Ninety-Nine Madeleine Monaco Inducted to Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame

After taking a ride with a pilot in a Piper Cherokee, Madeleine started flying lessons on July 5, 1977, and considers her solo a life-altering event. She decided she wanted to make this experience possible for other people. She went on to earn a commercial rating, instrument and multi-engine ratings; later, she earned her certified flight instructor airplane, instrument and multi-engine ratings, and to log several flights on the Goodyear blimp.

Her first plane was a ½ share in a Cessna 172; then ¼ share of a Mooney 201; and finally 100% of her current plane, a 1974 Cessna 150. She has logged more than 4,000 flying hours. Madeleine co-founded the Palwaukee Airport Pilots Association (PAPA) in 1985, which later become the Chicago Executive Pilots Association (CEPA). She is the current CEPA President, Scholarship Chair, and editor of its monthly newsletter.

In 1978, Madeleine joined The Ninety-Nines, Inc. (“99s”), the International Organization of Women Pilots, and since then has served in almost all local 99 Chicago Area Chapter positions, currently as the Chapter’s newsletter editor and manager/director of the annual Aviation Expo IFR/VFR Safety Seminar. For the 99s North Central Section (“NCS”, a 9-state region of 14 chapters), she edits and publishes its quarterly newsletter and serves as the Aviation Education Chair. She recently was elected as a Director on the Board of the International 99s. In 2019, she was awarded the International Award of Achievement from the 99s. She has served as NCS Secretary, International Legislation Chair, and as a Trustee of the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Fund for many years.

She has been given the Theo Moore Safety award from the FAA and was a long-time working delegate to the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the Civil Air Patrol Palwaukee Squadron. She has given many Young Eagles flights and has been a volunteer power flight instructor at the CAP summer flight encampment.

There are numerous other volunteer accomplishments in Madeleine’s resume, The Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame honors her for her incredible contributions to the organizations she has served and the Illinois aviation community.

Information courtesy of the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame. https://www.ilavhalloffame.org/spirit.htm