Béatrice Vialle
Béatrice Vialle | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 4, 1961 Bourges, France |
| Occupation | Aviator |
| Known for | One of the only two female Concorde pilots; first French woman to pilot a supersonic airliner |
Béatrice Vialle (born 4 August 1961 in Bourges) is a distinguished French aviator, recognized as one of the only two female pilots to actively fly the Concorde and notably the first French woman to operate a supersonic airliner.
Biography
After graduating from the École nationale de l'aviation civile in 1981, Vialle launched her aviation career with Air Littoral, where she operated the Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante. She became part of Air France in 1985, initially flying the Airbus A320 and later the Boeing 747. On 24 July 2000, she earned her qualification to pilot the Concorde.
Vialle's inaugural commercial flight on the Concorde took place on 19 November 2001. This achievement placed her alongside Briton Barbara Harmer as one of only two female Concorde pilots and established her as the first French female to command a supersonic airliner. Throughout her tenure, she completed 45 supersonic journeys between Paris and New York City, including three transatlantic crossings. Following the Concorde's retirement on 31 May 2003, she progressed to the role of Captain on the Boeing 747-400.
Bibliography
- Académie nationale de l'air et de l'espace, Les français du ciel, dictionnaire historique, 2005, Le Cherche midi éditeur, 782p., p. 518, VIALLE, Béatrice,
- Who's Who in France, 2012, 2307 p., notice « Vialle, Béatrice »,