2012 – Vanderhoof is taking advantage of their local resources to tap into a niche market that will help diversify the community’s economy and develop the aviation industry in northern BC. There is a world-wide shortage of commercial pilots and an even larger need for them in the north. With a Transport Canada Certified Airport and a well-established College of New Caledonia campus, Vanderhoof is positioning the community as the optimal choice for a commercial pilot program.
Under this feasibility study, the College of New Caledonia has evaluated the current programs being offered in British Columbia and across Canada, as well as the regional, provincial, national, and international market opportunities that the college will need to determine how best to proceed in using the community’s recently improved airport to develop a new training school in Vanderhoof.
In 2010, the College announced a new Aviation Business Diploma program based at the Vanderhoof campus and in partnership with Guardian Aerospace, informed directly by this feasibility study.  Northern Development provided funding support for the establishment of the Aviation Business Diploma program.  See the Aviation Business Diploma Program Takes Flight In Vanderhoof story for more on the infrastructure project that followed this study.
