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Arpinder is first turbaned woman
Sikh pilot
 SAN
ANTONIO: Arpinder Kaur sits in the cockpit of the glider with her
pilot’s dress complete with the turban on her head. She has become
the first turbaned pilot hired by a commercial airline in the United
States. With support on the ground for Sikhs from advocacy groups
to make flying easier without hate and abuse, now with a turban
wearing pilot, flying could be another avocation for dynamic young
Sikhs.
In March 2008,
after resolving the issue of wearing her dastaar on-the-job, with
the help of the Sikh Coalition, Arpinder Kaur was officially hired
by American Airlines Corporation (AMR) as a First Officer. She filed
her grievance for accommodation of her religious article of faith
based on American Airlines’ allowance of “regulation approved hats”.
An agreement was reached that is consistent with state and federal
anti-discrimination law. In June 2008 she finished her pilot
training program and is now flying Embraer Jets for American Eagle,
a regional airline that is part of AMR based out of the
Dallas-Fort
Worth
International
Airport.
When Arpinder
Kaur was asked why she chose to do this, she said, “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.”
Her passion for
flying first started when at the age of 15 she got to sit in the
cockpit of an airplane when moving from Panjab. Despite having a
degree in Information Systems and her mother’s belief that it was
too dangerous for a girl to be a pilot, Kaur has chosen to follow
her passion; while using it as a means for supporting her family.
Kaur said it was the love and support of her husband, Pritpal Singh
that pushed her forward on the path toward becoming a pilot. Kulbir
Singh Sandhu, captain with AMR mentored her throughout her aviation
career. From 2003 to 2005 Kaur was trained by Jesse Sherwood in
Kansas.
With the help of these individuals and others along with her own
perseverance and determination, Kaur and American Airlines have
shown that accommodation and not assimilation is the way to harness
the strength of diversity in America.
Harinder Singh,
executive director of the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) in
San Antonio,
Texas
said, “This is a great day for the Sikhs in
America.
Religious accommodation, not assimilation, is what the founders of
this great nation envisioned and we are thrilled American Airlines
celebrates the rich religious and cultural diversity of all American
populations.”
with inputs from langarhhall.com
20 August, 2008
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