TNDC News

AN AIRPORT OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE MAKING

Little did Grant Louie know that curiosity, aspiration and a desire for change would launch an exciting new career path to airport operations management. A heavy equipment operator by trade, Grant’s career with TNDC started in 2016 operating a packer working on the tailings dam at Red Chris. Today, Grant is TNDC’s Airport Lead Hand at the Dease Lake Airport (CYDL), training to take over operations in future. The journey from equipment operator to Airport Lead Hand is fascinating, heartwarming and inspirational, demonstrating how motivation, high performance and a strong work ethic can drive a career.

Working at Red Chris meant three week stretches in camp, with one week at home. A few months after starting there, Grant’s son was born, joining three older sisters. While he enjoyed the work, he missed his family. The personal catalyst for change came in 2017 when his daughters told him he worked too much in camp. That prompted Grant to transfer to work in town, as the Warehouse Officer at TNDC’s Dease Lake office, before moving over to the Mechanical Shop as a Labourer then Mechanical Helper a year later.

Grant’s motivation for change was peaked again in the fall of 2019 when TNDC was starting up an Airport Services division at the Dease Lake Airport (CYDL). Initially providing back up support, Grant was part of the original airport crew when the division officially launched in 2020 and TNDC took over airport operations. In 2021, TNDC signed an agreement with the Crown Land lease owners Stikine Airport Society (SAS) to become the contract Airport Operator for CYDL. Initially providing baggage handling and airport maintenance, Grant quickly advanced, taking on more responsibility, enhanced by training and mentorship.

Today, Grant oversees the daily operations of the airport including a crew of eight. Lead Hand is an important position that serves as a vital link between the Airport Managers, the crew he manages, and the clients and airlines CYDL serves. The scope of Grant’s responsibilities includes training new employees, conducting runway condition reports, keeping the runway clear, and ensuring all heavy equipment is maintained and operating. He also provides safety checks and directs aircraft to/from the runway and landing gates. The list of training Grant has completed is extensive: frontline supervisor, HEO Train the Trainer, aircraft de-icing and fuelling, and  airport crash fire rescue. He also acquired a professional radio operators licence and class 3 drivers licence (vehicles with more than two axles) as well as a wildlife management certificate. 

“I really enjoy what I’m doing, from performing the work to directing the crew to learning new things. It’s a fast paced environment. Getting to train the next generations of Tahltans, knowing that is where I started, is pretty cool. All this with the added bonus of being able to work in town and go home to my family each night,” Grant says.

TNDC’s Airport Services division has become an increasingly strategic and important area of TNDC’s business. As the contract airport operator of CYDL, TNDC is one of only a few Indigenous organizations to manage an airport in British Columbia. TNDC Airport Services is responsible for inspections, maintenance and ongoing operations of the airport, including snow and brush clearing, runway friction tests, runway sweeping, grounds maintenance, passenger and ground handling, de-icing of aircraft, and fuel operations. In 2023, TNDC partnered with Executive Flight Services to provide onsite leadership with oversight and development of the airport and TNDC crews.

In 2023, TNDC began working with Executive Flight Centre (EFC) in training our local team members in the disciplines of daily airport operations and ground support, including fuelling aircraft of all types. TNDC and EFC’s shared goal is to train and mentor all local staff to where they can take over all aspects of the airport. Tony Kormendy and Chad McVicker are TNDC’s Airport Managers, who work with EFC. In line with that goal, Grant is now being mentored by Tony and Chad to become an operations manager – a pivotal, high profile role. Grant is learning the fundamentals of airport business as well as maintaining airport operations. It’s a comprehensive, lengthy and progressive process that will require additional training and certifications.

Tony is a commercial helicopter pilot by trade who transitioned into general aviation 15 years ago, running fixed-base operations and airport management. The list of urban and remote airports he has worked on is lengthy, including Calgary, Fort McMurray, Grand Prairie, Kamloops and Baffin Island. Grant has impressed Tony since they started working together.

“Grant has been the backbone of the airport stepping into any position that is required of him. His growth has been fast paced and well deserved. Now the Lead Hand, Grant is overseeing the daily operations of the airport. All the training Grant has received complements his extensive experience for the operation. He will continue to have a positive impact on the airport and the Dease Lake community in the years to come,” Tony says.

It is an exciting and rewarding opportunity Grant is embracing with enthusiasm.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to train for operations management under the mentorship of Chad and Tony. There is much more to learn, which I am looking forward to. Little did I know, my decision to work with TNDC’s Airport Services would be a career turning point. I took the position for a change, not imaging in a few short years I would be on the path to an operations management role in my community. It’s a valuable life lesson,” he adds.