Success

Pilot, Author

Successful Attitude

Whoever says it just can’t be done has probably never met B. Evette Robinson. Somehow, over the years she has managed to believe in herself and take that negative word can’t and turn it into a strong – yes, I can!

Evette was born and raised into a working class family in North Wales, Pennsylvania, just 20 minutes outside the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.

Her mother worked at a variety of different jobs including assembly line worker, bus driver and seamstress while her father served as union shop steward for a truck manufacturing plant and plied his trade as a welder for over 35 years.

At an early age, she began looking toward the wild blue yonder. “My interest in aviation began at the age of nine. My goal was to become a flight attendant. At age eleven, I took my first airplane ride from Philadelphia to Chicago,” recalls Robinson joyously.
At that time there were very few women in aviation and Evette lost interest by the time she was in junior high school. Later, as a senior in high school she heard of a career study program in aviation. “Although I chose aviation and visited the airport every day, piloting an airplane as a career did not seem feasible. Air traffic control became my new dream,” she reflects back.

“One air traffic controller suggested a great college to apply to with a top notch aeronautics program. With a struggling B average in school, I applied to only one college, Dowling College, in Oakdale, New York,” says Evette. She was accepted and the seed to fly was now planted.

Robinson graduated from Dowling and was soon offered a military flight slot from the Navy. She became one of only 10 women and the first black female ever to be accepted. Her Marine drill instructors at Aviation Officers Candidate School for Navy Pilots helped condition and forge her strong beliefs that there really wasn’t anything she couldn’t accomplish.

How right they were. Evette completed the rigorous training and during her 13 years with the Navy flew a total of seven different types of aircraft and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander (04).

“I landed on aircraft carriers carrying mail, cargo, and passengers in the C-1A Cargo Onboard Delivery (COD). I flew VIP and passenger transport missions out of Guam to the Pacific Islands, Philippines and Japan in the Super King Air 200. I was a flight instructor in that aircraft and the T-34C out of Pensacola, Florida,” Evette states proudly. “I taught beginner flight training formation, night flight, and basic instrument. In Washington, DC, I flew admirals, Senators, Congressmen, generals, Chief of Navy Operations and other VIP’s in the Sabreliner and the Gulfstream III, both Lear Jet type aircraft. Finally, I moved to San Diego to fly the DC-9, transporting troops and cargo around the world.”

Robinson also spent five months aiding the troops in the Gulf War. “A whole month of which I spent in Fujayrah of the United Arab Emirates, adjacent to Saudi Arabia. From Fujayrah I flew into Kuwait and Saudi Arabia daily. Each of my Navy squadrons was uniquely incredible and a wonderful memory,” beams our proud American.

One of Evette’s passions is to help share the word of believing in one’s self. She enjoys telling her story and helping others plan and reach for their goals, especially high school students.

“I can let you in on the big secret that successful people already know. Let me just say that my Dad used this line repeatedly. YOU CAN BE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO BE... ANYTHING. I heard it so many times that I never thought to question it. It’s now so ingrained in me,” she tells us.

Robinson also shares with us, “When I talk to young people my subject is “Making Plans for your Future, Strategies for Success.” Instead of cliches like “Just do it,” I explain in detail the steps to make things happen.”

“Success is an attitude. When I realized I was letting the unqualified tell me what to do, I formulated a simple plan that made me a success with everything I touched. Promise yourself every day, to treasure your dream and not give up,” is wisdom she has lived by.

Evette has developed a six-step plan from her life experience which can help anyone get one step closer to their most important goals in life. They are: detailed planning, research, creation of mini-goals, no excuse hard work, taking the first step and learning from mistakes.

When asked what it takes to become a success, she replies, “The true answer is motivation and determination. The secret of success is knowing how to find information and apply knowledge. With a plan you can achieve any goal you can dream.”

Robinson has maintained her humbleness despite her numerous accomplishments at such an early age. “Why is it when the first black female landed on an aircraft carrier it didn’t make the papers? Because, I’m not driven by popularity or fame. That small flaw in my character drives my family crazy,” she laughs. “I’m driven by achievement. The newspapers did say I was a ‘quiet example.’ I let others toot my horn. I just remember with pride.”

Who knows, maybe the next time you’re flying on American Airlines, take a little time to see who your pilot is that day. And, don’t be surprised when you look up toward the cockpit if you see Evette’s happy smile glancing back at you. She’s been flying with American since 1992.

Robinson is now putting the finishing touches on her new motivational book “Success Is An Attitude.” She empowers us with her wisdom: “You now possess; The spark that ignites; The match that generates; The flame that lights; The fire that powers; The engine that CHANGES YOUR LIFE.”

B. Evette Robinson, author, pilot, and American patriot is living proof that with a successful attitude, we all have the potential to soar to our greatest level of individual success.

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Successful Attitude