Porter Airlines welcomed aspiring pilots from as far away as Calgary and Yellowknife to its annual Destination Porter Open House at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Destination Porter is a mentorship program introduced to students early in flight training through outreach sessions. The open house, an exclusive event for students who are accepted into the program, provides opportunities to meet experienced pilots and executives, and learn about the culture and benefits of working at Porter. In June, Porter pilots volunteered their time to facilitate tours, provide mentorship advice and discuss career paths with more than 50 Destination Porter candidates.
“Flying is my passion, but it’s also my job. I don’t want to be just a number; I want to go to work every day with people who bring enthusiasm and innovation to their roles, knowing we are all working towards the same shared goal,” said Ben Robinson, Destination Porter candidate.
Students have an opportunity to apply to Destination Porter after successfully completing their flight training program and they are eligible for an interview with Porter when they meet the minimum required flying hours. Since its inception in 2016, three candidates have landed First Officer jobs with Porter.
“There is a need for qualified pilots across Canada as the industry grows,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. “The sophisticated, modern training that our partner schools provide is setting up the next generation of pilots for success.”
Destination Porter partners with Canadian flight training programs. Twelve schools across the country are currently part of the program, including four that have been added to the roster this spring:
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- Confederation College (Thunder Bay)
- Mount Royal University (Calgary)
