Meet the Women Who Built Pittsburgh Aviation

Amelia Earhart made a name for herself as a female aviator, but she wasn’t alone on her journey through the skies. In fact, one of her co-pilots was a Pittsburgh native who paved her own path as an aviation pioneer.   

Helen Richey of McKeesport assisted Earhart in the 1936 Bendix Trophy race, just one of her most notable achievements in the Pittsburgh aviation scene.   

The airport’s new terminal will soon become another piece of that history, but the region’s role in aviation did not start with the new terminal, nor will it end there. Western Pennsylvania has a long-lasting and constantly developing history in aviation, pioneered by women who made it possible for coming generations to redefine and revolutionize the industry.    

 “Bettis: Where Pittsburgh Aviation Took Off,” by local authors Brian Butko and Sue Morris, puts some of these women at the forefront of aviation history. The book, published in collaboration with the Heinz History Center, dedicates a large section to the important role women played in Pittsburgh’s aviation scene.  

 “They were advancing the field,” Morris said. “Not just for women but advancing the field. Here we are 100 years later, and women still need that encouragement.”   

 March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the female leaders who established aviation greatness, especially in Pittsburgh.    

 The three Helens take flight   

Deemed the “Amelia Earhart of Pittsburgh,” Richey refused to back down on her dream of becoming a pilot. At 25, she became the first female commercial pilot and went on to serve in World War II and work as a flight instructor.   

 To add to this litany of firsts, she also flew for Central Airlines and called Allegheny County Airport (AGC) her home base. Today, AGC’s campus is home to flight training programs, preparing other women to follow in Richey’s footsteps. 

 “There’s a direct line from her accomplishments, which are astounding, to the very women back at Bettis Airport getting that organization going and inspiring other local women,” Butko said.    

Helen MacCloskey Rough, a Squirrel Hill native, set a world air speed record in 1935 and a distance record just one year later. After her was Helen Stiner Ball, who also played a role in AGC’s history by winning a local race at the airport’s opening in 1931.   

These three Helens set a precedent for what women can do for aviation. As they rose to fame around the same time that Pittsburgh’s first commercial airport did, they helped establish a foundation for women to take off in the field.    

Creating a future for female aviators   

Nearly 100 years after the three Helens made history, a new batch of women in aviation would make names for themselves.   

 Among them is Jane Garvey, who served as the first female administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration from 1997 to 2002.   

 Then in 2015, Christina Cassotis joined the Allegheny County Airport Authority, becoming its first female CEO. Cassotis has driven innovation at PIT through several initiatives, including building an on-site microgrid that saves over $1 million a year; implementing xBridge, the airport’s innovation hub that tests new technology throughout the campus; and building a state-of-the-art terminal that will modernize the airport and give Pittsburghers the travel experience they deserve.   

 In February, Cassotis was named Pittsburgher of the Year by Pittsburgh Magazine, which acknowledges the work she’s done to support the airport and its region. 

The next generation of women in aviation  

The team at PIT has encouraged the future of female aviators in Pittsburgh, too.  

In 2024, the National Women in Construction summer camp group took a behind-the-scenes tour of PIT’s microgrid and new terminal construction site. The teenagers were introduced to what aviation has to offer beyond flying planes.   

One of PIT’s engineers, Elizabeth Hall, was a speaker on the tour. She explained the maintenance and upkeep of running an existing airport while building another one, showcasing the behind-the-scenes roles that are critical to keeping the airport functioning.   

 “I know the feeling of going into a male-dominated field,” Hall said. “I am super excited that girls are interested in this field.”    

 PIT also hosts Ready for Takeoff and Getting Ready for Takeoff – two programs for elementary and middle school students to experience working at the airport. Airport team members immerse the students into life at the airport through mini-lessons, Q&As and hands-on experiences.   

 Outside of PIT, local universities and organizations are working to get women into aviation. At the University of Pittsburgh, the Marion Alice Nye “Buzz” Barry Scholarship program gives young women the chance to pursue careers in the industry.   

 In 2024, Stephanie Manasterski, a student at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, was awarded this honor.  

Pictured above, from left to right, are Helen Richey, Helen MacCloskey Rough and Helen Stiner Ball.