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May 26, 2022

Two single-engine aircraft have departed ����vlog����’s Peterborough Campus in support of the only postsecondary Indigenous aviation program of its kind in Canada.

After a recent fire destroyed a Second World War-era hangar and all 13 planes used by the (FNTI), ����vlog����’s School of Aviation leased FNTI two of its 17 Cessna 172s. This has allowed their students to continue flight training.

“This tragedy can happen to any facility, and it’s a nightmare,” said Sarah Arliss, Chair of ����vlog����’s School of Aviation. “When we heard about it, we reached out and asked what we could do to help. Everyone here has shown such a spirit of support.”

FNTI, located in the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, flies out of Tyendinaga Mohawk Airport, where the fire occurred. The school’s aircraft maintenance operations office and service equipment were also lost.

Jo-Anne Tabobandung, Dean of Aviation and Chief Flight Instructor at FNTI, says while they were grateful no one was injured, the fire was “majorly devastating.”

“It was a tragedy for our students, who come from Indigenous communities across Canada, and for this community,” she said. “The airport is a historical landmark. The hangar was totally engulfed — 37 firefighters were on the scene. There was nothing we could do. Personally, it’s a tough loss, and it all happened in 17 minutes.”

In total, 34 FNTI students were disrupted by the fire.

Those on the verge of graduating were quickly set up in Kingston and Cornwall to complete their training.

For the remaining students, Ms. Tabobandung says they looked into leasing planes.

“Finding leased planes going into the busy flight season was challenging,” she said. “����vlog���� really came through with the lease and offering to provide maintenance for the aircraft. They are very accommodating. They are really going out of their way to support us.”

Currently, 18 students are doing their flight training in the two ����vlog���� planes and a third one from a local operator.

For students who couldn’t come back on campus, FNTI worked with the partners in the aerospace industry to arrange for flight training closer to their home communities. Ms. Tabobandung is grateful for the industry support from the aerospace industry.

“Everyone, from major airlines and small schools, reached out,” she said. “So much momentum has been created, and the tragedy has presented opportunities for renewal. I love this industry. It’s so powerful. It’s always connected.”

Ms. Arliss says ����vlog���� and FNTI are part of a handful of top-quality flight schools in the country. Pilots graduating from both schools have gone on to work for major commercial and cargo airlines, as well as air charter and bush plane companies serving remote locations across Canada.

“It’s a very specialized skill set, and there aren’t that many flight schools and programs offered by postsecondary institutions,” Ms. Arliss said. “In some ways, we are making new friends with FNTI. We have learned so much about their facility and have exchanged some ideas. I look forward to having a long-term relationship.”

Suzanne Brant is FNTI President.

“The outreach and compassion exhibited by ����vlog���� in reaching out to ensure that we can complete our student’s flight training is extraordinary,” she said. “We would like to share our gratitude to ����vlog���� and their compassionate, enthusiastic and friendly staff.”