Capt. Terri Donner
was enshrined in 2021
was enshrined in 2021
Terri Donner was born in Louisville and moved to Madison, Wisconsin. At age 16, a co-worker at McDonald's invited her to go for an airplane ride in a Cessna 150. She enjoyed it so much that she earned her Private Pilot certificate the next year.
In 1979, with a fresh instrument rating, she entered the Air Race Classic, an all-female transcontinental air derby. In 1980 at the age of 20, she completed her commercial and CFI ratings while attending the University of Wisconsin Madison and studying Meteorology. She accepted a position at the Wisconsin DOT as their FAA 5010 Airport Inspector, flying statewide to 150 public airports to collect data for the FAA Airport Facility Directory.
In 1981 Terri received an Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship from the Ninety-Nines, Inc. for her multi-engine rating. She has served as the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Chair for the Kentucky Bluegrass 99s chapter for over 30 years and mentored aspiring women pilots from ages 14-58 years of age. Terri has facilitated a Girl Scout Aviation Day annually since 2002, in which over 5,000 girls have been introduced to many aviation careers. A badge program was created for all five levels of Girl Scouts and is available at www.aviationbadges.com. In 1985 Terri was hired by Stevens Aviation in Louisville, KY as a flight instructor. In 1986 she received Flight Instructor of the Year award in the state of Kentucky and the Southern Region as well as completing her Multiengine Flight Instructor Rating and Airline Transport Pilot certificate. From 1987-89 she flew Beechcraft Barons and King Airs in Part 135 Charter. In 1988, United Parcel Service opened a new airline in Louisville, and in 1989 Terri was hired as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727. A First Officer upgrade followed in 1991. Terri signed her first Flight Release as captain on the Boeing 727 on June 12, 1995. In 2007, UPS retired the 727 fleet, and Terri transitioned to the Airbus 300, a wide-body aircraft operating throughout North America and Puerto Rico.
During her early years at UPS, Terri raised her three children, all of whom soloed hot air balloons on their 14th birthday. Her oldest, Nick, pursued his mother's interest in fixed-wing aircraft and followed in her footsteps being hired at UPS as an Airbus First Officer in 2018. They made history 6-6-18 by operating a flight from Louisville to Chicago O'Hare. They were the first mother and son, fully qualified Part 121 flight crew flying a transport category aircraft. Search on YouTube, "UPS mother and son," UPS Pilots make U.S. Aviation History, for a video of their adventure. Terri has had a passion all her life for sharing her love of aviation with women of all ages. Terri believes that "the main reason why more females are not involved in any aspect of aviation is that they don't know they can be." Terri is also an active member of ISA+21, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots and Women in Aviation International. She has enjoyed traveling all over the world, speaking to female aviation groups. In 2019 Terri participated in the first China 99s Section meeting in Chengdu, speaking to 300 students. She was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship in 2000. 99s Award of Inspiration 2011. She has published an article in ISA+21, International Society of Women Airline Pilots, in 2017.
In 1979, with a fresh instrument rating, she entered the Air Race Classic, an all-female transcontinental air derby. In 1980 at the age of 20, she completed her commercial and CFI ratings while attending the University of Wisconsin Madison and studying Meteorology. She accepted a position at the Wisconsin DOT as their FAA 5010 Airport Inspector, flying statewide to 150 public airports to collect data for the FAA Airport Facility Directory.
In 1981 Terri received an Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship from the Ninety-Nines, Inc. for her multi-engine rating. She has served as the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Chair for the Kentucky Bluegrass 99s chapter for over 30 years and mentored aspiring women pilots from ages 14-58 years of age. Terri has facilitated a Girl Scout Aviation Day annually since 2002, in which over 5,000 girls have been introduced to many aviation careers. A badge program was created for all five levels of Girl Scouts and is available at www.aviationbadges.com. In 1985 Terri was hired by Stevens Aviation in Louisville, KY as a flight instructor. In 1986 she received Flight Instructor of the Year award in the state of Kentucky and the Southern Region as well as completing her Multiengine Flight Instructor Rating and Airline Transport Pilot certificate. From 1987-89 she flew Beechcraft Barons and King Airs in Part 135 Charter. In 1988, United Parcel Service opened a new airline in Louisville, and in 1989 Terri was hired as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727. A First Officer upgrade followed in 1991. Terri signed her first Flight Release as captain on the Boeing 727 on June 12, 1995. In 2007, UPS retired the 727 fleet, and Terri transitioned to the Airbus 300, a wide-body aircraft operating throughout North America and Puerto Rico.
During her early years at UPS, Terri raised her three children, all of whom soloed hot air balloons on their 14th birthday. Her oldest, Nick, pursued his mother's interest in fixed-wing aircraft and followed in her footsteps being hired at UPS as an Airbus First Officer in 2018. They made history 6-6-18 by operating a flight from Louisville to Chicago O'Hare. They were the first mother and son, fully qualified Part 121 flight crew flying a transport category aircraft. Search on YouTube, "UPS mother and son," UPS Pilots make U.S. Aviation History, for a video of their adventure. Terri has had a passion all her life for sharing her love of aviation with women of all ages. Terri believes that "the main reason why more females are not involved in any aspect of aviation is that they don't know they can be." Terri is also an active member of ISA+21, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots and Women in Aviation International. She has enjoyed traveling all over the world, speaking to female aviation groups. In 2019 Terri participated in the first China 99s Section meeting in Chengdu, speaking to 300 students. She was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship in 2000. 99s Award of Inspiration 2011. She has published an article in ISA+21, International Society of Women Airline Pilots, in 2017.