| |
I. J. NEWS SERVICE
SAN ANTONIO, TX – In March 2008, Arpinder Kaur, 28, was hired by
American Airlines Corporation (AMR) as a First Officer. Kaur
flies Embraer Jets for American Eagle, a regional airline that
is part of AMR and she is now based out of the Dallas-Fort Worth
International Airport.
Kaur is now the first turbaned Sikh pilot to fly for a
commercial airline in the United States. “Two of the reasons I
did this were: first, my love of flying and, second, to set a
precedent for the community so they know you can be in your Sikh
appearance and do anything out there; so that my younger
brothers and sisters [the rising generation] will pursue their
passions while practicing their Sikh faith,” Kaur said.
Kaur said that she knew she wanted to be a pilot the very first
time she was in an airplane. She was 14 when she moved to the
United States. The crew let her sit in the cockpit and see
everything that they did. “That is the day I found in me this
passion for flying,” Kaur said.
She lived in Virginia after the move and attended George Mason
University (VA) where she graduated with a degree in information
systems.
Kaur said it was the love and support of her husband, Pritpal
Singh that pushed her forward on the path toward becoming a
pilot. From 2003 to 2005 Kaur was trained by Jesse Sherwood in
Kansas.
In 2005, Kaur moved to San Antonio and spent two more years as a
flight instructor at Wright Flyers Aviation at the San Antonio
International Airport. In January of 2008 she applied to be a
pilot at American Airlines; her application was accepted in
March and from 17 March through 7 June 2008, she underwent their
pilot training program.
Kaur said that she just recently resolved the issue of her
flying turbaned – the American Airlines manual allows
“regulation approved hats” – by filling out an Accommodation
Form.
thanks : indiajournal.com |
|
