Ariel Messam, an 18-year-old African-American woman from Jamaica, New York, has made history by becoming the youngest woman of colour to be a Certified Private Pilot in her state.
She graduated from Aviation Career & Technical Education High School and earned her certification as an Aircraft Powerplant Technician while playing varsity basketball.
In addition to her accomplishment, she has become a flight simulation instructor at Level Up and Take Off, an organisation founded by her brother to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in aviation, real estate, and financial management.
Messam is also an ambassador for Girls Love to Fly, which empowers women interested in becoming aviators through scholarship opportunities and discovery flights.
She flies primarily out of Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York, and loves to share clips of her flying adventures on social media.
She had announced on social media that she had finally achieved her goal of becoming the youngest Black woman to be a Certified Private Pilot in the state of New York.
She expressed her gratitude to her instructors, saying, “Thank you to my instructors @jocelynjones00 & @rustic___ y’all are dope, and nothing is possible without God. I’m so grateful for those who made it possible. God is so good.”
