Friday, June 21, 2013

Jean Haley Harper: Pioneer pilot retires from cockpit

 
Jean Haley Harper sits in the cabin of a 757 United Airline jetliner on her last flight from Los Angeles to Denver on June 10. 
Courtesy photo



Tracy, California -- As a girl growing up in Tracy, Jean Haley Harper always wanted to fly. Hanging out at Tracy Municipal Airport with her father intensified that desire.

Through determination and a willingness to undergo aviation training, she realized her dream as one of the first women to pilot a United Airlines plane.

And now Jean has retired as a United captain, ending a 35-year career with the airline.

Her last flight was June 10 between Los Angeles and her home base of Denver.

Among the passengers in the plane were her husband, Victor Harper, also a United captain; their two children, Annie and Sam Harper; and her mother, Dorothy Haley of Tracy.

When the United 757 rolled up to the gate at Denver International Airport, it was greeted by a water bridge formed by pumps on two airport fire engines.

“It was great having members of my family in the plane, and the water salute was really something,” she said.

Jean, 63, was among four women who broke the airline-pilot gender barrier at United by earning their wings in 1978 — fulfilling a dream she had since she learned to fly as a teenager at Tracy Municipal Airport in the 1960s.

Her instructor was her father, the late Frank Haley, who was managing the airport and flying as a crop-duster at the time. He died in a 1976 crop-duster crash.

Jean, a 1968 graduate of Tracy High School, continued down the path to become a commercial pilot by attending San Joaquin Delta College for two years and enrolling in the aviation program at the University of North Dakota, where she received a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration in 1975.

She flew cargo planes for two years before being selected to begin United Airlines pilot training in Denver.

She received her wings in April 1978 and served as a 737 flight engineer and was on furlough for several years before becoming a co-pilot in 1986. She was promoted to captain in 1992. Her husband followed her as a United captain two years later and is still flying.

During her career with United, Jean flew only domestic routes, preferring not to fly overseas so she could return regularly to Denver to be with her family.

Her daughter, Annie, is employed by Intel in San Jose, and her son, Sam, is a student at California State University, Humboldt, majoring in marine biology and fisheries.

In retirement, Jean plans to do more writing — she has authored magazine articles and book segments. And she has a good feeling about being one of the pioneer female airline pilots.

“I feel delighted to have had a job that has allowed me to realize my dreams,” she said. “When I started, a woman in the cockpit was a big deal. Now it’s normal, and that’s just wonderful.”

7 comments:

  1. Just saw this article, I Googled Mrs. Harper because my mother-in-law read of her in a chicken soup for the soul book. Mrs. Harper wrote of her dream to be a pilot as a youngster but received an "F" on that school paper. According to the story, her desire was rekindled by a supportive teacher who told her class to dream without limits. A Mrs. Slaton, I think.

    Goes to show what a little timely encouragement can mean, especially to a youngster.

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  2. Hi Jean,
    I knew you in the early 1960's when you were probably about 10. My name is Phil Kneeland and your father, Frank, taught me to fly and eventually taught me to become a crop duster pilot, for 26 years.
    I live in Visalia, Ca and flew mostly in this area.
    I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know I knew your dad.
    Please email me if you will and let me know you got this message.
    Phil Kneeland
    email: lindannphil@sbcglobal.net

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  3. Hi again,

    I forgot to tell you that several of my 6 sons fly and one was an F-18 fighter jock and now flies for Fed Ex on their overseas routes.
    Phil Kneeland

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  4. Have read your beautiful story at Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul. I would like very much for my 8 grandchildren, especially the girls (ages 7, 14 and 16, the boys are from5 - 14).
    I also googled you and I am very happy for you that you finally able to fly with your beautiful dream. I am going 70 and fighting a condition hoping I could still witness my grandchildren's dreams. Thank you for your beautiful story.
    Digna Simpao
    dignasimpao@yahoo.com

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  5. HELLO JEAN, I HAVE THOUGHT OF YOUR FAMILY MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY YOUR MOM. YOUR PARENTS HAD AGREED TO HELP ME BY SPONSORING A VIETNAMESE FAMILY. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT DONE, HOWEVER THAT FAMILY LIVES IN SO. CALIF.
    NOW AND THEY ARE HEALTHY AND DOING WELL. YOUR FATHER TALKED TO ME ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO. I WAS IMPRESSED AT THAT TIME BUT VERY IMPRESSED NOW. YOU ARE A REMARKABLE PERSON AND YOUR FATHER KNEW THAT WAY BACK THEN. PLEASE GIVE MY BEST REGARDS TO YOUR MOTHER, I REALLY DO THINK OF YOU ALL BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK YOUR PARENTS WERE WILLING TO DO. REALLY NICE TO "CROSS YOUR PATH" AGAIN. LOVE AND GODS' BLESSINGS FOR YOUR FUTURE. saraheasy09@gmail.com

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  6. Did you know a Donald Harper, Capt United out ifChicago.. long ago retired.. wife Carol?

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  7. Just now i read the short story Live your dream in the book Chicken soup for the woman's soul. The story was fantastic. I googled just to know more about Mrs. Jean Harper. I surely recommend my grand daughter who is eleven year old, to read this story.I dreamt of becoming a doctor but being a girl nobody encouraged me. Even now i feel sad for not fulfilling my dream.

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