Malone, Patricia "Mother" (1924 - 2008)
Patricia Malone was born July 4th, 1924 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She graduated from North Quincy High School in 1942 and went on to be hired as a Radio Engineering Aide for Signal Corps Laboratory. In 1944 she enlisted in the US Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and was assigned to train aircraft carrier based pilots on instrument flight procedures. Later, she was employed as a simulator instructor by the US Air Force. In 1951 she became the Line Trainer Instructor for Trans World Airlines, and Northeast Airlines. In 1972, with the merger of Northeast and Delta Air Lines she returned to Atlanta and was assigned to the Pilot Ground Training Department and held many positions with Delta. She was an Operation Specification Instructor and progressed to Federal Regulatory Compliance. She was also the first woman to begin working with pilots in the “Lessons Learned” of operational errors. Ms. Malone was instrumental in setting up the first CRM Program and taught instructors the facilitation skills required to teach pilots the critical interpersonal and management skills to ensure a higher level of safety in airline operations. She then became the Operations Specification Instructor for Delta Air Lines-Pilot Ground Training Department. Her responsibilities included instrument flight reviews, instrument approach charts, Federal Air Regulations, and Air Traffic Control procedures for all Delta Pilots. The distinctive honors Patricia Malone received during her career were honorary member Air Line Pilots Association, the “Leather Helmet” Flying Award for contributions to flight safety by the Master Executive Council of Delta Air Line Pilots Association; she was the first woman and non-pilot to receive this award. She is an Honorary member of the Delta Golden Wings (retired pilots), Certificate of Commendation approved by FAA Administrator David Hinson. After her retirement she served as the President of the Delta Pioneers. She also served a wide variety of community volunteer programs. Ms. Malone was also inducted into the Women in Aviation International, Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2009. Patricia Malone retired from Delta in 1994 after serving 30 years as Manager of Certificate Action. She went on to serve as a consultant for the Jeppesen Company and Jet Blue in accident investigations as an expert on Approach Charts. Her aviation career spanned more than 50 years and has affected thousands of pilots, aviation professionals, military personnel and civilians. Her contributions to charting standards are the corner stone of today’s aeronautical charts. She became known as "Mother" Malone for her 50-year career in aviation.
In recognition of her distinguished contributions to the field of aviation, Patricia “Mother” Malone was enshrined into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame on April 24, 2010.
