First-Ever Enlisted Female Pilot by Air Force. She Will Fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone
Tech Sgt. Courtney is made First-Ever Enlisted Female Pilot by Air Force. She Will Fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone
She completed her Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Training on Aug. 4, 2017, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
“I was shocked, but it’s a huge honor and humbling – excited to learn about our mission here at Beale ,” Tech Sgt. Courtney said of her trailblazing accomplishment.
Courtney, a Vacaville, Calif., native who enlisted in 2005, graduated this month from the Enlisted Pilot Initial Class program alongside three others to become a RQ-4 Global Hawk drone pilot – without ever actually stepping foot inside one.
“Tech Sgt. Courtney doesn’t do this because she’s a girl. She just gets up every day and puts her uniform on and comes to work and kicks butt because that’s what she does,” Maj.
Undergraduate remotely piloted aircraft training is six months for RPA pilots, who sit in the left seat of an RPA control center during flight, and six weeks for their sensor operators, who sit in the right seat and control cameras mounted on the RPA.
Natalie, an instructor with Air Education and Training Command’s 558th Flying Training Squadron
Featured image of Tech. Sgt. Courtney having her remotely piloted aircraft wings pinned on by sons David and Riley during an RPA Training Course graduation Aug. 4, 2017, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. U.S. Air Force/Ave I. Young
