On life as a CFTS Flight Instructor and growing up in Portage La Prairie

After spending his childhood in Portage La Prairie surrounded by aviation, it only felt natural for Randy Dyck to join KF’s Contracted Flying Training & Support Program when he grew up! Today, Randy is a Grob Standards Officer and Flight Instructor, as well as a part-time alpaca farmer. Read on to learn more about Randy’s life in Portage, favourite flying maneuvers, and the best parts of working in the CFTS program.

A: I’m the Grob Standards Officer and Phase II Instructor Pilot, and I’ve been doing this at Southport for 20 years.

A: KF Aerospace has always provided me with opportunities to grow in my flying career, which has kept me challenged and interested in what I’m doing. I’ve moved around and changed positions, but I’ve always remained on the flight line in some capacity, either training staff or testing students on course. For me right now, the best part of the job is the students – it’s a real pleasure to meet so many highly motivated, focused individuals. I also love the type of flying we get to do. Advanced aerobatics, formation and instrument flying, and low-level navigation at 500’ AGL ensures you never get bored!

A: There’s a real sense of community here. Even though much of the work is done independently, we all support each other, which is a huge help when trying to adapt to a new job and way of doing things. We also have team building events and activities which are a lot of fun.

I grew up on a grain farm just outside of Portage, and I remember going to airshows and taking swimming lessons on the base and golfing at the Southport golf course when I was young. During school recess I’d often see aircraft flying in formation overhead and imagined how cool that would be to do. During my own flight training in the mid-90s, I came to learn of the opportunities for civilian instructors at Southport, and I’ve never looked back. The type of flying you get to do and the impressive aircraft we get to fly were a big pull for me. It’s a fun job!

A: I had moved from Portage to Winnipeg as a young adult and initially commuted from Winnipeg to Southport while working at KF. In 2012, my wife and I decided to move to a rural area just south of Portage. We purchased a small farm on 30 acres of land for under $300 000 and started raising alpacas along with a few other animals. Portage has changed a lot since my school days! These days, large box store and restaurants are all over. We rarely need to go elsewhere for groceries, building or farm supplies. Maybe the best thing about living here is the cost of land. We were able to purchase our farm for what we sold our tiny house in Winnipeg, and even had money left over for some renovations.

A: You can’t beat the kind of flying you get to do here anywhere. It’s diverse, challenging and unique, and once you get the hang of it it’s a ton of fun. Maintenance is very good here and the aircraft are always clean and well-equipped for whatever job you’re doing. Instructors are also afforded time to maintain their own proficiency on a regular basis, which is a huge bonus that’s not typical of most flight schools! I really enjoy living in Portage as well – I’ve lived in other cities throughout my life, but I love the work we do here at Southport and everything that’s available to us in this part of Manitoba. The landscape is diverse (it’s not just flat!), and I just see a lot more opportunities here than anywhere else I’ve been.

About the CFTS Program

In 2005, KF Aerospace was awarded the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Services contract to support pilot training for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

As the prime contractor of a team of top Canadian aerospace companies (collectively called Allied Wings), KF Aerospace established a turnkey operation at the Southport Airport (near Portage la Prairie, MB) with new facilities, training devices and courseware to satisfy the rigorous training requirements of the RCAF.

Operating four fleets of aircraft, KF Aerospace and partners provide ground school and simulator instruction, flight instruction and all of the support services for the program. The program is a fully integrated partnership between the Department of National Defence and the Allied Wings Flight Training Services Group – led by KF Aerospace.

Learn more about the opportunities with the CFTS Program and life in Southport/Portage.