June 23, 2011

Earlier this month, National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Christopher Hart was interviewed by Smithsonian television about his great uncle James Herman Banning. In 1926, Banning was the first African American to acquire a general aviation pilot’s license, as well as the first African American to fly across the country.

Among the interesting stories Hart shared about his uncle was his source of financing for his cross country flight:  “To help pay for his trip he volunteered to deliver leaflets for Franklin Roosevelt’s presidential campaign.”

During the interview, Hart, also a pilot, recounted the triumphs and challenges of other heroic African American pilots as well, including Benjamin O. Davis, the first African American to graduate from West Point Military Academy, who eventually became a commander of the Tuskegee Airmen. “The history of African Americans in aviation is speckled with enormous success in the face of obstacles that many thought were insurmountable,” Hart said.

The interview is part of a documentary about African American aviators called “Black Wings” based on a book of the same name.

Christopher A. Hart was sworn in as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board on August 12, 2009 and designated by the President for a two-year term as Vice Chairman of the Board on August 18.  He also served as a Member of the NTSB from 1990 to 1993.