Students will learn to fly the aircraft needed to provide important resources to their communities. (Supplied by Dan Gold director of communication for Rise Air)

By NC Raine, Local Journalism Initiative

Rise Air

Northern pilot program is working to launch lifelong aviation careers

Aug 11, 2024 | 7:42 PM

In the new year, 10 individuals will not only have the opportunity of a lifetime, but the chance to better their home communities.

The Dziret’ái Pilot Training program is a new initiative created to help empower Indigenous residents and women in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

The program will admit fifteen successful applicants into the Elevated Skills Program, a fully funded skills and upgrading component running from mid-September to December. Once completed, 10 students will be selected to enter the pilot training program starting in January 2025.

“There’s an opportunity to tap into the talent and willingness and enthusiasm of the Indigenous community [and] to be the support that builds the future together,” said Dan Gold, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations as Rise Air. “We want to embrace the talent of the community to train and be the future of the pilots, and other areas of the aviation industry, here in Saskatchewan.”

The Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office announced the program at Stony Rapids on August 1. The program was made possible through a collaborative partnership with  Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, Rise Air, Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), Cameco, Orano, and SSR Mining.

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The $2.4-million-program will provide full funding and a pathway to success in aviation for the selected participants.

The Dziret’ái (Tsi-er-eh-tai) Pilot Training Program partners at the announcement (Supplied by Dan Gold)

Graduates of the program will have a guaranteed job with Rise Air.

“This will take people with zero experience all the way through to becoming a first officer with Rise Air upon graduation,” said Gold. “We will guarantee them a job because we believe in the people who have applied to this program so much that we will make sure they are immediately supporting the communities that have backed them.”

The northern region of the Athabasca Basin is home to several small towns and First Nations, some of which are fly-in only. This new program will provide more pilots to supply valuable services to those northern communities.

“The program really invests in the community members to be the service providers, bringing in medical supports, food, taking people to medical appointments out of area, everything to be able to support the communities of the Athabasca Basin and really making it a home grown solution,” said Gold.

The program is a significant step in addressing the critical pilot shortage also impacting the mining sector in northern Saskatchewan. All mines in the Athabasca Basin rely heavily on air transportation to connect with remote communities and urban centres like Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

“Smaller airline companies are often in the position of offering entry level jobs with pilots, and once they get experience, larger aviation companies will hire them from there,” said Garrett Schmidt, Executive Director of Ya’thi Néné Lands and Resources.

“There’s a shortage of pilots now, so the theory is that if we can create pilots in the Athabasca Basin communities, they’ll be flying in and out of their home communities, which should create higher retention,” said Schmidt.

Training will take place at Mitchinson Flight Centre in Saskatoon, with integrated cultural supports including the presence of Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and opportunities to participate in cultural events. Creators of the program looked at all potential roadblocks and came up with a solution such as providing the opportunity for all the students to live in one apartment building.

“We want to ensure people don’t feel alone and isolated,” said Gold. “By having people together, they can support each other. They are going to be on a journey that they’re going to have the opportunity to really understand their collective experience that no one has ever done before.”

One of the Rise Air planes the new pilots will be flying after their training is complete.

The program will also cover the costs of the students travelling back home during holidays to visit family, so they can stay connected with home throughout their journey, said Gold.

Based on the success of this program, Ya’thi Néné Lands and Resources could apply the model to other professions where there is a shortage in the Athabasca region.

“This is an expensive program, but we think it’s going to generate results,” said Schmidt. “There’s very much a growing need in the region to support the ongoing mining exploration industry. We’re looking forward to advancing it and really addressing the gap that exists for Athabasca Basin residents.”