JKV in the News: Rita Reo, Resident Spotlight
Up, up and away: John Knox Village resident looks back on her career as a pilot
Not too many of us can look back on our lives and say we helped break the mold. However, John Knox Village resident Rita Reo can certainly lay claim to those bragging rights.
In the 1970’s, many young women chose to pursue traditional careers like nursing and secretarial work. Not Reo. She was busy learning to master the art of flying the friendly skies — literally. Reo, now 70, became a commercial airline pilot for U.S. Airways when most young women wouldn’t have dreamt of such a thing.
JKV resident and former commercial pilot Rita Reo. Photo credit Martin Lenkowsky/New Pelican
During her fascinating career, she flew many times with Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, known worldwide by his more familiar nickname, “Sully,” who in 2009 famously landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River when both engines were disabled after striking a flock of birds. Also as part of her fascinating career, she recalls her experience flying on the tragic morning of September 11th, 2001.
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