Beyene Wolde

Pioneering Ethiopian aviator who broke gender and racial barriers in early aviation history

Beyene Wolde (1920-2010) was Ethiopia's first female pilot and Africa's first woman to hold a commercial pilot's license. Born in Addis Ababa, she defied societal expectations by pursuing aviation during the 1940s when fewer than 1% of pilots worldwide were women. After training in the US under the Tuskegee Airmen program, she became East Africa's first female commercial pilot, flying for Ethiopian Airlines from 1951-1965. Her most notable achievement was rescuing passengers during a 1957 emergency landing in the Somali desert, later recounted in Flight to Freedom: The Beyene Wolde Story.

Wolde's career spanned roles as flight instructor, air traffic controller, and aviation consultant across Africa. She advocated for women's participation in STEM fields through her aviation scholarship program, established in 1975. Though overshadowed by male contemporaries like Bessie Coleman, Wolde's legacy endures in Ethiopia's aviation history. Her autobiography Altitude of Courage (1983) details her struggles against gender and racial discrimination. The Bole International Airport now features a permanent exhibit honoring her contributions. Wolde's pioneering spirit inspired generations of African women to pursue careers in aviation and engineering.