Chresten Wilson has officially become the most senior pilot at United Airlines, making history as the first woman to top the airline’s pilot seniority list in its 100-year history. The achievement marks a major milestone for women in aviation and reflects more than four decades of dedication to flying.
Wilson’s journey began when she was just 12 years old. While passing United’s Flight Training Center in Denver with her mother, she pointed toward the facility and said, “I’ll be there someday.” Decades later, that childhood dream has become reality as she now holds the No. 1 seniority position among nearly 18,000 United pilots.
The 64-year-old captain currently flies the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from San Francisco on long-haul international routes to Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. She joined United in 1984 at the age of 22 and has spent 42 years with the airline, serving as a captain for 31 of those years.
Throughout her career, Wilson operated several aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, Airbus A320, and Boeing 777 before transitioning to the Dreamliner. She said she never aimed to become “the first,” but simply wanted to fly airplanes and do her job to the best of her ability.
Wilson also acknowledged the women who paved the way before her, saying their efforts made her achievement possible. When she started flying professionally, women represented almost none of the airline pilot workforce. Today, women make up around six percent of airline pilots worldwide.
Her story is now being celebrated across the aviation industry as a powerful example of determination, persistence, and progress for future generations of pilots.
