Sky Is Not the Limit: The Inspirational story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh
Sky Is Not the Limit: The Inspirational story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh
Dr. Harpreet A De Singh’s journey from a determined young girl to a trailblazer in aviation is a story of resilience and achievement. Born into an Indian Air Force family, she grew up watching planes and dreaming of flying them. Her upbringing emphasized breaking gender norms, instilling in her a belief that anything was possible.
According to the Indian Express, her aviation journey began at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), where she excelled and became batch captain. In 1988, she was selected as Air India’s first woman pilot. However, just before she could start, a newly introduced EEG test flagged a 1% risk of dizziness, leading to the cancellation of her license.
Unable to join any airline in India, she moved to the US, earned new licenses, and became a ground instructor. Ironically, Air India later hired her not as a pilot but as a trainer marking the start of a pioneering career in aviation safety and management.
Singh became India’s first female flight instructor, training pilots, including her husband. She was also the first DGCA-approved lady chief of flight safety and accident investigator.
In 2020, she became the first woman CEO of an Indian airline, heading Alliance Air. She played a crucial role in the Vande Bharat evacuation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic and led efforts to distribute vaccines to remote areas by converting aircraft into cargo planes.
Her contributions extend beyond aviation. As president of the Women Pilot Association, she has supported aspiring women pilots from weaker economic backgrounds. India now has the highest percentage of women pilots globally, a milestone she helped achieve.
Spirituality has been a guiding force in her life. She founded HARPS (Har se Prem aur Seva), a meditation and prayer group, and introduced yoga sessions for airline employees during COVID-19. From overcoming setbacks to breaking barriers in aviation and promoting spiritual well-being, Singh’s journey proves that the sky is not the limit.
