AMANDA FARNSWORTH

A native of Winchester, TN, Amanda Farnsworth is paving the way for the next generation of women in the aviation industry. As a young girl, she developed a deep passion for airplanes, but the role of a pilot was viewed to her family as a “man’s job,” and she was frequently told, "little girls don't fly airplanes.” However, that little girl held onto her dream.  

Amanda attended Vanderbilt University, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in computer science.  At age 40, she decided to fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot.  Since then, she has created a blueprint for women in Aviation. In 2018, Amanda became the first female owner/pilot to earn a Vision Jet-type rating. She is the first private female pilot to fly to Havana, Cuba, since the Cold War, and she recreated the transatlantic flight route of female pilots in WWII to benefit STEM education.  

Amanda has made it her lifelong mission to mentor and inspire the next generation of women in aviation. Amanda serves as a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Board of Trustees, where she works to implement AOPA science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in public schools, bringing awareness to the dynamic roles in the aviation industry that are needed, from mechanics to air traffic controllers.  In 2012, she was appointed to the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) board. Ultimately serving as Chair.   Amanda’s leadership on the board shaped one of the most pivotal times in the history of Nashville International Airport – the creation and implementation of BNA Vision, a $1.4 billion expansion and renovation program  designed to meet the exponential growth of Music City.