Record early bookings for Canada's leading aviation and aerospace policy and programs conference

Conference hotel sold-out. Coast Capris Hotel and Siesta Motel recommended alternate accommodations.

At the 2026 BCAC Conference Kelowna (YLW): Soaring Above Challenges – Eyes on the Horizon, there will be four core themes: 

• Practical, immediate approaches to climate sustainability (BC's aviation and aerospace industry is Canada's leader in this area);
• The generational increase in defense spending and Canada's opportunities to maximize defense-civilian synergies;
• An enhanced focus on the aerospace (there are over 200 aerospace companies in our province - most with huge upside potential);
• Human Resources development – supporting the next generation, now!

Join industry innovators, thought-leaders, and decision-makers May 25-27th, at the historic lakeside Eldorado/Manteo Resort in Kelowna, BC. Event details and registration at bit.ly/BCAC26.

With the 2026 Memorial Cup hockey tournament also taking place in Kelowna in May, please book your accommodations as early as possible. Hotel rooms will become both scarce and very expensive in the coming days. Visit bit.ly/BCAC26 (tab Alternative Hotels) for group discount rates/code at the Coast Capris hotel, 10 minute Uber from the the conference home base at the Eldorado/Manteo Resort. Four minute Uber away is the Siesta Motel (book directly).

Don't forget to register!

Questions? Contact us!

NAV CANADA Area Operations Consultative Meeting joins BCAC26 May 28th.

In addition, we are very pleased to announce that NAV CANADA will be holding their Area Operations Consultation Meeting (AOCM) on May 28th in the same hotel as the conference to coincide with the BCAC26. This important annual event about the Vancouver Flight Information Region (FIR) operations is complimentary and open to all customers and key stakeholders of their services.

During the session we will be covering regional content that relates to Vancouver FIR operations and answering questions. 

Any suggestions for agenda items can be sent to YVR_FIR_AOCM@navcanada.ca on or before May 1^st, 2026.

This year's AOCM is intended to be in-person only. If you will not be attending in person, but would attend if a Teams link was made available, please reply to this email.

AFFILIATE ANNOUNCEMENT

Taking Flight: The Future of Air Mobility (such as drones) in Canada

To gain vital insights into the disruptive impact Advanced Air Mobility is having on all transportation modes involved in Logistics, the BCAC strongly recommends attending this Chartered Institute of Transportation and Logistics (CILTNA-Pacific) event. The Institute is BCAC's latest Affiliate Member. As such, all BCAC Supporter members can attend at the members rate of $65 at Register for this event.

Fast track aviation and aerospace skills immigration

This is a major step forward towards addressing the skilled human resources shortage are industry faces. Shout out to the Federal Government for taking this step. Since aviation and aerospace is the most powerful infrastructure supporting a modern society and economy, this move forward supports almost all of Canada's industries.

For 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced targeted Express Entry categories for transport occupations, heavily featuring aviation and aerospace, as part of its Category-based Selection. Targeted roles include pilots, aircraft mechanics, and avionics technicians to fill critical labour gaps. Candidates need at least 12 months of work experience within the last three years.

Key Aviation & Aerospace Occupations (2026)
The new transport category focuses on specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:

• 72600: Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors.
• 72404: Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors.
• 22313: Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians, and inspectors.
• 72410: Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers.

2026 Immigration Requirements & Changes

• Work Experience Requirement Increased: As of Feb 18, 2026, candidates must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the past 3 years, up from the previous 6-month requirement.
• Category-Based Selection: These draws often result in lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for individuals with experience in these specialized fields.
• Senior Managers: A new category for senior managers with Canadian experience includes roles in transportation and production sectors. 

Application Strategy
Candidates with experience in these aviation fields can apply under the Express Entry system (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class) and receive targeted invitations. Prospective applicants should monitor the official Express Entry draws for specific transport sector invitations.

(Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Immigration.ca, CIC News.)

UVic to get more than $5M for aerospace, AI projects

Federal economic agency for B.C. says it's part of a $13.8M investment to advance defence innovation. A solid example of the defense-civilian initiative synergies that the BCAC26 YLW Conference will be discussing. There is also a complimentary stand-alone workshop by Strix on Aerospace Innovation and Funding Monday May 25th afternoon right before the BCAC26 YLW conference Welcoming Reception that is open to both delegates and non-delegates.

The University of Victoria is getting more than $5 million from a federal agency as part of a push to advance BC's defence innovation in artificial intelligence and aerospace.

Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), the federal economic agency dedicated to B.C., announced that it is investing $4 million in the university's Centre for Aerospace Research to establish a satellite ground station.

Afzal Suleman, a UVic professor and the director of the Centre for Aerospace Research, told CBC News that the station will help provide more timely information from satellite data in the region.

"What we'll have is faster access to satellite intelligence, we'll have enhanced Arctic and Pacific domain awareness and also stronger, I would say, continental defence readiness," he said.

The money will also go toward expanding testing facilities for aerospace and digital technologies, which UVic says will help the space industry on the West Coast develop, test, and bring these technologies to market.

PacifiCan is also investing $1.43 million in the university's Advanced Control and Intelligent Systems Lab to advance an AI-powered drone surveying and mapping system.

Some of its civilian applications include land-use planning, infrastructure monitoring, and emergency response, particularly for smaller and remote communities, according to UVic, while defence applications include monitoring remote borders and supporting situation awareness.

"It can send a drone to a specific location without an operator being on site and then it does the mapping automatically," Homayoun Najjaran, head of the lab, told CBC News. "The interpretation is done also by AI."

In a statement, Victoria MP Will Greaves says the investments will create jobs in the community while "ensuring Canada has the technology needed to protect Canadians."

The funding is part of a larger, $13.8-million investment announced Tuesday that is going to B.C. companies working on AI and aerospace technologies.

(Source: CBC News – British Columbia, Johna Baylon. Photo/UVic.)

2026 Scholarship Applications close at midnight on April 30th

Are you a student accepted to, currently studying in, or in some cases just completed an aviation and/or aerospace program in British Columbia? Or perhaps you're already working in the aviation and/or aerospace industry and want to upgrade your skills? If so, you may qualify for one – or more – of the $250,000 in scholarships currently being offered. The BCAC administers the largest aviation and aerospace scholarship program in Canada, growing an average of 26% a year.

Scholarships are grouped into four broad categories within which the Scholarship Selection Committee determines which applicants are best suited for which individual scholarship.

Pilots (private, commercial and flight instructors) including the Bain and Brown Aviation Career Scholarship ($20,000).

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) including the AME-Structures Career Scholarship (a $54,000 value), sponsored by Coulson Aviation in Port Alberni.

Aviation and Aerospace Operations and Management, including the YPK Gateway to Education Scholarship ($5,000).

General which includes Indigenous, Women, Employee Training, and Career Advancement-specific scholarships up to $10,000.

Visit our Scholarship Applications web page for more information and apply using our new-and-improved online Scholarship Application form. Submission deadline is midnight, April 30th, 2026.

Good luck!

Questions? Contact us!

SUPPORTER PROFILE

New IRCC Pathway Could Finally Fix Your Skilled Staffing Headaches

Principals from Peopled presented at last year's BCAC25 conference on the dramatic changes occurring overseas in the area of skilled labour development. They will be attending the May 25-27 BCAC26 YLW Conference to continue the conversation.

If you’ve struggled with temporary foreign workers in the past — complex permits, uncertainty, and workers leaving just when they’re trained — this news changes everything.

IRCC has launched a new Transport Occupations Category under Express Entry, creating a direct, more predictable path to permanent residency for aviation professionals, not just temporary fixes. This targets exactly the people you struggle to hire:

• Flight operations: airline and commercial pilots, flight instructors
• Maintenance and technical: AMEs, avionics technicians, aircraft mechanics
• Airport and operations: coordinators, ground and ramp supervisors, cargo/logistics staff, dispatchers

With targeted draws focused on these roles, qualified candidates with at least one year of recent experience can now be prioritized — even if they don’t score at the very top in general rounds. As a member of BCAC, Peopled Consulting already has a curated bench of international aviation talent ready to move, stay, and grow with BC operators. We define your needs, present pre‑screened candidates, and work alongside immigration experts so you get long‑term hires, not short‑term band‑aids.

This is the moment to lock in talent before your competitors do.
Learn more about this unprecedented opportunity by contacting Peopled Consulting now to review sample résumés and start filling your hardest‑to‑hire roles with committed, PR‑ready professionals.

How soon are you looking to bring on your next pilot, AME, or operations lead?

Contact: Amber Rana, Principal, amber@peopled.ca