Author Spotlight with Captain Nia Gilliam
On-Demand
Webinar
A PLA 2026 Virtual Conference On-Demand Webinar available free to PLA individual members
Before being cleared for takeoff, Captain Nia Gilliam witnesses the World Trade Center attacks from the co-pilot’s seat on the runway of Newark Airport. Struggling with the harrowing sights unfolding before her, she finds the composure to take off as smoke billows from the Twin Towers. In her inspiring memoir, Cleared for Takeoff, Gilliam shares her journey of fulfilling a lifelong dream to fly—and how she rediscovered her passion in the face of tragedy and adversity. Cleared for Takeoff is a deeply affecting story, tracing Gilliam’s roots to navigating a male-dominated industry and illuminating one woman’s unwavering faith in herself. Gilliam appears in conversation with her collaborator, Jodi Fodor.
Originally presented during the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference, April 1–3, 2026.
Captain Nia Gilliam is an accomplished airline pilot with over twenty-five years of experience. A trailblazer in aviation, she co-founded Sisters of the Skies, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing Black female pilots. Her contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards and media recognition. And her story has captured the attention of major media such as CBS News, the Essence Disruptors Series, and Marie Claire. A Chicago native now living in Houston, she is a breast cancer survivor, champion for representation in aviation, and proud mother of two.
Jodi Fodor, MFA, is an editor and ghost writer who works for publishers and literary agencies as well as authors yet to find their publishing paths. She writes and edits in multiple genres, including memoir, fiction, humor, and self-help. For many years, Jodi joyfully taught writing to students of all ages in private lessons, workshops, and university classes, and she continues that teaching as a book coach. She also posts mini lessons for writers on Instagram @editor.teaches.writing.
Captain Nia Gilliam appears courtesy Storehouse Voices, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
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