05/08/2022
“Our flight tonight was expertly piloted by First Officer Natalie Stromgren who had just completed her final flight for her full pilot certification. While we waited to deplane, I could not help but look up: 'How long does it take to become a pilot?' No surprise, becoming a pilot is no easy feat to reach a milestone like Natalie did tonight.
How many female pilots are there? In 2022, only ~9% of all pilots are women. As a little girl, I dreamed of a career in mission control. In the end, I did not have the stomach for flight, but would that have been different if I had seen more women in the field? Surely there were many other little girls who needed to see women in the field to feel confident it was possible for them.
Last summer, my then 6-year-old daughter asked me if girls could be pilots. Of course, I told her yes. Tonight, I came home with a story and pictures to prove it.
Congratulations, Natalie! A huge accomplishment, and now there is one more woman in the skies pushing that 9% higher. Thank you for being a voice and face in the cockpit your future young passengers can be inspired by. Tomorrow morning, my 7-year-old wakes up to your story/picture.” - Lindsey O., Delta customer
We're grateful for employees like Natalie, who show us endless dedication and continue to inspire future generations.
