Algonquin grad lands Air Canada award

By Patrick Kahtouni

kaht0003@algonquincollege.com

The Air Canada Pilots’ Association honored recent Algonquin aviation management graduate Ken Wright with the Dave Edward/Tom Jerrard award at an Algonquin ceremony Jan. 13.

Aviation is a second career for the former autoworker. Wright spent nine years at the Chrysler Canada plant in Windsor, Ont. working as a production assembler. To Wright, aviation was almost as much a dream as it was a potential career path.

“I couldn’t stop imagining a career as an airline pilot,” said Wright, who had earned his private pilot license in 1998.

He severed ties with the automaker in 2007 and accepted a Canadian Auto Workers’ (CAW) negotiated buyout from Chrysler. He then moved to Ottawa to attend Algonquin’s commercial pilot and aviation management (CPAM) course.

By May 2007, Wright had completed the CPAM certificate and moved on to the aviation management program.

Wright concluded the one-year program in the fall of 2008 and immediately began work as an instructor at the Ottawa Flying Club – he teaches students from the new aviation management class of September 2008 some of the ‘in-flight’ portion of the program.

“I’m currently working towards my Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) while instructing,” said Wright.

Transport Canada currently requires 1,500 hours of flying and the completion of two exams before an individual can be licensed as an airline transport pilot, the highest level of airplane pilot certification possible.

“The ATPL is the PhD of aviation,” said Wright. “Right now, I love instructing at the Ottawa Flying Club and working towards my ATPL requirements. Hopefully, I’ll be flying for Air Canada within the next few years.”

The Dave Edward/Tom Jerrard award is presented annually to the student pilot who is the most “well-rounded” according to his peers.

“It’s not an award for the best pilot,” said Wright. “It’s an award based on who my peers could see themselves working with in a crew-type environment. And that really makes it an honour to me, to be recognized amongst my peers.”

But Wright attributes this award mostly to his instructors: Bill Gadzos, Terry Otsuji and Gerry Thompson from the Ottawa Flying Club.

“Those guys are world class flight instructors. Three of the best and most experienced instructors in aviation today. They gave me the confidence to succeed and were a pivotal part of my success,” said Wright.

Capt Michael Brewin, a representative for the Air Canada Pilots’ Association (ACPA), said the award was intended to “help out the person who most likely needed it.”

The nomination process for the award is done between the students at the college where they unanimously choose two names for consideration. The names are then forwarded to a committee of 10 people from the ACPA who oversee the selection process. In return they ask each candidate to submit a biography which is used to determine the winner.

The award includes a certificate, a swag bag, a monetary prize, and a dinner with Capt Michael Brewin and Capt Andy Wilson – president of the Air Canada Pilots’ Association.

“It was truly an honor to be able to learn from Wilson and Brewin,” said Wright.

“Meeting Capt Andy Wilson was just tremendous. People like Capt. Wilson are fighting the battle to preserve the integrity of the pilot profession in Canada.”

Wright also recognizes the tireless efforts of Julie Marion and Marc Desjardins, president and vice-president of the Ottawa Flying Club, who work together to provide a training infrastructure that’s challenging, especially, said Wright, given Ottawa’s weather.