Richmond, BC – Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA) and Pacific Flying Club (PFC) are pleased to announce the creation of an innovative new program meant to offset the impact of the global pilot shortage now affecting B.C.’s regional airlines and flight training schools. The Fast Track to Success program is expected to improve the attraction and retention rate of pilots for both organizations.

“Flight training schools like ours are finding it more and more difficult to retain the number of qualified instructors that we need, says Clark Duimel, Executive Director of Pacific Flying Club. “Fewer instructors mean fewer pilots will be trained, which only exacerbates the problem. We worked with Pacific Coastal to find a solution and believe that this new program is a step in the right direction”.

The Fast Track to Success program will provide PFC’s flight instructors with an opportunity to apply to Pacific Coastal Airlines upon reaching a minimum threshold of 400 total hours of instructional time or six months of continuous employment with Pacific Flying Club. The pilot candidate would then be interviewed by Pacific Coastal Airlines and upon selection to the FTS program the instructor would obtain a seniority number from the airline while continuing to work as a flight instructor at PFC with a goal of building the required total of hours needed to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). Retention bonuses to those selected by Pacific Coastal are built into the program while the flight instructor continues working for PFC. Once these steps are completed, the FTS candidate would then be able to move quickly from First Officer to Captain.

In June Pacific Coastal began operating WestJet Link, providing service from Calgary to Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and Prince George. Pacific Coastal’s relationship with WestJet Link is expected to grow over the next few years and it is likely that this ongoing relationship will also be of interest to candidates entering the FTS program.

“This is a win-win agreement,” says Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Director of Flight Operations Darcy Coonfer. “We believe that the new Fast Track to Success program will help both parties attract and retain a steady flow of the qualified personnel we need to maintain current operations and sustain future growth.”

About PFC
Pacific Flying Club was formed in 1965 as the Canadian Pacific Airlines Employees Flying Club. Since 1985, the Club has been located at Boundary Bay Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Canada. The Pacific Flying Club is recognized as an industry leader in flight training. The Club has a fleet of 27 aircraft and 3 simulators. Our focus is on offering superior customer service while providing the ultimate flying and learning experience to all our students, rental pilots and members. The Club is a not-for-profit organization and is continuously investing in upgrading facilities and equipment and offering no charge seminars for members. Visit www.pacificflying.com/

About Pacific Coastal Airlines
A privately owned, British Columbia based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR), Pacific Coastal is now the sixth-largest airline operating at YVR, based on outbound seats, and third largest in takeoffs and landings. It flies to 16 airports and with its affiliate airline Wilderness Seaplanes located in Port Hardy on north Vancouver Island, connects to more than 50 additional destinations in the province from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Prince George, or Masset on the legendary island of Haida Gwaii and now as far west as Tofino. Its network encompasses major ski destinations, a multitude of fishing lodges, outdoor and wildlife adventure tours, and authentic First Nations experiences. Pacific Coastal also operates WestJet Link which provides service from Calgary to Cranbrook, Prince George, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, and Medicine Hat.
Visit pacificcoastal.com.

Media contacts:

Pacific Flying Club
Pat Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer
(W) 604.946.0011 Email: pkennedy@pacificflying.com

Pacific Coastal Airlines
Kevin Boothroyd, Director Business Development and Corporate Communications
(M) 604.833.6265 (W) 604.214.2388 Email:kevin.boothroyd@pacificcoastal.com

Pacific Flying Club's Executive Director Clark Duimel with PCA Chief Pilot Alex Banbury taken at Boundary Bay Airport.
Credit: Pacific Coastal Airlines