Pilots graduate to jobs

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Native Canadians are soaring to new heights thanks to a program that teaches them how to fly aircraft.

The first 16 graduates of the First Nations Technical Institute were presented with diplomas recently, allowing them to fly everything from small Cessnas to commercial aircraft.

"A lot of hard work and determination now means they can fulfill their dreams of flying aircraft," said Ron Mason, principal of the aerospace technology school at the reserve's Mohawk Airport 17 kilometres east of Belleville in eastern Ontario.

The institute has been training aboriginal people in a variety of careers for the past six years. The flight school, however, has only been around for three years.

Budding pilots must take courses in mathematics, physics, first aid, CPR and survival, aerodynamics, communications, computers and all the technical subjects required to maintain and fix planes. They also get more than 200 hours of flight time.

Five of the 16 graduates are from the local reserve, while others come from as far away as Manitoba and Labrador.

"Some of the graduates have already found jobs," said Mason. "They generally go back to the reserve and fly charter."