Alberta's aviation industry is experiencing a significant boom, fueled by the province's strong entrepreneurial spirit and strategic government funding. However, this promising growth is facing a substantial threat from the deteriorating condition of small community airports, which are essential for training the next generation of pilots.
A Sector Soaring to New Heights
The industry's expansion is undeniable. Over the past 15 years, employment in Alberta's aviation sector has surged by nearly 48 per cent, jumping from approximately 10,800 jobs to over 16,000. This makes it one of the fastest-growing segments of the provincial economy. With new facilities opening, projections indicate this job figure could rise by an additional 60 per cent by 2030.
The Looming Workforce Crisis
Despite this optimistic outlook, a national crisis looms. According to Transport Canada, Canada could face a shortfall of between 42,000 and 55,000 aviation workers by 2035. The most immediate concern is a severe pilot shortage, with an estimated 7,300 pilots needed across the country this year alone. This deficit creates ripple effects that threaten the entire sector's stability and growth.
The provincial government has taken initial action. In September, Premier Danielle Smith announced $11 million in funding for a new training facility at the Calgary International Airport. This partnership with WestJet, CAE, and Mount Royal University, known as the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace, is a 126,000-square-foot facility expected to train more than 6,000 pilots and aviation professionals annually.
The Critical Role of Community Airports
While the new Calgary centre is a positive step, experts warn it is not a complete solution. A vital yet often overlooked part of the aviation ecosystem—Alberta's network of community airports—must also be functional. These small airports have been foundational to pilot training since the Second World War's British Commonwealth Air Training Program.
Today, there are 16 flight training facilities based at community airports across the province, located in places like Camrose, Wetaskiwin, and Woodlands County. They are crucial because the crowded airspace around major international airports, like Calgary's, makes it challenging and unsafe to integrate small, slow-moving training aircraft with large commercial jets.
The problem is their aging infrastructure. A study by HM Aero Aviation Consulting revealed alarming statistics:
- 24 per cent of community airport operators report their primary runways are in very poor, poor, or fair condition.
- 38 per cent report the same substandard condition for their taxiways.
- Only one in three airports have perimeter fencing that is in good or excellent condition, raising significant public safety concerns.
These deficiencies directly undermine the capacity and safety of flight training operations, putting the province's ambitious growth targets and public safety at risk.
