who we are

Northerners Taking Flight operates Whitehorse’s flight school with a vision to provide opportunity to Northerners to join our dynamic aviation industry in the North.

Mission Statment

Northerners Taking Flight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to Inspire, Guide, Mentor, Support, Train and facilitate employment for people from the North in Northern Aviation in collaboration with Northern Operators, Education, Government, Aviation Organizations, Indigenous Leaders and communities. Northern Aviation careers include but may not be limited to Air Traffic Controllers, Air Crew, Aircraft Mechanic Engineers, Flight Followers, Dispatchers, Ramp agents, etc.

OUR TEAM

Justin Ziegler

Executive Director

Justin began his aviation journey in 2023 at Alkan Air and now serves as the Executive Director of Northerners Taking Flight. With a background in education and event production, he oversees the organization’s administration, funding, and community initiatives. At Alkan Air, Justin played a key role in launching a remote flight school in Faro, a collaboration with the Ross River Dena and Daylu Dena Councils to train Kaska students on their traditional lands.

Since moving to Whitehorse in 2018, Justin has been deeply involved in the Yukon’s arts and aviation communities, balancing his role in aviation education with producing shows and teaching jazz dance.

Lance AppleFord

Chief Flight Instructor/PRMC/Class I Instructor

Lance began his career in education in 1996, teaching English as a second language in Asia. Lance became a flight instructor in 2007, after many years of working as a pilot across Canada, including 4 years in 703. Lance spends his time at the NTF’s Flight Training Unit managing the fleet, and teaching instructors and multi-ifr ratings.

Nicolas Doustaly

Class 3 Instructor - Remote Flight School/Multi Engine/Seaplane/Aerobatics

Nico is a bilingual pilot from France, he has both French and Canadian instructor ratings. His passion for aviation is readily apparent not only in all the ratings that he has (instructor, multi engine, seaplane, and aerobatics) but also that he can’t stop talking about it. His passion is contagious which can definitely be seen with the students he flies with.

Fouad ayad

Class 4 Instructor

Fouad Ayad is a dedicated flight instructor based in Whitehorse, Yukon, who began his career with Alkan Air Flight Academy in 2024. With a focus on mastering the challenging art of flying in the mountainous regions of the North, Fouad finds the experience both exhilarating and rewarding.

As an instructor with NTF, Fouad emphasizes building confidence, resilience, and sound decision-making skills in his students. He takes immense pride in guiding them from their initial flights to becoming independent pilots, fostering not only technical expertise but also a profound appreciation for the complexities and responsibilities of aviation.

The demands of flying in mountainous terrain have honed Fouad’s patience, precision, and adaptability—qualities he strives to instill in his students. He takes great pride in his career achievements and the significant role he plays in his students’ development.

Beyond the cockpit, Fouad enjoys exploring the breathtaking Yukon outdoors, where he finds inspiration and tranquility. One of his favorite pastimes is capturing the northern landscapes through photography, showcasing the unique beauty of the environment he flies in.

Fouad is enthusiastic about the future, eager to continue his journey in aviation, and committed to inspiring others to pursue their dreams and push their limits. He considers himself fortunate to work alongside a supportive and talented team at Northerners Taking Flight. Their kindness, professionalism, and shared dedication to excellence contribute to a positive and encouraging environment for both instructors and students.

Graham Horte

Class 3 Instructor

Graham was originally born in Edmonton and lived in Peace River for a short time, however he lived and gone to school here in Whitehorse for most of his life. After high school he enrolled in the Aviation Managment program at Yukon University in the fall of 2021. He started his flight training that same year and hasn’t looked back since. He has done all of his flight training at Alkan, and he completed his instructor rating in mid-July 2023. He loves flying and the outdoors in the Yukon. Some of his favorite activities are hiking and fishing around the territory.

Stuart Cheyne

Class 3 Instructor

Bio Coming Soon

OUR Board of director

Wendy Tayler	Chair	Chair Alkan Air
Jennifer Reynolds	Vice Chair	VP Operations Air Tindi
Jonathan Talon	Secretary	Director of Operations GSH
Justin Rogers	Treasurer	Owner and Operator Rodan Air
Ninad Dhawle	Director	Yukon University
Lorna Luxemburger	Director	Air North
Myles Canes	Director	VP Operations Summit Air
Aaron Speer	Director	VP operations Canadian North
Delmar Washington	Director	Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce
Dean April	Director	NTF Student

WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

We are a growing flight school and are always looking for positive, experiences instructors to join our team.

If you would like to apply for a flight instructor position, email us at email hidden; JavaScript is required

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