Graduates get their wings

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This article was published 15/06/2024 (661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The graduates of the first-ever commercial pilot program in Brandon are flying high after receiving their wings on Friday.

A class of six students completed two years of aviation management, which is a certificate program offered in partnership with the Brandon Flight Centre and Assiniboine College.

As Alex Smith looked down at the wings pinned to his shirt, he said, “I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of studying and written exams on top of learning to fly the plane, but I enjoy the challenge of flying.”

Within the program, each student receives their private and commercial pilot’s licence through Transport Canada flight training courses, and over the two years will achieve 200 hours of flying.

Smith said he would eventually like to fly with one of the major airlines, but he already has a job lined up in Brandon. In fact, he has been hired as an instructor at the flight school at the Brandon Flight Centre, and said he credits the program for his training.

“It was just a really well-rounded program,” Smith said. “We had classes on leadership, professional communication, and intercultural awareness, which is an important one in Manitoba with flying into lots of northern communities,” Smith said.

“And we also had marketing. We touched on a lot of different areas that could help you as a pilot, or if you ever switched into the management side of an airline or any other aviation company,” he said.

One of Smith’s fellow graduates, Shane Anderson, said he too has a job waiting.

“I’ll be landing on the water at a fly-in fishing camp in Ontario about nine hours east of here, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Anderson.

“I’ll be flying in cargo, gas and propane and helping out on the dock as the summer goes on.”

But there were some ups and downs, Anderson added, as he laughed at the pun related to flying.

“I struggled with a lot of the ground stuff, and it took me a while to get the written exam done, but you punch through it, work hard and you can definitely get it done. The challenges make you better — they make you a better person and better pilot. So, I am thankful for that experience,” Anderson said.

The students began the program in September 2022, but the concept of partnering with AC was years in the making, said Jillian Borreson, Brandon Flight Centre’s program co-ordinator.

“I’m a big fan of collaboration, and it just made sense that we would try and get something started with Assiniboine. So, we reached out and they were very enthusiastic,” said Borreson.

“In year one, students do their private pilot licence and get their business foundations started. And year two includes their commercial pilot licence. So, they do their night training, instrument flying and cross-country work,” she said.

The courses on business and marketing can help those who have their own operations like crop-dusting, added Borreson, while the lessons learned about leadership prepare students for a changing airline industry.

“The airline is a business,” Borreson said. “Many people think, well, I’m just going to fly a plane — get in, turn the key and away I go. That’s certainly not the bulk of the industry.

“With the industry modernizing, there’s going to be a lot of intercultural and interpersonal relationships, and you need to be able to handle leadership and delegation.

“Most of these guys want to go to the airlines and want to work their way up into that captain role. We can lay the foundations now to help them stand out and then help them succeed once they get into that spot,” she said.

Brandon Flight Centre CEO David Creighton said there is a huge demand for pilots due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when many took early retirement or left the industry altogether.

And as more pilots are certified, he added, it’s important to stand out.

“Somebody that’s gone through the private and commercial training, absolutely, they’re going to find a job right away, that’s not going to be a problem,” said Creighton.

“But somebody who goes through the college program and gets the full aviation management (program), they are much further ahead.

“They’re definitely attractive to airlines, small or large — whether it’s WestJet or Sky North or Perimeter.”

Graduate Lance Llagis was all smiles as he joked with his fellow classmates during Friday’s congratulatory barbecue held at the flight centre’s hangar.

Llagis said he is excited to start his new job as an instructor because he comes with a different perspective. He said he was afraid to fly.

“Fun fact, yes I was super scared of flying when I went into the program,” he said. “I wanted to quit, but I kept with it, and the flying is amazing,” he said as he looked up.

“There is a responsibility when you are a pilot, but you have to keep on task and stay calm. Fly the airplane, fly the airplane.”

The deadline to register for the September 2024 intake of the Aviation Management program with the Brandon Flight Centre and Assiniboine College is June 30.

For more information, call 204-728-7691.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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