Jean Haley Harper

Jean Haley Harper

Flying the friendly skies was a dream come true for the 1998 Woman of the Year. Jean Haley Harper, North Dakota - Upsilon, is one of the first three female pilots hired by United Airlines. At the time Jean entered her profession, women were barred from serving as commercial airline pilots. After meeting all the requirements to qualify as an airline pilot – a process which, for her, took twelve years – she joined a small group of women flying commercial jets in the United States in the 1970s. During her quest to become a commercial pilot, Jean worked as a charter pilot, crop-duster pilot, airmail pilot, glider tow pilot and became the first woman to work as a weather modification pilot. Because of the challenges she encountered as a young woman to break into a male-dominated field, Jean has never missed an opportunity to encourage others, especially women, to pursue their dreams.