More pilots, mechanics, ground personnel and better industry statistics are crucial for the Northern aviation industry, federal lawmakers in Ottawa heard this week.

SA国际影视传媒淔or Northern and remote aviation stakeholders there is a shortage of personnel for all aviation related occupations and some we even havenSA国际影视传媒檛 gotten names for yet because the tech is changing,SA国际影视传媒� Glenn Priestly, executive director of the Northern Air Transportation Association, told the Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee last week.

Priestly said the days of relying on southern pilots to fill the void are finished and that local training and mentoring is the industrySA国际影视传媒檚 new approach.

SA国际影视传媒淲e depended on the north-south migration which has disappeared ironically, where people would learn in the south, go to the North and finally learn how to fly them,SA国际影视传媒� Priestly said. SA国际影视传媒淭hen they get good at it and leave; we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have that anymore so we have to find other solutions.SA国际影视传媒�

According to the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace, the entire country faces a shortage of 3,000 commercial pilots by 2025; currently just 1,200 finish commercial aviation training annually and half of those are foreign students.

Priestly told the committee that the NWT SA国际影视传媒渘eed about 70 new pilots a year, starting now,SA国际影视传媒� but that patchy data make it difficult to know the requirements across the three Northern territories.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have is good statistics,SA国际影视传媒� Priestly noted what he discovered when attempting to compile such data. SA国际影视传媒淚t was only the Northwest Territories that could give number SA国际影视传媒� weSA国际影视传媒檙e not talking hundred like in in the south, here itSA国际影视传媒檚 quite often dozens, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 not just pilots, we also need mechanics, we also need ground personnel, the airports are suffering as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Prieslty began his presentation noting the dearth of infrastructure upgrades, Northern aviation workers and addressing either would improve service and safety.

SA国际影视传媒淥perators providing essential services are forced to use technologies and navigational procedures that are outdated and increase operational risk,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a need to keep engaged a local force capability as a desirable goal of a human resources plan and safety consideration.SA国际影视传媒�

Priestly cited Alkan AirSA国际影视传媒檚 flight college in Whitehorse, Yukon as SA国际影视传媒渁n east-west solutionSA国际影视传媒� where NWT operators could sponsor and send Northern candidates.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an opportunity for on-the-job training and job shadowing that seems to be an idea thatSA国际影视传媒檚 gaining strength,SA国际影视传媒� said Priestly. SA国际影视传媒淲e recognized the need that we have to partner with the Northern communities, with more on the job training, more mentoring, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a cultural way of life where you bring the young people into the job.SA国际影视传媒�