant chief pilot for the Northeast Region, based at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. The region is one of the airline’s five U.S. divisions, each overseen by a chief pilot.’

‘“I appreciate OBAP,” Simons said in a press release. “And I want to get more African Americans into management.”’

‘Simons joined United in 1989, and credited all the Black pilots who came before him for making his success possible. Captain Louis Freeman, the first African American pilot to be hired by a major American carrier, began working for Southwest Airlines in 1980, eventually becoming the first Black chief pilot in the country with the same company in 1992. Simons also credited Captain Bill Norwood, who was the first African-American captain to secure a position with United Airlines.’

‘“We are proud of Captain Simons’ achievement and applaud United Airlines for its commitment to promoting minority men and women to executive positions in the aviation industry,” Cheryl Chew, Executive Director of OBAP, said in a release.’

United Airlines is the largest airline in the world, with 86,000 employees and operates over 700 aircraft. United merged with Continental in 2011.

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Tags: Airline Pilot, Airlines, United Airlines

Category: Airnation