her friend robert abbott told her that she could travel to france to fly. she studied the french language after work at night. she got a new job managing a restaurant and saved her money. robert abbot and her friends helped her pay for the trip. in 1920, coleman went to france on a ship. she learned to be a pilot at the caudron brothers' school of aviation. in 1921, coleman became the first female african american pilot ever to hold an international pilot license. she earned it from the fédération aéronautique internationale.