Zoey Williams

Zoey Williams is a Canadian commercial aviation pilot from Southern Ontario, Canada. She is noted for being the first Black female pilot to fly a Boeing 777 for Air Canada.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Southern Ontario. Her father worked as a pilot for Air Canada, and would frequently take his family along on flights in lieu of childcare. Her father encouraged her to try flying, and took her on a introductory flight on a Cessna, but she ran into turbulence, leaving her scared and "vowing never to fly again". However, she later determined she wanted to overcome her fear, and earned her pilot's license at the age of 16.

Career

Williams earned her certification as a flight instructor at the age of 19. She started working for Wasaya Airways, flying a Beechcraft 1900 in the Northern Ontario region. Williams served as a first officer on a Embraer 175 aircraft for Sky Regional Airlines and has also flown a Boeing 737 for Flair Airlines. marking the first time a Black female pilot flew the 777 for the airline.

Williams is the Pilot-in-Residence for the University of Waterloo, the first to hold the position for the university. She also sings with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, a professional orchestra located in Ontario. In 2023, Williams was included on Wings magazine's "Top 20 under 40" list In 2024, Williams was named one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada