Crystalle Laamanen

Crystalle is a helicopter Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) with nearly 28 years of experience in aviation. At the age of 19, she relocated from Ontario to Yellowknife to pursue her career and spent her early years traveling across Northern Canada as a helicopter field AME, supporting forest fire operations, wildlife management, and mineral exploration.

In addition to her extensive technical background, Crystalle holds a certificate in Adult Education and has several years of experience as an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor. She has taught at both a private aviation school in Yellowknife and at Nova Scotia Community College. Her contributions include writing Type course training materials, developing training manuals, and holding an Approved Training Organization (ATO) designation from Transport Canada for the MD 500 helicopter.

Currently, Crystalle serves as the Lead AME at Great Slave Helicopters’ Yellowknife base. In this role, she oversees hangar floor maintenance, supports the hiring and development of maintenance staff, and leads the creation and delivery of both technical and maintenance-related pilot training programs.

Based in Halifax, Crystalle lives with her husband and two children, aged 10 and 7. Her family enjoys making maple syrup on their property and embracing new adventures together. She regularly travels to Yellowknife for work, managing her team remotely during the off-season and providing training and mentorship to support the growth of the organization’s apprentice program. During the operational season, she returns to the field, maintaining helicopters in some of Canada’s most remote northern locations. She is a strong believer in leading by example.

Crystalle has been involved with Elevate Aviation since 2019 and currently serves as the Atlantic Ambassador. She also assists with Career Connections Tours in Halifax, Debert, and Yellowknife as her schedule allows. In 2024, she was a member of Elevate’s AME competition team, which took her to events in Toronto and Chicago.

Beyond her professional commitments, Crystalle volunteers with Skills Canada and her daughter’s Girl Guide group. She is also in the process of becoming the Honorary Colonel for 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia.