So you want to learn to fly?
Then a visit to the Yorkton Municipal Airport should have been on your weekend itinerary.
Don Ingham of Leading Edge Aviation explained that they were hosting a two-day open house as a way to introduce people to their services, which includes training for new pilots.
Ingham said there is currently a general shortage of pilots for a variety of flying careers, so there is definite interest in exploring what it takes to become a pilot.
To get into the pilot’s seat at the most basic level will take about 60 hours in the cockpit with an instructor making sure the proper skills are being learned, “to get the proper skill set,” said Ingham.
And then another 60-hours of ground schooling (in the classroom) will be required as well.
Ingham said based on demand they are seeing prospective pilots from places as far afield as Winnipeg, Calgary and Ontario, coming to them for training, because there is a waiting list in some of the larger centres for training spots.
It helps locally that Ingham is one of two local instructors who can in turn train other instructors, which helps pilots add to their resume, and makes sure Leading Edge has trainers for new pilots as required. He said there are to his knowledge six instructors in the province who can train other instructors, and Yorkton is fortunate that two are based here.
Anyone interested in learning to fly can contact 783-0321.
Leading Edge also hosted a Civil Air Search & Rescue Association (CASRA) Saturday.
“They’re doing some of their training for search and rescue,” explained Ingham, who added the local group with CASRA does regular exercises to hone their skills. “It’s ongoing.”
