Ian Ross, director of human resources at Flying Colours Corp, will share the MRO and completion centre’s experiences in attracting and retaining talented workers at this year’s Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) Convention and Exhibition, to be held on 9-11 July 2019 in Calgary, Alberta.
Ross is participating in the panel, An Insider’s Guide to Attracting, Educating and Retaining Top Talent, on July 10. With a workforce of more than 300 located at Flying Colours’ facility in Peterborough, Ontario, Ross has extensive practical experience in recruiting, training and retaining a diverse specialised team.
As the privately owned, family-run company celebrates its 30th anniversary it continues with ambitious expansion plans that rely on further developing its team of technical experts. The scheme began in 2019 with the announcement of the construction of the company’s largest hangar yet, which will accommodate aircraft up to executive airliner size for maintenance and interiors work. A second dedicated aircraft paint shop, and expanded design suites for customer meetings, will complement the facility. Construction is well underway with a summer-end inauguration expected and recruitment for 100 new roles in progress.
“The majority of our team are Canadian citizens and we continue to build strong networks for recruitment purposes,” said Ross. “We are also working with local schools and colleges to encourage students to consider a career in aviation. However, it is a very competitive market as the next generation of workers are attracted by high-tech and digital industries. Thinking laterally is an essential part of recruitment strategy in the current climate.”
Flying Colours will also be exhibiting at CBAA, showcasing its services across a range of aircraft types including Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Hawker and Textron models. As an authorised service facility and completions centre for Bombardier, Flying Colours says it is experiencing unprecedented demand for refurbishment and completion projects. ADS B-Out capabilities will also be on show as the mandatory deadline draws close. The company will also highlight its special-mission capabilities, most recently exemplified by its collaboration with Canadian company Conair Group, as it modifies six production Q400MR aircraft to support multipurpose missions.
“We are pleased to represent the best of Canada locally at CBAA and to share our recruitment experiences and learn from others in this challenging recruitment environment,” said Ross. “As we continue to expand and eye further geographical opportunities, we need to continuously source the best colleagues possible to not only support us, but the business aviation sector in general.”
