Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 22/05) - Settling on a career is not easy.

"I knew I didn't want to be a mechanic after I got into it," said Eelow Ejetsiak, who gave up the trade for another gig as a heavy equipment operator.

His work took him to Resolution Island, where he found his real passion.

The helicopter flight to the island was not extraordinary, but while flying back on a smaller, more agile, machine Ejetsiak, "just had a ball."

He decided to get his helicopter pilot's licence.

"From that flight I knew I wanted to go and do it."

In 2000 he set out for Canadian Helicopter's piloting school in Toronto.

It took eight months of "lots of studying, lots of work, and lots of exams," for Ejetsiak to get his licence.

Afterwards, he managed to score work with Canadian Helicopter in Iqaluit, and has been flying out of the territorial capital ever since.

"It's a lot of fun," he said. "It doesn't seem like a job, I like it so much."

A high demand for helicopter pilots means Ejetsiak could be flying any type of job in many different places. He has spent most of this summer flying in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"I like to experience a little bit of everything."

He still has a soft spot for his home country.

"I like working, flying in Nunavut. You get to see a lot of the country."

For Ejetsiak, the great view from a helicopter is one important distinction from airplanes.

Helicopters are just as safe as airplanes, he says, but the nature of the work can make all the difference. After all, people use a helicopter when there is not enough room to land an airplane.

"Our work is a little more dangerous, depending on the job."