Women Pioneers in Air Traffic Control

Who They Are

During World War II, a wave of pioneering women entered air traffic control in the United States. With men leaving for military service, the Civil Aeronautics Administration actively recruited women for controller positions. By late 1942, women comprised approximately 40 percent of controller trainees. Pioneers like Mary Chance VanScyoc, Ruth Thomas, Madelyn Brown Pert, and Gloria Langmade Yow proved that women could excel in this demanding profession.

Why They Matters

These women broke barriers in a field that had been exclusively male, demonstrating that gender had no bearing on the ability to safely manage air traffic. They worked in control towers and air traffic control centers across the country during one of the most critical periods in aviation history. Though many were pushed out of their positions when men returned from war, their success paved the way for future generations of women controllers. Their story shows that when given the opportunity, women performed at the highest levels in this safety-critical profession. Today, women continue to build on this legacy, though they still represent a minority of controllers.