“To still impart that knowledge on young people, and particularly young black women, that they can do this.”Becoming a pilot was something Claiborne, originally from Virginia, could never have imagined for herself as a young girl. When asked about the transition to flying commercial planes, Claiborne stresses that “a pilot is a pilot.”“You’re in different type organizations, but you’re still a pilot,” she adds. So this is an opportunity for her to really enjoy herself.”Increasing diversityClaiborne is committed to increasing pilot diversity and will continue to mentor young women. It’s estimated that there are less than 150 Black women pilots in the US, and Claiborne feels a huge responsibility as one of them. While this may be the end of her commercial flying career, Claiborne isn’t necessarily saying “goodbye” to piloting forever, and would love to fly a World War II aircraft one day.

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Persons: CNN — She’s, Theresa Claiborne, “ I’ve, ” Claiborne, Claiborne, “, ”, I’d, ” “, Caliborne, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, you’re, I’ve, Bessie Coleman, she’s, “ I’m, it’ll, they’d, Claiborne isn’t, ‘, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, Newark Liberty International, Air Force Reserve, Corps, US Air Force, California State University, KC, United Airlines, United, ”, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, It’s, Tuskegee Airmen Locations: New Jersey, Lisbon, Portugal, Virginia, Turkey, Sacramento, Claiborne, United States, Newark , New Jersey, Paris, Newark