FedEx’s First Mother-Daughter Team to Pilot International Flight

Last Updated on June 5, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

The first mother-daughter duo to ever pilot an international flight for the American multinational delivery services corporation FedEx has achieved history. On May 2023, the news of this achievement broke, and it has since caused a stir in the aviation community.

The first mother-daughter team to fly a FedEx cargo jet across the Atlantic Ocean, from Memphis, Tennessee to Paris, France, was made up of Captain Diane Rodriguez and First Officer Emma Rodriguez. The flight was a major achievement for the organization and for women in the aviation industry and they both created history.

FedEx veteran and mother of two, Captain Rodriguez, said of her first flight with her daughter, “It’s a dream come true for both of us.” This opportunity to make history together is something we will never forget.

Three-year company veteran and first officer Emma Rodriguez was overjoyed to take her mum on a flight. “My mother has always been a strong figure for me to look up to. It’s a dream come true to collaborate with her in this way.

This mother-daughter team’s success has brought attention to the problem of gender disparity in the aviation business. The percentage of female commercial pilots is estimated to be around 5% worldwide by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. For women of color, the numbers are significantly lower.

One way FedEx has been attempting to become more diverse and inclusive is by hiring more women as pilots. As a result of the company’s initiatives, it now employs a larger proportion of women pilots than is typical in the aviation sector.

We are immensely proud of Diane and Emma and the example they are establishing for all of us, Fred Smith, CEO of the firm, said in congratulating Captain Rodriguez and First Officer Rodriguez. Their achievements should encourage more women to enter the aviation industry.

Many people have taken to social media to express their delight at the success of this mother-daughter duo and their praise for their historic achievement. What a great achievement!” tweeted one Twitter user. This pioneering mother-daughter duo is blazing trails for other female pilots.

For FedEx and women in aviation alike, the announcement of the first mother-daughter combination to pilot an international aircraft is a watershed moment. It’s a great example of the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and it should encourage more women to pursue careers as pilots in the future. We applaud the efforts of Captain Diane Rodriguez and First Officer Emma Rodriguez, who have just accomplished something very remarkable.