Hangar Queens

Wishing everyone a Happy International Women's Day! Today, I’m reflecting on the incredible women who continue to inspire me. Through volunteering and sharing a passion for uplifting women in our industry, I’m grateful to call them my friends. ❤️ Together, we can accomplish anything! ✨

The next female aviator in our Women of Aviation Week series is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Apprentice Desiree. Growing up in Ilford, Manitoba, Desiree saw firsthand how essential air travel is to remote northern communities. While the train passed through her community a few times a week, urgent medical care often meant an emergency medevac flight. Some of her earliest memories include watching the aircraft take off, carrying loved ones in need. "When I was a kid, I saw how essential these aircraft were for my community," she recalls. "Watching my mom take off, hoping she’d get the help she needed.” Desiree graduated from Red River Polytechnic’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer diploma program. During the two-year program, she earned multiple scholarships and awards. She received the Babcock International Award for Indigenous AME students and won a bronze medal in Aerospace Engineering at a Skills Canada competition. When asked why she decided to work for an airline, Desiree said "I always knew I wanted to work for a regional airline that serves the North. It’s fulfilling to be part of something that directly impacts communities like mine." That dream became reality when, during her first year at Red River Polytechnic, an instructor offered to forward resumes to Perimeter Aviation. Desiree wasted no time, seizing the moment that would kickstart her career in aviation. Some of the things Desiree enjoys about being an AME are getting her hands dirty and understanding the intricate systems that keep aircraft safe in the air. "Learning how different parts work together to make these planes fly is fascinating. I enjoy the challenge of taking something apart, figuring out the problem, and putting it back together to standard. My favourite part is that I’m working on aircraft that my family and my community fly in, I take pride in knowing that my work keeps these planes safe and reliable," she shares. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Desiree’s advice to aspiring female AMEs is, "Stay focused, work hard, and never let someone define your potential." After a long day at work, Desiree’s greatest source of joy is her children, sharing stories about their day. "They always ask me what I did today, seeing their curiosity makes me so happy," she says.” Desiree’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, and as we celebrate Women of Aviation Week 2025, she stands as an inspiration for the next generation of female AMEs. #BearskinAirlines #WOAW2025 #AircraftMaintenanceEngineer #AME #womenofaviation #AME #aviationcareer

Women in aviation week starts tomorrow March 3-9. All female AMEs/Students/apprentices welcome to come for a lunch and hangout at Centennial college downsview campus from 12:20-1:30 on March 7, message me for details. https://lnkd.in/epnMKugn

✈️ Kenn Borek Air Scholarship – Now Accepting Applications! 🚀 Are you pursuing an aviation career? Kenn Borek Air is offering two $5,000 scholarships to support aspiring aviation professionals: 🎓 One for Pilot Training 🔧 One for Aircraft Maintenance Training Eligibility: ✔️ Canadian citizen residing in Yukon, Nunavut, NWT, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba ✔️ Between 18 and 30 years old ✔️ Accepted into a pilot or aircraft maintenance training program at a post-secondary institution If you meet the criteria, don’t miss this opportunity! 📅 Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 📩 For more details or to apply, email admin@borekair.com

✈️ The Unspoken Pressure of Aviation ✈️ I’ll never forget the day I drilled through a $30,000 coaxial cable... Supervisors breathing down my neck, colleagues watching, and that gut-wrenching feeling of letting the team down. The maintenance check was delayed, and in aviation, as you know, there’s always a knock-on effect. One delay leads to another—flights late, crew out of limits, passengers stuck waiting. It’s a chain reaction, and the weight of it lands squarely on your shoulders. It’s not just the people on the tools who feel it. I’ve worked in crew control too, working 12-hour shifts to keep everything within limits. One mistake there, and the whole operation grinds to a halt. Crews stuck abroad... last minute rush to find them hotels.. The pressure to be perfect, to deliver to 100% safety, and to have it done yesterday is relentless in aviation.. The only comparable industry I’d say is medicine—always high stakes, always a sense of urgency, and always the pressure to get it right. It’s the life we chose, and it’s not easy. That’s why you see the results I post here. I know the stress and pressure my clients are under like the back of my hand.. and we’ve built a system to protect them. Systems equal safety ⚙️ . If you want info on a system that allows you to control your health and weight while working hard in this industry, reach out to me.I’ve been there, and I can help you stay on track.

Sleigh ready ✔️ Reindeers fed ✔️ Approved flight plan ✔️   Minister Anand didn’t just check Santa's 🎅 list (twice). She cleared him for flight in Canadian airspace this #Christmas. Happy Holidays! 🎄 https://lnkd.in/eWKkaRXs

Calling future female aviators and AMEs! In collaboration with CAE, applications for the 2025 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship will be open as of tomorrow. Up to eight young Canadian women studying to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers will be awarded scholarships to pursue their training in 2025. More: https://lnkd.in/e3354RvP Northern Lights Aero Foundation

3 years ago today I got a phone call from my hangar manager asking if I could spend the day fixing a fuel leak that was keeping a plane from returning to service. I unpacked and cancelled my thanksgiving travel plans and headed back to the hangar where me and another coworker spent the next 72 hours fighting with a ruthless ATR 42, only each day for the leak to worsen and prevail. We made one last attempt to fix the leak before we were going to start major component disassembly which would lead to significantly more aircraft downtime. We headed home for a short break to let the PRC dry and we crossed our fingers. We were very confident this time with our work and were happy that the aircraft was potentially fixed just in time for thanksgiving travel. We let the mechanics do their final leak checks before preparing the aircraft to return to its scheduled operations. I woke up thanksgiving day to a message from my hangar manager again, and my heart sank. I simply could not spend another double shift wrestling with PRC and jet fuel. He asked me to go in and check on the status of the aircraft and assist with making an alternate plan if needed. I walked into the empty hangar where i saw the lovely ATR patiently waiting for me from the night before with a big red flag hanging off the wing. Another day fixing fuel leaks. I grudgingly go get the scissor lift to check out how bad the leak was or if it had improved at all. Once i get up to the wing, i see a large green vegetable in a plastic bag with the words “THIS LEEK IS CONTAINED” and I had never experienced so much joy and frustration at the same time. I proceeded to close up the aircraft (after removing the leek of course) and started formulating my plan on how to get the (thinks they are) funny mechanics back. If you are travelling this thanksgiving holiday remember that if a plane is in the air, an AME put it there ❤️ 🦃 I am thankful for all my AMEs that work 24/7/365 to keep the world moving safely!

I attended the first Women On Site meetup in Vancouver on Wednesday and it was an incredible experience. This organization hosts FREE monthly meetups for women in trades across Canada. While there weren’t other women from the aviation industry, the shared experiences among us created a strong sense of connection. It’s refreshing to engage with women who truly understand the challenges we face in our fields. I’m excited to invite more aviation professionals to join me next time! The Vancouver meetups are held every first Wednesday of the month. If you’re interested in attending and learning more, check out their page or feel free to message me. I hope to see you there!

Celebrating Women in Aviation Danae Henry, a passionate advocate for protecting our natural resources, has been awarded the FPL Xenia Morales—Women in Aviation Scholarship. This scholarship is a testament to Danae's unwavering commitment to environmental causes while advancing her career in aviation. Danae's journey in aviation began when she was just 13 years old and joined the local Air Cadets. Her dedication led her to an advanced aircraft maintenance course, where her passion truly took flight. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and a shift in academic focus, Danae found her true calling in Algonquin College’s aircraft maintenance program—a decision she proudly calls the best she's ever made. Danae is gaining invaluable hands-on experience with Transport Canada’s Aircraft Services Directorate, where she’s part of a dynamic maintenance team working on fixed-wing and rotary-wing flight simulators. Her journey perfectly combines technical skill, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. After graduation, Danae plans to return to British Columbia to work towards her AME license, focusing on firefighting aircraft—an area close to her heart due to the severe wildfires that affect her home province. Her goal is to join the Mission Aviation Fellowship, where she hopes to use her skills to make a difference in communities that need them most. Danae's story inspires all women in aviation. It demonstrates that with passion and determination, the sky is truly the limit. We proudly support her journey and look forward to her future contributions to the aviation industry. Join us in congratulating Danae on this well-deserved recognition! #WomenInAviation #AviationCareers #AircraftMaintenance #ScholarshipWinner #FutureOfAviation #TeamFPL