Fort Smith (Feb 24/03) - Keep qualified pilots in the North.

That is the primary goal of the first aviation diploma program in the territory, now up and running at Aurora College in Fort Smith.

Celine Gauthier of Yellowknife is the first woman to enrol in the new program. - photo courtesy Aurora College

The program is a joint venture between Big River Air, of Fort Smith, and Aurora's Thebacha Campus.

Seven students from Rankin Inlet, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife began classes last month and will graduate in July 2004.

College-level aviation training was previously available only in the South, said Kerry Robinson, Aurora manager of program development.

Aurora received more than 50 requests for information packages from interested students throughout NWT and Nunavut.

"This is the first and only program like this in the territory so there has been a lot of interest."

The college surveyed more than 30 air carriers in the North in developing the comprehensive program.

"The rationale going in was a perceived need to train our own residents for employment at Northern firms," said Robinson.

"The first thing we wanted to know was what their needs were likely to be in terms of future hiring."

Many of the companies surveyed reported difficulties in retaining qualified personnel.

"What happens in a lot of cases is that young pilots come North for jobs and air time and then return to the South.

"Our feeling is that if we train young people who already live in the territory, the likelihood is that they will stay and work in the territory after graduating."

On completing the two-year program -- actually five semesters compressed into 18 months -- students graduate with a commercial pilot's licence, a multi-engine IFR rating, and a Group 1 instrument rating.

The course also covers advanced meteorology, advanced aircraft systems, business aviation law, and advanced navigation.

Bush survival

Wilderness survival training is combined with field training for students in Aurora's Natural Resources Technology (NRT) program.

"Basically they land out in the bush somewhere and stay there for eight days," said Robinson.

"Combining the two groups gives the aviation students an excellent grounding in bush survival, and the NRT students gain experience working in and around bush planes."

Graduates will likely be employed with small or medium sized air carriers flying wheel, ski or float planes, said Robinson.

"They will also be qualified as captain or first officer in small to medium sized twin engine aircraft.

"Multi-engine IFR training is a key element in the curriculum. It was included at the request of a majority of the carriers we surveyed."

Planes and instructors are provided by Big River Air. The company maintains a fleet of 10 planes (Cessna and DeHavilland in various sizes and configurations) and employs 22 people during its summer peak.

The firm specializes in bush and off-strip operations and has operated its own flight training school since 1998, said general manager Trevor Wever.

"We already had qualified instructors on staff so this was a good fit all-round."

Robinson said the college hasn't yet set a starting date for the next 18-month program.