Simi resident named ‘Woman Pilot of the Year
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Ceci Stratford

Simi Valley resident Ceci Stratford recently was named Woman Pilot of the Year by the legendary women’s aviation group, The Ninety-Nines.

Stratford, 62, won the Southwest section award, edging out 12 other nominees from about 100 chapters across five states. Stratford had won the San Fernando Valley chapter’s Pilot of the Year award last summer.

“It was always a dream of mine to be recognized at (this) level, almost since I joined The Ninety-Nines,” Stratford said. “It’s quite an honor.”

Bertie Duffy, chapter president, called Stratford, whom she’s known for 25 years, “a vibrant person.”

“(She) won because she’s so active in the aviation community and does so many activities,” Duffy said. “Particularly, she does a lot with young people.”

Stratford spends two to three days a week as a volunteer for several programs that acquaint youth with aviation, such as the Aviation Explorers and the Young Eagles. She’s worked with Girl Scouts in helping them achieve their aviation merit badge. For several teens on course to get a pilot’s license, she’s provided moral support as a mentor.

Stratford’s interest in flying was ignited 30 years ago when a female coworker began taking flying lessons. She joined her, and the two women took ground school together. Although the other woman dropped out, Stratford continued on, earning a private pilot’s license in 1976.

She joined The Ninety-Nines that same year. “They really inspired me,” she said, “It was so inspiring to hear what other women were doing (in aviation).”

The 77-year-old international organization boasts Amelia Earhart as its first president. Launched with 99 members in 1929, the organization now has a membership of more than 6,000 licensed female pilots in 35 countries. Among them are astronauts, commercial airline pilots and record-setting air racers.

Since joining The NinetyNines, Stratford has earned a commercial pilot’s license, flight instructor certification and instrument rating, which means she’s certified to fly solely by instrumentation.

Stratford said compared to 30 years ago, women today have more opportunities in aviation. They can fly for the military, commercial airlines and corporations and become flight instructors.

“I think the doors have opened significantly since I started flying, because you see a lot more women flying. There aren’t as many challenges as there were,” she said.

Nonetheless, the biggest challenge Stratford has encountered in aviation has come in the form of her own fears. But by flying as often as possible, she’s been able to squelch them.

It was through flying that Stratford met her husband, Mal, who also was a pilot. They were married for 16 years, flying to Alaska, Canada and all over the U.S. together just for the fun of it until his death in 1994. She’s now engaged to another man she met through flying.

Stratford says the cost of aviaion lessons is high. Ground school and flight time can cost between $6,000 and $8,000. But for women who already are li

censed and want training to qualify for additional ratings, The Ninety-Nines and other organizations offer scholarships to help with the cost. Her ad

vice for girls awomen interested flying is to locatenearby chapter of TNinety-Nines and leaas much as possibfrom the women the

“It’s probably the most fulfilling activity I have done in my life,” Stratford said of flying, “the most satisfying and the most challenging.”

For more information on The Ninety-Nines, visit their international website at www.ninetynines.org/. You can access the Ventura County and San Fernando Valley chapters there.