BOGNOR REGIS– On March 25, 1993, Barbara Harmer became the first qualified female Concorde pilot.
She was Born on September 14, 1953, in Bognor Regis. Harmer began her career journey in hairdressing after leaving school. She transitioned into aviation in 1973 and embarked on a path as an Air Traffic Controller at London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Barbara Harmer Journey
She employed £5,000 from her personal savings and a £10,000 loan to finance her flying lessons to acquire her Private Pilot Licence (PPL). Subsequently, she assumed the role of an instructor at Goodwood Flying School.
Following that, she dedicated two years to studying, ultimately earning her Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) in May 1982.
After submitting applications to over 100 positions, she was eventually hired by Humberside-based Genair, where she operated Shorts 330 and 360 aircraft.
Subsequently, Genair merged with British Caledonian Commuter (BR), leading Harmer to transition to the mainline carrier. She began flying BAC One-Elevens and later moved on to operate long-haul flights on the airline’s McDonnell Douglas DC-10s.
In 1987, British Caledonian merged with British Airways (BA), marking the transition for Harmer to become one of merely 60 female pilots recruited by BA.
Supersonic Dreams
Without delay, she aimed to pilot the world’s first supersonic airliner, Concorde, and submitted her candidacy for the six-month conversion course in 1992.
Upon completing the training, Harmer embarked on her historic first flight between London Heathrow (LHR) and New York (JFK) in 1993. This groundbreaking journey catapulted her to global recognition. Amid intense public scrutiny, she gracefully handled her newfound celebrity status.
As noted on British-caledonian.com, one of her most memorable moments was when she flew the Manchester United football team to their monumental Champions League Final in Barcelona.
Reflecting on the experience, she expressed, “I was thrilled and honored to be asked to fly the team on their historic journey to Barcelona and felt quite emotional as I taxied the Concorde out to the runway, with British flags flying and thousands of people wishing the team luck on the way.”
Concorde’s Retirement: End of an Era
Upon Concorde’s retirement from service in October 2003, Harmer concluded her ten-year tenure with the fleet. Subsequently, she transitioned to piloting the Boeing 777 before opting for voluntary redundancy in 2009.
She possessed not only exceptional aviation skills but also held qualifications as an RYA Commercial Offshore Yacht Master. Her combined experiences in both aviation and maritime domains rendered her a highly sought-after speaker for motivational and inspirational engagements.
However, it was at 60,000 feet, cruising through the skies at 1,350mph, where she truly felt her sense of belonging. Reflecting on her time as a Concorde pilot, she expressed feelings of “luck” and being “extremely privileged.”
Three Female Concorde Pilots
It’s noteworthy that Barbara Harmer is one of just three women who piloted Concorde. The other two were French test pilot Jacqueline Auriol and Air France pilot Béatrice Vialle. Before the aircraft retired, Vialle began flying Concorde in 2001 and completed around 35 trips between Paris and New York.
Regrettably, Harmer passed away at Wilfrid’s Hospice on February 20, 2011, at the age of only 57.
A plaque honoring Harmer’s remarkable accomplishments was revealed at 91 Staples Road, her birthplace, in September 2020.
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