{"id":136404,"date":"2026-03-14T01:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=136404"},"modified":"2026-03-13T22:49:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T17:19:55","slug":"united-pilot-becomes-first-woman-to-hold-top-seniority-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/14\/united-pilot-becomes-first-woman-to-hold-top-seniority-position\/","title":{"rendered":"United Airlines 787 Pilot Becomes First Woman to Hold Top Seniority Position"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHICAGO-<\/strong> United Airlines (UA)<\/a> is marking a major milestone as Captain Chresten Wilson becomes the first woman to hold the airline\u2019s top seniority position among its 18,000 pilots<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boeing 787<\/a> captain achieved the historic ranking while operating flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), highlighting progress for women in aviation during the airline\u2019s centennial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: United<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

United Airlines First Senior Women Pilot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

United Airlines will celebrate 100 years of operations in April, but the airline is also recognizing another important achievement in aviation history. Captain Chresten Wilson has become the first woman to reach the number one position on the airline\u2019s pilot seniority list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United shared Wilson\u2019s story in a video posted on Instagram, where she was introduced to passengers preparing to board a United Airlines flight to Melbourne<\/a>, Australia. The announcement was made at the gate by First Officer Lori McGibney, bringing attention to a milestone that reflects decades of gradual progress for women in aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson has spent more than four decades at the airline. She joined United in 1982 and has served as a captain for over 30 years. Her current role involves flying the Boeing 787, one of the airline\u2019s most advanced long-haul aircraft, ABC7News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her journey began long before her aviation career started. Wilson recalled passing United\u2019s flight training center in Denver as a child and deciding she would one day work there. At that time, female airline pilots were almost nonexistent in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by United Airlines (@united)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n