Canada – Indigenous-owned post-secondary flight training institute First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) has received CAD75,000 from the Government of Ontario to establish a 12-month Safety Management Lead position supporting its fixed- and rotary-wing aviation programmes. The role adds dedicated safety-management capacity as FNTI prepares to launch commercial helicopter training in September alongside its established fixed-wing pilot programme.

CAD75,000 will fund a 12-month Safety Management Lead based at Mohawk Airport on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, with responsibilities including improved reporting and tracking of safety hazards and preparations for more complex aviation operations. The award forms part of CAD586,768 allocated across eight Indigenous transportation projects under Ontario’s 2026–27 Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund.
FNTI said the position will support development and integration of Safety Management System standards across both its existing fixed-wing operation and new rotary-wing training activity. The institute is preparing for its first Commercial Helicopter Training intake in Fall 2026.
The new Rotary Wing Certificate Program is a one-year, two-semester course on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory designed to prepare Indigenous students for Commercial Helicopter Pilot careers. FNTI’s published syllabus requires 100 flight hours and uses a standard 80/20 split between piston and turbine helicopter time.
FNTI identifies the Robinson R44 Raven II and Bell 505 for the flying phase, publishing 80 hours on the R44 and 20 hours on the Bell 505 under the standard programme structure. The institute lists total programme cost at CAD120,360, including CAD110,000 in flight training.
Admission to the helicopter programme is restricted to applicants identifying as First Nation, Métis or Inuit and requires a Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certificate. Training also includes Commercial Helicopter Ground School, Applied Maintenance, Crew Resource Management and Winter Survival.
FNTI’s existing fixed-wing First Peoples’ Aviation Technology – Flight programme is a three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma delivered with Canadore College. Graduates complete commercial pilot training with a rating stream and meet eligibility criteria for the IATRA examination and Flight Dispatcher designation.
Ontario separately committed CAD4.4 million in May 2026 to continue rebuilding FNTI’s Aviation Training Centre and expand training capacity following the 2022 fire that destroyed its previous hangar and aircraft fleet. That funding followed CAD1.4 million provided by the province in 2024 for initial rebuilding work.
The helicopter programme has also received federal and industry support. The Government of Canada announced CAD4.5 million for FNTI in 2024 to expand aerospace training and establish helicopter training, while CAE has subsequently supported the programme.
AFM previously reported that CAE committed a further CAD200,000 alongside FNTI in April 2026 toward the new Certificate in Commercial Helicopter Operations, which is accredited by the Indigenous Advanced Education & Skills Council.

Source: First Nations Technical Institute

Canadian Flight School Receives Safety Grant Ahead of 2026 Helicopter Training Program Launch

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