Celebrating aviation change maker Jessica Cox

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the MAC acknowledges Jessica Cox.  

Jessica Cox was born on Feb. 2, 1983, with no arms. Her parents made sure she engaged in activities like all other children. The second daughter of a retired American music teacher and a Filipino nurse, Jessica Cox holds the distinction of being the first woman pilot in aviation history to fly with her feet.  

As a child, Cox overcame her fears and danced in front of a crowd. She loved it and could not wait to perform again — setting the tone for the rest of her life. She would never let her fears stop her from accomplishing anything she set her mind to. Around age 11, she vowed to never wear her prosthetic arms again. Cox felt more comfortable using her feet rather than her prosthetic arms despite the looks and laughter she endured.  

Cox attended college at the University of Arizona and graduated in 2005. She became the first armless person in the United States to obtain a driver's license and a black belt in Taekwondo. After college, Cox became a professional motivational speaker. She inspires people to achieve their dreams, no matter their situation, and inspires humanity to change for the better.

Robin Stoddard, a former fighter pilot who represents a charity organization called Wright Flight, offered Cox the chance to learn to fly an aircraft. Cox was up for the challenge. She earned her license in an ERCO Ercoupe 415C, a low-wing monoplane with a single engine. The unique controls of the aircraft, which include no rudders, allow a pilot to control the aircraft only using their hands. This plane was the perfect match for Cox as it meant she could fly with her feet.

In three years, she completed her training. Cox passed her check ride on Oct. 10, 2008, and became a fully licensed pilot, able to fly light-sport aircraft. Her achievement earned her a Guinness World Record medal, invitations to speak from six continents, and interviews on television programs like Ellen, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNN, CBS Evening News, and the BBC.

Cox reminds us that there is more than one way to tackle a task and that we do not need to be limited by fear or perceived capabilities. It is because of her advocacy for women with disabilities that the MAC recognizes Jessica Cox as an aviation change maker.