 On November 17, 1929 she became the 65th licensed woman pilot in the U.S., also attaining her FAI license the same day.Less than 24 hours after attaining her license, Alexander took off from Ryan Field on November 18, 1929, in a Great Lakes biplane and continued climbing to what she believed was an altitude of better than 18,000 feet over the skies of San Diego.This was later recognized as a new official world record altitude for women in light planes of 15,718 feet, generating considerable notoriety not only for herself but San Diego and the Ryan Flying School.