Greg Harper is a long-time Rotor-wing Captain at Ornge’s Sudbury base. Harper celebrated 25 years of service time with Ornge in September of 2024, and he spoke with us about his tenure and what kept him around throughout the years.

Can you begin by introducing yourself and your position at Ornge?

My name is Greg Harper and I'm a Rotor-Wing Captain on the AW139 in Sudbury. My entire career has been in aviation and EMS. I started my aviation career in James Bay and Moosonee where I flew for five years, then I came to Sudbury. Before that, I worked briefly in air ambulance dispatch.

What is a "First Officer" and a "Captain" and how do they work together?

The captain is the pilot in command (PIC) who is responsible for the operation and safety of the flight, and the first officer is there to assist the PIC with the flight; they would assume control of the aircraft if needed.
It's essential that the captains and first officers work as a team. There must be good teamwork, good crew coordination, and resource management by everyone involved with the flight. So, for the safe operation of the flight, coordination between the captain and first officer is essential.

Congratulations on 25 years at Ornge. What is the most important lesson you've learned during your time here?

Life is fragile. One minute you could be going to work and the next minute your life is altered forever. I like to look at the positive side of that - we help people, and we're there for them when things aren't good for them. But the most important thing I've learned is that life can change instantly, and when it does, you have to roll with it.

What has made you want to stay in the organization throughout the years?

I love this job. It's rewarding in so many ways. Throughout the industry, pilots often work away from home for weeks or months at a time; at Ornge I find that our scheduling and work-life balance is gratifying.
I'd also say longevity. I've been here for quite a while, so I've established some roots here. It would be very disruptive to pack it up and move somewhere else now.

Who or what are some of your biggest inspirations in your career?

My family is my first inspiration – my father and my uncle were both pilots, so we always had aircraft around. Throughout my career, I've had multiple mentors. Mike Trottier, Andy Stevens, and other crew members who worked at the Sudbury base before I arrived were a huge part of learning the job and understanding how to handle a command role – they were very good at it.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to be an air ambulance pilot?

Learn all aspects of the position and the operation, not just the flying. Learn how the Operations Control Centre (OCC) works (which is a hard job!), learn how all facets of the operation work and enjoy the job as much as you can.

Why should a pilot choose Ornge over other organizations?

Home life is the biggest advantage. You get to live where you work which is rare in this industry. Compensation is competitive, and the pension plan and benefits are probably the best in the industry. But the most important aspect is a home-work balance that you can maintain.

Can you speak about how Ornge overcomes the challenges of time and distance in Ontario?

Ontario is a huge province, and it is a challenge, there's no question about that. I think base locations are a key part of the solution. There's a helicopter within an hour of most major population centers in the province, and there's a plane within an hour of most remote communities. I think we do a tremendous job taking on that challenge - which has evolved over the years.

What would you say to someone moving to Northern Ontario?

I grew up here, and so I enjoy the lifestyle that comes with living in Northern Ontario. I take advantage of everything it has to offer and for me, that's everything from snowmobiling to hunting and fishing. I think for someone to be enticed to move to Northern Ontario, they have to be interested in that lifestyle and not restrict themselves in what they can do with their free time here. But we also don't have the traffic that Southern Ontario has or the higher cost of living. So, it's just two different lifestyles that you can only find in that respective geography.

What does it mean to you to work for Ornge?

I've made it my career. It's not a five-year gig or something that I'm using to get an endorsement and move on. A career here means we get to help people, we get to be there in their time of need which is fulfilling. It means a comfortable life after work.

• Inside Ornge