People
Canadian Sardar Flies in Abbotsford International Air Show:
Joetey Singh Attariwala
by KEN & TASHI SEKHON
The 49th annual 3-day spectacle of the Abbotsford International Air Show in British Columbia, Canada, was held a few weeks ago, on the sunny weekend of August 12-14. Approximately 100,000 people of all ages came to see military planes, civilian aircraft and ground crews from Canada and the United States, putting up a variety of shows.
There was something for everybody. Amazing aerial demonstrations by military and civilian planes of many generations, enthralled the crowds. However, there was one event, though not so readily apparent, yet of great significance, that occurred during this year’s events.
A Sikh-Canadian civilian freelance correspondent of Canada’s military affairs - a full-fledged Sardar in full glory - was flying aboard a CF-18 frontline fighter. Having a beard has so far been deemed a hindrance to the proper fitting of the oxygen mask that pilots of such aircraft have to wear.
The Indian air force - whose pioneers, ace-pilots, war-heroes and top officers have never had any such difficulties - has no such restrictions, and have had bearded Sikhs as frontline fighter pilots of such aircraft from the Air Force's very inception.
After obtaining special clearance from the air force command, the CF-18 demo team comprising of pilots, maintenance crews, as well as the coordinators, took painstaking and meticulous efforts to make this a safe event for Joetey Singh Attariwala, and all involved.
[Courtesy: Link. Edited for sikhchic.com]
September 8, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Plate (U.S.A.), September 08, 2011, 7:21 AM.
Way to go. Reminds me of Air Marshal S. Arjan Singh. I have read his biography, an excellent read. It is available on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Arjan-Singh-Marshal-Indian-Force/dp/8171679382/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315491647&sr=1-1
2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), September 08, 2011, 2:24 PM.
Brilliant! At yje Delhi Airport recently, our flight to Amritsar was delayed (as usual!) and the tall, smart, full-bearded Sikh pilot sat in the lounge with his co-pilot and told me about a group of Sikh commercial pilots who have made Russia their home, flying Russian airliners! He also mentioned that when we flew past the Darbar Sahib he would announce it on the passenger address system. We need more Sikhs in top jobs and as role models.
3: Sukhpaljit Singh (Patiala, Punjab), September 08, 2011, 9:08 PM.
Great to see our community getting involved in a rich variety of activities in their respective homelands. I am proud of you.
4: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), September 09, 2011, 2:58 AM.
The other famous forerunners were Malik Hardit Singh of World War I vintage, Mehar Singh, Arjan Singh. Mehar Singh belonged to Lyallpur and of him it was said: "What Mehar Singh did not know about aircrafts was not worth knowing." During our time as kids in Lyallpur, whenever we saw an aircraft it had to be Mehar Singh's - a legend in his own time.
5: Iknoor Singh (Queens, New York, U.S.A.), September 09, 2011, 1:06 PM.
Very inspiring to see a fellow Sardar freely participating in such activities.
6: Sulinder Singh (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), September 09, 2011, 3:55 PM.
I am proud on my brother who wears his Sikhi with pride. Brother, fly high always, and stay in high spirits! Waheguru tera raakha!
7: Ken Sekhon (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), September 09, 2011, 6:50 PM.
Additional pictures of this historic event can be seen at http://www.kensekhon.ca. It was an honor and a privilege to cover this pioneering event.