Options open up in aviation in the north

Page 20

Young people interested in the world of aviation now have another avenue to explore for training.

Churchill Community High School in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Ronge is offering the only Aircraft Maintenance Orientation

Program in the province. Ten students, three girls and seven boys, several of whom are of Aboriginal ancestry, have now completed the first course.

"I've been around airplanes for a lot of my life," said Kenny Beaven. That, coupled with a general interest in fixing things, made the program a good fit for the Grade 12 student.

There are 450 students in 19 high schools across Canada participating in the program that is based on a curriculum provided by the Canadian

Aviation Maintenance Council. Getting the program to La Ronge, though, took the collaboration of a number of different partners.

The Saskatchewan Aviation Council donated $5,000 to purchase the teaching kits, and Saskatchewan Learning agreed to have the course designated as a Level 30, two-credit course.

School principal Ken Gray said he is particularly happy "with the partnerships the school has established, including Transwest Air and North Central Helicopters.

"Aviation is a major employer out here," said Denis Renaud, director of aviation operations with Saskatchewan Environment. "It's very key to the area. I think we have 175 to 200 employees in La Ronge, which are directly affiliated with aviation."

Consequently, one of the goals of the program is to help the students familiarize themselves with possible careers, not only in aircraft maintenance, but also in other areas of the aviation industry.

To complement the 130 hours of classroom time, teacher Mel Menz took the students on a field trip to the Canadian Forces Base in Moose Jaw. That trip happened to be the turning point for at least one student, Colin Jackson.

"Until that trip he was thinking he would go into aircraft maintenance," said his father, George. "Now he wants to be a pilot."

Four Aircraft Maintenance Engineers employed by Northern Air Operations assisted with the instructing of the majority of the course. Students also experienced 40 hours of practical work.

It was this hands-on approach that Beaven enjoyed most about the program. This summer he will have the opportunity to gain even more related work experience. He has been offered a job at the Saskatchewan Provincial Forest Fire Air Tanker Operations satellite base in Buffalo

Narrows. Among other duties, he will help load retardant on to the airplanes.

Gray said the high school plans to offer the same orientation program again next year, with one difference. Starting in the fall, students enrolled in this program will be able to have their on-the-job time count towards the required hours for apprenticeship.

Patrick Durocher is in his fourth and final year of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Apprenticeship Program. Durocher worked at a number of different jobs after graduating from high school in Buffalo Narrows. He always had an interest in airplanes, but with family responsibilities, expensive pilot training was not very practical.

"When this came along, it was perfect," he said.

He responded to an ad in a newspaper, and after a written test and an interview, Durocher was one of two people chosen for the program the first year it was offered by Saskatchewan Environment in 2001.

There are now eight apprentices, seven of whom are of Aboriginal ancestry. Two are women in what is generally considered a non-traditional role. Half of the positions are cost-shared with either the Jim Brady Employment and Training Centre or the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Patrick Durocher is sponsored by the band. He says the First Nation provides not only financial support, but a great deal of encouragement as well.

While it is possible to go directly into a two-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Technology diploma course at a college, Durocher said an apprenticeship rogram has one big advantage.

"You start off on the job, so you get to know if it's for you."

As part of his on-job training, Durocher has worked on water bombers, not only at the hangar in La Ronge, but during fire fighting season in Dryden, Ont. and Fort McMurray, Alta.

For three months each year, Durocher and the other apprentices attend classes at the Stevenson Aviation & Aerospace Training Centre outside Portage La Prairie, Man.

"We'll learn something in school, and be able to apply it right away," he said.

Durocher is learning not only the technical details of maintaining airplanes, but also the importance of being able to work with others.

"Teamwork is a big part of it here," he said.

By the end of this year, Durocher will have completed all the required training and be qualified as an aircraft maintenance engineer. In the new year, two more apprentices are expected to begin the program. Durocher highly recommends it.

"The options are wide open. You can go anywhere," he said.