From the early days of flight, we often recognize common household aviator names in history such as the great Amelia Earhart, The Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, and countless others. We love to spotlight as many of these incredible aviation pioneers as we can in gratitude for what they did to shape aviation into what it is today.
Among these powerhouses are four Hispanic men and women who contributed to aviation by pushing the boundaries and advancing our craft in ways we didn’t think possible – Jorge Chavez, Felix Rigaeu Carrera, Olga E. Custodio, and Marisol A. Chalas.
Jorge Chavez, a Peruvian aviator and engineer in the early 1900s, was the first person to fly across the alps. Felix Carrera, a pilot from Puerto Rico, became the first Hispanic fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Olga Custodio became the first Latina US military pilot. Marisol Chalas of the Dominican Republic because the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk pilots. We encourage you to read through some of their stories here to learn more about them.
This is just the beginning of the accomplishments that Hispanic and Latino pilots have contributed to our industry. As we approach the tail-end of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15), our team would like to take a moment to appreciate and amplify some incredible organizations and resources that celebrate and serve the Hispanic and Latino aviation community today as we look to the future of aviation.
Latino Pilots Association
Our community team met this group while attending an aviation expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. They are huge advocates for supporting underrepresented groups in aviation. The mission of LPA is to “serve the Latino as well as other communities through education, mentorship, and civil service — all while consistently making a positive difference to any person or group with whom the LPA interacts.” Check out their links below:
Website: https://www.latinopilot.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatinoPilot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinopilot/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/latinopilots
Latinas in Aviation
Latinas in Aviation is a book by Jacqueline S Ruiz. This book celebrates “the rarest women in the industry, told through stories of their triumphs, their falls and their most crowning achievements. Hear from retired veterans as well as new graduates, pilots as well as aviation administrators, military and civilians, all with a unique passion for aviation and its impact on our world. Each author inspires, entertains and sets the stage for the next generation of Latinas who look to the sky with a dream.”
This year they ran the Latinas in Aviation Global Festival 2022 earlier this month on October 1st! You can check out the photo gallery of the event here.
Website: http://www.latinasinaviation.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latinasinaviation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinasinaviation/
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
SHPE’s mission is to “changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development.” While this organization is not strictly about aviation, it supports the growth and success of those pursuing a STEM education, which can lead to careers in Flight Test Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Safety Inspectors, Medical Officers, Air Traffic Controllers, and more. Learn more about their organization here:
Website: https://shpe.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shpenational/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shpenational/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHPE
We encourage you to explore, follow, and support these Hispanic and Latino organizations as they continue to advocate and support their communities to pursue individual aviation goals. Our team is grateful for their contributions and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish in 2023!