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Alberta is often celebrated for its beautiful mountains, sprawling farmland, and energy-rich resources. Still, a different kind of energy is taking flight and to see it you have to look up.
The aviation and aerospace sector is emerging as Alberta’s next superpower, poised to attract global investment and drive economic growth through advancements in robotics, space exploration, clean aviation technologies, decarbonization, cutting-edge drone technology, and AI. This industry can potentially elevate Alberta’s future to unprecedented heights, but like many sectors, it faces a critical challenge: How can it sustain growth without the skilled workforce needed to fill its expanding roles?
I first want to paint a picture of the state of the industry. Based on a Transport Canada report in 2023, there will be an estimated shortfall of 42,000 to 55,000 workers in aviation from 2025 to 2035. Specific roles such as pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance engineers are heavily impacted. The industry will need 7,300 more pilots by 2025, but fewer than 1,200 commercial pilot licenses are issued annually, with 30 percent of those pilots not even entering the industry.
Similarly, there is a demand for 5,300 new aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) by 2025, but Canadian colleges graduate only about 600 AMEs annually. Shortages also extend to customer service roles, including flight attendants and airport staff. These labor gaps are a driving force behind long waits, flight cancellations, and delays we all experience, making it harder for travelers to reach their destinations smoothly.
To attract more people to this industry, Elevate Aviation is transforming the way people look at aviation. This includes removing barriers to entry, battling misconceptions, and introducing aviation to those who have never considered a career in the industry. Our kindergarten-to-career approach introduces aviation concepts to children beginning at age five and builds immersive and experiential opportunities for youth and adults entering the workforce.
Elevate Aviation has positioned Alberta as a global leader in innovative solutions to increase representation in the industry. Although there is progress to be made, we are beginning to see a shift, as more women take flight in aviation — with Elevate Aviation at the helm of this change. Through our groundbreaking work, Elevate Aviation is fueling economic growth, creating opportunities for Albertans, and charting a course toward a brighter, more sustainable future for the province and the students who walk through our doors.
Kendra Kincade is the CEO of Elevate Aviation, chair of the Alberta Aviation and Aerospace Council, vice-chair of the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council (SAAC), and an air traffic controller.