The Government of Alberta is providing a $900,000 grant to help new pilots to enter the aviation industry.
Alberta’s government announced the $900,000 Workforce Strategies Grant would be awarded to Elevate Aviation, which is located just outside of Edmonton. Elevate Aviation is a not-for-profit training provider within the aviation industry that provides skills development and career exploration services for future aviators. The grant will pay for a Virtual Reality (VR) Aviation Maintenance Training System, which allows new aviators to practice safely on the ground while learning the fundamentals of flight.
“This investment marks a new era in aviation training. With this $900,000 grant, we are not only funding a project, we are also investing in the future of our aviation workforce,” said Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones in a statement released to the media on Sept. 19. “The VR Training System represents a game-changing approach that will fast-track the development of highly skilled aviation professionals while helping to address critical workforce shortages.”
It is estimated by Transport Canada that there will be a shortage of 42,000 to 55,000 workers in the aviation sector from 2025 to 2035. Across Canada, colleges graduate only a fraction of the aviation professionals required by the labour market each year.
According to the Province, once developed, the new VR Aviation Maintenance Training System will help address the labour shortage, which is expected to grow with more than 1,000 openings in Alberta in the next five to ten years.
The Workforce Strategies Grant initiative aims to broaden access to high-quality training, including for rural and Indigenous communities, fostering a more diverse and inclusive aviation workforce.
“This investment underscores Alberta’s commitment to supporting the aviation industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” according to the official statement of the Alberta government on the value of the grant.
