Barbara Harmer left school at 15 without any qualifications and started working as a hairdresser. After five years of styling hair, she decided to apply to become a trainee air traffic controller at London Gatwick Airport. While at Gatwick, she also chose to study for her A levels, aiming to pursue law, focusing on Geography, English Law, and Constitutional Law. However, she later switched gears and began taking flying lessons after getting a £10,000 bank loan.
Once she earned her private pilot license, she started a two-year distance learning course for her commercial pilot license, which she achieved in 1982. Even after that, her determination was really put to the test when she faced rejection from potential employers. She sent out 100 applications for pilot jobs, and all of them were turned down.
In 1984, after two years on the tarmac, she landed her first pilot job with a small commuter airline. That same year, fortune smiled upon her when she joined British Caledonian Airlines. Things got even better for her in 1987 when British Caledonian Airlines merged with British Airways. She kept flying high, and after four years flying British Airways’ DC-10, she was chosen to train as a Concorde pilot, making her the first woman qualified to fly the supersonic aircraft.
By the time Concorde was retired in October 2003, Harmer had spent 10 years as a pilot for regular scheduled services. After Concorde, she transitioned to flying the Boeing 777 Jumbo jet until she voluntarily retired in 2009 to explore new adventures. She had plans to sail her yacht across the Atlantic in 2013, something she was already preparing for.
Sadly, unbeknownst to her, she had developed ovarian cancer, which was slowly taking a toll on her health. By the time it was diagnosed, she had just over a year to live. Captain Harmer, who never had children, passed away in 2011 at the age of 57, leaving behind her husband of 27 years. Her ashes were flown high and scattered over the sea near her home.
Starting from humble beginnings, she climbed to incredible heights. Her legacy continues to inspire women and young people everywhere. With her practical, can-do attitude, she achieved remarkable success in a male-dominated field.