CREDIT: EMILY STEWART
Larry Weir (above), the associate dean of Fanshawe's Norton Wolf School of Aviation, spoke about how the new commercial flight and aviation leadership program will fill several gaps in the aviation industry.

Fanshawe College’s Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology is getting ready to soar to new heights.

David Piccini, the parliamentary assistant to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced on Sept. 13 that the Ontario Government approved the College’s commercial flight and aviation leadership three-year advanced diploma program. The announcement was made at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology, which is part of the London International Airport.

“This three-year program is the first of its kind, focusing on aviation leadership, offering a wide range of in-demand career skills,” Piccini said during his announcement. “And I’m proud to say that by 2021, this will be the largest flight school in Canada.”

Scott McFadzean, the CEO of Diamond Aircraft, said that since there will be a global demand for 800,000 pilots within the upcoming 20 years, the new program will create many opportunities in aviation and strengthen the industry.

“There could not be a better time or a bigger need for a program like this to happen right in London, Ontario,” he said. “And hopefully, this can be a recipe for what we can do to grow the industry and programs like this across the province and across the country and take a leading role in aviation future globally.”

Larry Weir, Fanshawe’s associate dean for the Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology, said that along with the growing demand for pilots, 700,000 aviation medical examiners, 800,000 flight attendants and several other aircraft manufacturers will be needed.

“This vision has been here in existence for quite some time,” he said. “And the combination of the global market’s circumstances and just the demands of air travel, have all come together in this place at this time, and is tremendously exciting.”

Stephen Patterson, the dean of Fanshawe’s Faculty of Technology, said in a media scrum that Diamond Aircraft will provide 28 planes for students, along with the rest of the flight training. He said that with the way the aviation industry is right now, students are getting recruited before graduation, and the new advanced diploma program will ensure there are lots of opportunities ahead.

“These people will be flying larger planes a lot sooner than traditionally in [the] aviation industry,” Patterson said. “They will have jobs that are much easier to gain access to than previous days for previous generations, so the future is very, very bright for these people.”

During a media scrum, Piccini said the College came to the government with the initiative, which he wants to see tackle what he called a “massive skilled trades shortage”.

“I think this sets a unique framework that we look forward to hopefully extrapolating around the province and leading directly to jobs and growing our economy,” he said.

Andre Lloyd (Left) and Stephen Collins (Right) are two aviation technician-maintenance students who said the new commercial flight and aviation leadership program will be a great choice for aspiring pilots ready to take flight. CREDIT: EMILY STEWART

Andre Lloyd and Stephen Collins, two aviation technician-avionics maintenance students, both said that the new commercial flight and aviation leadership program will be great for incoming students. Lloyd is working on his pilot license with Diamond Aircraft, where Collins also flies, and both students were impressed with Diamond.

“They’re one of the, I would say probably the best flight school in the London area, if not greater London area as well,” Collins said.

Lloyd said that with young instructors and the joy of flying, he encourages prospective students to enjoy the College’s aviation programs as they navigate through their education.

“I would tell them to enjoy the journey and not the destination, as it’s a great experience getting to fly, at the end of the day,” he said.

An aviation programs fact sheet from the College said that 600 students expected to be part of all of Fanshawe’s aviation programs by 2020. Along with the commercial flight and aviation leadership program, there will be three new graduate certificate programs in flight services, composites and advanced materials aerospace manufacturing, and aircraft structural repair technician.