In 2019, Captain Suzy Garrett and her daughter Donna Garrett made history as the first mother-daughter duo to pilot a SkyWest Airlines commercial airplane together.
For Donna, growing up with her mother as a pilot didn’t seem unusual; after all, her father shared the same profession. So, flying airplanes felt like a natural part of life.
Initially, Donna saw her parents’ work as mundane—a “boring job” they did daily. But as she matured, she grew fascinated by their passion for aviation and the freedom it offered to explore the world. Inspired by her parents’ love for flying, Donna decided to pursue a career in aviation herself.
In September 2019, Donna sat in the cockpit alongside her mother, serving as the first officer on a SkyWest Airlines flight. Suzy marked her 30th year with SkyWest, making the occasion even more significant.
Aviation runs in the family; Suzy’s husband Doug and their son Mark are also pilots, making it a family affair aiming for the skies.
“We absolutely love our job,” Suzy expressed. “You don’t often see that in other professions.” Seeing their parents’ happiness juxtaposed with conventional careers like office work opened Donna’s eyes to the possibilities.
The viral photo of the proud mother-daughter duo in the cockpit garnered widespread attention in 2020, with Suzy cherishing people’s heartwarming reactions. Suzy enjoys working alongside her daughter, recognizing aviation as a perfect fit for Donna’s desire for variety and excitement in life.
“It’s fulfilling to see your child experience what you’ve experienced. She’s part of the SkyWest family,” Suzy remarked proudly.
The image of Donna and Suzy sharing the flight deck captured a joyous and remarkable moment in aviation, particularly significant in a field where female pilots often face challenges in a male-dominated environment.
This wasn’t Suzy’s first time making history; she was among the first women hired by SkyWest. Since joining in 1989, she’s lived her lifelong dream of being an aviator for over three decades. Suzy’s passion for the skies ignited during her second flight from Arizona to Los Angeles in eighth grade, where she was captivated by the sunset outside her window.
Realizing such a grand ambition wouldn’t be easy, Suzy pursued aviation education at Mount San Antonio College in California in 1984. After working as a flight instructor, she landed her first job at SkyWest.
Suzy noted she faced no discrimination in the cockpit and enjoyed equal opportunities alongside her male counterparts. Any negativity she encountered stemmed from those unfamiliar with aviation.
“Outside of the profession, I had to convince people,” Suzy recalled.
Though she’s accustomed to the surprise on people’s faces upon learning she landed commercial planes, Suzy has seen attitudes shift, with more acceptance of female pilots. Above all, she’s thrilled to have inspired young women to pursue aviation careers through her viral photo, affirming flying as an excellent career choice for women due to its flexible working hours.