Cleared for Takeoff comes home to the hangar.
On Tuesday, August 4th, join Captain Nia Gilliam for the official launch of Cleared for Takeoff: A Pilot’s Memoir of Purpose and Resilience After 9/11 — an evening of story, reflection, and celebration at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston.
For more than 30 years, Nia has flown aircraft across the world. This memoir is the story behind the uniform: a Black woman in an industry where less than 1% of professional pilots look like her, the morning of September 11th seen from the flight deck, and the fortitude it takes to stay steady when everything around you feels uncertain.
She’ll be in conversation with Lynn Clouser — Missouri City’s Mayor Pro Tem, her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister, and her longtime friend — followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing.
The evening includes:
- A reception with light bites and refreshments
- A moderated conversation about the book and the journey behind it
- Live audience Q&A
- A book signing with Captain Nia Gilliam
- Full access to the museum’s galleries and aircraft all evening
- A copy of the book included with every ticket
Event details
📅 Tuesday, August 4, 2026
🕠 Doors open 5:30 PM · Program 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Ave., Houston, TX 77034
🎟️ $60 per person · $55 for museum members
Museum members: sign in on the ticket page before checkout so your discount applies. Seating is limited, and tickets include a copy of the book.
Whether you’ve followed Nia’s story for years or are just now stepping into it, this is the night the book takes flight. We’d be honored to have you in the room.