A Toronto-based airline is turning to Yellowknife to solve their personal pilot shortage.
Troy Stephens, Air Georgian vice-president of flight operations, and vice-president of corporate development John Tory said airlines everywhere around the world are anticipating shortages in the hundreds of thousands.
“I came up here about eight or nine years ago when I came up here and the industry was going through a time where there was lots of hiring going on ... I left here with six captains” said Stephens. “The difference is you have a lot of pilots who are working in the middle-east so you have to be a little creative with how make your company known.”
Stephens adds it is a great time to be a pilot.
Members of Air Georgian held a meet and greet at Sam's Monkey Tree Pub on Monday in an effort to promote their airline to young pilots.
“What we are looking for is different qualities so that you can put a group together,” said Stephens, a former Air Tindi pilot. “Everybody has something to offer, when we come up here it helps us put a mix into our fleet.”
The company is seeing an increase in capable pilots coming from Yellowknife. Tory said Yellowknife is the heart of Canadian aviation.
“We find people who are passionate about flying and who have a career sense,” said Tory. “We are here so people can ask questions.. we are not here on a recruiting drive.”
Tory adds the goal from the meet and greet was not to come away with six interview slots but to introduce to new pilots of the options available to them.
The company is seeing an increase in capable pilots coming from Yellowknife. Tory said Yellowknife is the heart of Canadian aviation.
“When you come to cities like Yellowknife you find people who are determined to have a good flying career,” said Tory. 'They want to go toward the next step.”
Former pilot with Buffalo Airways, Adam Perryman said he is thankful he took the opportunity to work with Air Georgian.
“I chose GGN over other express carriers is because the speed at which pilots are upgrading from FO to Captain and the quantity of hours they are flying,” said Perryman.
“Buffalo Airways was instrumental in my development as a pilot. I really appreciate the work they put into me to train me into the person I am today. They are still old fashioned in their style however it was a really good kick in the pants to put your head down and work as hard as you possibly can.”
From a pilot's view, the shortage is another opportunity, said Perryman
“Just because there are less pilots it doesn't mean I can build time faster, but my experience will be accelerated and broadened,” he said. “I still will go ahead with my plan of upgrading to Captain on the beech.”