Introduction

Elevate Aviation’s Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs are designed to equip women and underrepresented groups with the foundational skills, safety certifications, and confidence needed to launch successful careers in the aviation industry. These fully funded programs open doors to a wide range of in-demand aviation roles through hands-on learning, personalized career coaching, and job readiness training.

ART includes several specialized streams tailored to different interests and career paths:

BASIC (Building Aviation Skills and Industry Competence) is a 5-week program that provides introductory aviation training, essential safety certifications, and job preparation skills such as resume writing and interview techniques. Participants also receive one-on-one guidance from an aviation career coach to help map out their future.

AST (Aircraft Service Technician) is an 8-week program that introduces participants to the technical side of aviation. AST combines hands-on training from industry professionals with instruction in aviation fundamentals, preparing graduates for entry-level technical roles.

FAST (Foundational Aviation Skills Training) is a 4-week program offering a choice between Customer Service Agent or Flight Attendant streams. Participants learn directly from professionals currently working in the field while receiving career planning support tailored to their chosen path.

Whether participants are exploring aviation for the first time or ready to transition into a new role, the ART programs provide a supportive, inclusive environment to learn, grow, and succeed in aviation. Purpose of the

Program / objectives

The purpose of Elevate Aviation’s Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs is to address the growing workforce shortage in the aviation industry while creating equitable access to meaningful careers for women and other underrepresented groups. These industry-focused programs are designed to prepare participants to be job-ready upon graduation by equipping them with essential skills, certifications, and real-world knowledge relevant to in-demand aviation roles.

The ART programs aim to:

1. Provide Job-Ready Skills and Certifications

Each program delivers targeted training that reflects the current needs of the aviation sector. Participants gain practical, career-specific skills and certifications that employers require, enabling them to transition smoothly into the workforce.

2. Diversify the Aviation Workforce

By actively recruiting women and underrepresented populations, the ART programs help to diversify a traditionally male-dominated industry. This diversity introduces new perspectives that fuel innovation and contribute to the long-term sustainability of aviation.

3. Expand Awareness of Aviation Career Opportunities

Many people are unaware of the wide range of careers available in aviation. ART programs introduce participants to these opportunities, particularly those who may never have considered the industry as a viable option due to barriers such as gender bias, lack of access, or limited industry exposure.

4. Support Participants Through Career Development

Participants receive guidance from industry career coaches throughout their training. This support helps them develop a clear career path and ensures they have the tools and confidence needed to succeed in the aviation industry.

5. Alleviate Workforce Shortages

The aviation industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers. By preparing job-ready individuals and connecting them with industry employers, the ART programs help to close the gap and support the growth and sustainability of the sector.

Through these objectives, Elevate Aviation’s ART programs serve not only as a bridge into aviation careers but also as a vehicle for social and economic change, fostering inclusion, resilience, and innovation in an essential industry.

Intended audience

The Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs by Elevate Aviation are designed for individuals exploring new career paths in the aviation industry. The program prioritizes women and underrepresented groups such as newcomers to Canada, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, and those from economically disadvantaged or underserved communities who have traditionally faced barriers to entry in the sector and is also suitable for high school students considering future opportunities.

Many participants come to the ART programs without prior experience in aviation. Some may be entering the workforce for the first time, others are looking to restart their careers after a period of unemployment while others are looking to pivot from their existing career. What they all share is a desire for meaningful work, economic stability, and an opportunity to make an impact.

The programs are also ideal for those who are curious about aviation but may not know where to start. The ART programs create a supportive environment for individuals to build confidence and discover their potential.

By targeting this diverse audience, Elevate Aviation aims to expand the pipeline of skilled talent entering the aviation sector while ensuring that the industry better reflects the communities it serves.

Description / how it was implemented

The Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs were created by Elevate Aviation to respond to two urgent challenges: a critical workforce shortage in the aviation industry and the lack of diversity within that workforce. Designed with a strong focus on industry needs and community impact, these programs are both innovative and inclusive—breaking down barriers to employment while helping aviation employers access qualified talent.

Funding and Support

The ART programs are fully funded by government grants, a reflection of the government’s recognition of their social and economic value. These investments acknowledge not only the growing demand for aviation professionals but also the importance of creating accessible career pathways for groups that have historically been excluded from these opportunities.

Government support allows Elevate Aviation to offer these programs at no cost to participants, eliminating one of the biggest barriers to career training: affordability. This funding covers instruction, materials, certification costs, and access to career support, making the program truly accessible and equitable.

Program Delivery: In-Person and Virtual

The ART programs are delivered in two formats to ensure maximum accessibility:

• In-Person Training is held at the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre, located at the Edmonton International Airport (YEG). This state-of-the-art facility provides a dynamic learning environment where participants are immersed in aviation culture and exposed to real-world career settings from day one.
• Virtual Training is available for participants living in remote or rural communities across Alberta. This option ensures that geography is not a barrier to participation. The virtual delivery is designed to be interactive and engaging, incorporating live instruction and group collaboration. This dual-delivery model allows Elevate Aviation to reach people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to specialized training.

Program Design and Industry Collaboration

Each ART program is carefully crafted by Elevate Aviation’s expert team in collaboration with aviation industry professionals. This ensures the training is practical, relevant, and aligned with real workforce needs. The programs are directly tied to job roles that are in high demand.

Each stream integrates career coaching to help participants identify their strengths, clarify goals, and build a realistic career path within the aviation sector.

Curriculum Components

The ART programs include a wide range of content that prepares participants for both immediate job readiness and long-term career growth:

• Industry Overview – An introduction to the aviation sector, including terminology, workplace culture, and career options.
• Skills Training – Job-specific training for roles such as aircraft service technician, flight attendant, or customer service agent.
• Safety Certifications – Including WHMIS, First Aid, and other essential industry requirements.
• Soft Skills Development – Communication, teamwork, professionalism, and time management.
• Job Preparation – Resume building, interview training, and job search support.
• Career Coaching – One-on-one sessions with an experienced career coach to map out career goals and overcome personal or professional barriers.

All content is designed to be engaging, inclusive, and empowering, meeting participants where they are and supporting them every step of the way.

Impacts / Outcomes

The Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs have demonstrated a remarkable impact both in terms of participant success and workforce development in the aviation industry. Designed to provide accessible, industry-aligned training to women and underrepresented groups, the ART programs have not only changed lives but also contributed meaningfully to solving a critical labor shortage in Canadian aviation.

Transition from WEST to BASIC

The ART program’s BASIC stream was formerly known as the WEST (Women’s Employment Skills Training) program. While the format and intent remained similar, the transition to BASIC introduced a greater emphasis on aviation-specific career paths and opened enrollment to all genders.

Past Outcomes (over 22 months)

• Total Graduates: 313
• Average Program Completion Rate: 95%
• Streams Delivered: WEST, FAST, AST
• Graduation Demographics: Diverse mix including women, newcomers, racialized groups, and individuals from rural communities
• Program Capacity: Fully subscribed cohorts with ongoing waitlists

These metrics highlight both the demand for the ART programs and their high level of participant engagement and success. The 95% completion rate across all three streams is especially noteworthy, demonstrating strong participant commitment and effective program delivery.

Participant Outcomes: Before and After

To evaluate program impact, participants were surveyed before enrollment and again 60 days after graduation. These surveys provided clear evidence of transformation in employment status and educational engagement:

                     Metric                             Before ART               60 Days After ART

• Employment Rate Increase: From 23% to 62%
• Educational Engagement: 11% of graduates pursued further training
• Combined Employment or Education Engagement: 73% post-program

This shift demonstrates the ART program’s effectiveness in preparing participants for meaningful employment and post-secondary pathways within just two months of program completion.

Broader Impact

Beyond the individual outcomes, the ART programs are helping to diversify the aviation industry, which has long struggled with representation. By creating accessible pathways into aviation for women and other underrepresented groups, the programs are:

• Supporting social equity
• Increasing the available talent pool
• Bringing fresh perspectives that drive innovation
• Contributing to the long-term sustainability of the aviation workforce

Lessons learned

Elevate Aviation’s Aviation Readiness Training (ART) programs have yielded impressive results to date, including hundreds of participants trained, high completion rates, and demonstrable success in employment and further education. However, alongside these achievements, critical lessons have emerged that are helping us refine our approach for even greater future impact.

What Worked Well:

1. Program Accessibility and Structure

The fully funded nature of the ART programs allowed us to eliminate financial barriers that often prevent underrepresented groups from pursuing training. This accessibility, coupled with a mix of in-person and virtual delivery, ensured that even individuals from remote communities in Alberta could participate.

The clearly defined program streams—BASIC, FAST, and AST—cater to varying career interests. Participants valued the focused, short-term format, which made the training manageable and led to faster workforce integration.

2. Industry Collaboration

Designing the curriculum in collaboration with industry professionals and subject matter experts was instrumental in keeping the training relevant and practical. These partnerships helped us align learning outcomes with real job requirements, which contributed to high employability among graduates.

3. Ongoing Career Support

Career coaching, job search support, resume writing, and interview skills training were repeatedly cited by participants as some of the most helpful aspects of the program. Many graduates entered the ART programs unsure of their path and left with a clear direction and confidence in their next steps.

What Didn’t Work Well & What We Learned:

1. Misalignment Between Training and Immediate Job Readiness

One of the most valuable lessons emerged from our experience with the Private Pilot Ground School stream, which was initially included under the FAST program. This stream offered participants the opportunity to complete Private Pilot License (PPL) ground school training and receive five hours of flight time. While the offering was highly attractive and fully subscribed, we ultimately found it misaligned with the core objective of the ART programs: to provide job-ready training that leads to immediate employment opportunities.

Becoming a pilot is a lengthy and expensive journey, requiring significantly more training and flight hours than our program could offer. While the experience was inspiring and educational for participants, participants could not translate the PPL stream into direct employment anytime soon after graduating. As a result, this stream did not meet our benchmark for employment outcomes.

Key takeaway: While aspirational career exposure has its place, the ART programs are most effective when focused on career paths that participants can realistically enter upon graduation. These include roles such as customer service agents, ramp agents, aircraft service technicians, and support staff—jobs that open doors immediately and often offer upward mobility.

What we’re doing differently: We have since removed the pilot stream from FAST and redirected our efforts to support aspiring pilots through alternative channels, such as the Elevate Aviation bursary program. This ensures that those on the path to becoming pilots can still receive support, but through a more appropriate, long-term funding and mentorship model.

Web link  https://learn.elevateaviation.ca/programs/aviation-readiness-training/

Organization name

Elevate Aviation

Contact  learning@elevateaviation.ca