Tanisha Natomagan is currently enrolled in a three-year pilot program. (Submitted photo/Tanisha Natomagan)

By Derek Cornet

new heights

Northerner achieves first solo flight of aviation career

Jul 13, 2021 | 5:00 PM

With only six weeks to go until she obtains her private pilot’s license, Tanisha Natomagan has dreams of one day flying some of the world’s largest jets.

She’s currently enrolled in the First Nations Technical Institute with Canadore College and is training on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory east of Toronto. Natomagan, who was raised in Pinehouse Lake and lived in La Ronge for the last five years, is just finishing the first year of her studies.

On June 30, she completed the first solo flight of her career in a Cessna 172. The flight lasted about seven minutes.

“I don’t think I was nervous. I was more excited and, because I was excited, I performed better,” she said. “It went really smooth. The take off was good, the landing was good, my radio calls were good. Overall, it was a really good flight.”

To reach the milestone, Natomagan studied for eight months via Zoom before she arrived in Ontario. Those classes covered topics such as the parts of an aircraft and how the aircraft works, air dynamics, weather systems, the engine, weights and balances, air law and more.

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Since relocating six weeks ago, Natomagan studied with a pilot and earned 31 hours in the sky before the solo run. After she obtains a private license, a commercial license is next on her list.

Tanisha Natomagan would like to fly jumbo jets some day. (Submitted photo/Tanisha Natomagan)

“It’s weird because you are sitting next to the instructor the whole time and then once they leave the aircraft, it operates differently because now you have less weight,” Natomagan said. “You take off much faster, the airplane moves differently and it was just a crazy, exciting experience.”

Natomagan, who is Métis, would like to inspire other Indigenous women and youth to consider a career in aviation. She noted many people believe operating an aircraft would be impossible for them when in reality it’s attainable.

It was about five years ago when Natomagan, who is currently 24, began exploring a career in the industry. She previously completed some studies back in 2018 and continued on that path because of her love of being in the air.

“I do want to go back to Northern Saskatchewan or any small airline in the North, and then gain some experience up there while I get the required amount of hours to move on to a regional airline,” Natomagan said. “From a regional airline, it moves on to the major airlines. If I do decide to stay in Canada, it would probably be Air Canada, but I’m also looking at other options in the U.S.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno