Katie Waters and Lucy Young Inspire Students at 4C’s

by Tribekah Jordan

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, 4C’s welcomed Katie Waters and Lucy Young, bringing their knowledge and perspectives as to what it means to be a pilot.

Meeting with a journalism class, Waters, a retired Captain pilot of Southwest Airlines spoke first, saying with a smile “I still think I have the best job in the world.”

The retired Southwest Airlines captain said she grew up in a “male-dominated world” on Cape Cod, and wasn’t sure where she fit in. After graduating from Chatham High School in the 1970s, she attended Wheaton College, at the time an all-women school (it became co-ed in 1988), where she earned a degree in biology. Though, she said, opportunities for women to be hired were limited, Waters chose the path of aviation despite there being different responses on whether she could fill the role. Waters proved herself. One time, she flew from Los Angeles, California, to Puerto Rico, approximately 3,345 miles, to hand-deliver a job resume.

“There are innovative pathways to achieve your goal, and perseverance is a wonderful quality,” she said. “Anybody challenging your beliefs can take a seat in the back row. Choose your audience, those who lift you up.”

Water's defiance of those who didn’t support her dreams led her to have a fulfilling career, she said, one that gave her the opportunity to soar around the world and provide a feeling of joy and safety for her passengers.

Young shares Waters’ passion for flying. She was a captain for American Airlines for 33 years (1986-2019) and served in the U.S Navy for seven (1976-1983). Her job entailed aiding crew members of the Navy in stressful situations. One instance where her training was put to the test was the incident of U.S Airlines Flight 1549. On Jan. 15, 2009, Airbus A320 struck a flock of birds after its departure from LaGuardia. The strike resulted in the loss of all engine power and needed a quick response due to 155 passengers being aboard. Young was one of the crew members responding to the call and aided Pilots Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles with the decision to safely glide the plane into the Hudson River. All 155 passengers survived the landing.

“They were heroes,” Young said of the pilots and their crew. “Unbelievably heroic. … This was a gigantic uplifting story for the country.”

And it’s a story Young takes pride in being a part of.

Waters and Young encourage those who wish to follow a career path in aviation to explore the programs available, including the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at 4C’s.

Pilots Lucy Young, left, and Katie Waters appear with Professor Tim Miller's photo on Zoom during their visit to Miller's journalism class. (Tribekah Jordan)

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