Northern Air Rescue

Operating in some of Canada’s most challenging aviation conditions, a young pilot fresh out of flight school takes off on her first exciting adventure with Missinippi Airways.

Follow a medivac flight crew as they work through a demanding 13-day rotation. While the crew responsibilities are challenging enough, for captain and single mom Robyn Shlachetka, balancing the needs of two young daughters adds to the demands.

Harsh weather and gravel runways make flights difficult for pilots and their planes. When one medivac plane suffers a mechanical issue, Missinippi Airways’ maintenance team swings into action, swapping parts and equipment to prepare a replacement plane.

After a year honing her aviation skills on a passenger service to Pukatawagan, a young pilot fights for a spot in Missinippi Airways’ air ambulance program.

At Grace Lake Airport, low-lying fog is grounding Missinippi Airways’ flights to Pukatawagan. With customers and baggage backing up in the terminal, pilots and customer service reps wait patiently for the weather to improve.

As a small Indigenous-owned airline, Missinippi Airways’ success depends on training pilots who can handle the unique challenges of northern aviation. However, retaining pilots can be challenging when you’re competing against the lure of big airlines.