Staff Profile: Brandon Averill - Touring Pilot, Rotor Wing Captain
July 26, 2024
26 July, 2024
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Ottawa
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By: Par: Sneha Tailor
“I recently moved to Ontario and working as a touring pilot made the transition from Vancouver to Ottawa a lot easier than it otherwise would have been. Working two weeks on, two weeks off allowed me to break everything into manageable chunks. With the goal of ultimately getting a base position, living and working in Ontario will make commuting in the meantime a lot easier.” – Brandon Averill
Ornge welcomed a new addition to their team last year. As Brandon Averill approaches his one-year milestone with the company, he shares his experiences and insights with us, giving us a glimpse into his journey as a Touring Pilot at Ornge.
What is your position at Ornge and how long have you been with the company?
I'm a Touring Pilot, a new position created about a year ago. I've been in this role since the end of October 2023.
As a touring pilot, you are able to live anywhere in Canada that's served by a major airline and work a roughly two week on/two week off rotation, moving around to different bases depending on the need. The schedule is more condensed than a typical line pilots, but it also means I get longer stretches of time off, which I like.
What made you want to become a pilot?
My career in aviation began as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME). The journey to becoming a pilot was a process that sort of evolved. I apprenticed at a military flight school in Manitoba and that's where the initial inspiration came from. Watching new pilots learn to fly exposed me to the idea of doing so myself. After apprenticing, I moved back to my home city of Vancouver and started working for a company that operated a helicopter airline. Inspired to fly on the airline, I began attending ground school on my time off. The whole process to attain my commercial license took about nine months, after which I gradually worked at the other ratings required to fly Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). When a First Officer position became available at the company where I was already employed, I applied for the role and was fortunate enough to be selected for the opportunity.
Why did you choose to join Ornge?
My wife and I have a young child and moving to Ontario was a good fit to be closer to family. Having worked HEMS in BC, Ornge was a natural fit. I was interested in flying the AW139 and I liked the idea of stable work that had great benefits.
Has there been opportunity for growth in your role?
I've been with Ornge for less than a year, but so far the training has been fantastic. The time and resources dedicated by the organization for flight training is really the best I've seen. Knowing that opportunities exist to become involved with the safety and training departments means that over time I can contribute in that way as well.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A day often starts by looking at the weather. I get a good idea of what to expect and how the day’s forecast will unfold. Once at the hangar, the focus is on the helicopter and technical dispatch. Does the aircraft need fuel? How many hours until the next maintenance item? Are there open or deferred defects? We then apply ground power and go through the operation of the avionics and other systems, making sure that everything is working as it should. At some point in the morning, medics, flight crew, and maintenance get together and discuss operational aspects in a meeting known as AMRM. From here, we're basically ready to go and wait for a call to come in.
How do you stay motivated and passionate about your work?
The fact that the work Ornge does is so important to the communities we serve is hugely fulfilling. Helicopters are fascinating machines and a privilege to fly. Being able to do that work while also helping people is really a two fold.
What advice would you give to aspiring pilots?
The expense associated with flight training can often serve as a barrier for many individuals. However, one advantage of flight training is its hour-based structure, which enables you to progress at your own speed. Even if your ultimate goal is to fly helicopters, starting your training with fixed-wing aircraft can offer benefits such as accumulating cross-country flight hours and familiarizing yourself with aviation before fully committing to the cost of helicopter flight training.
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