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Indigenous pilots soar with Perimeter Aviation

Greydon Pangman had an emotional homecoming as a pilot for Perimeter Aviation, an airline serving remote communities in northern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, when he first flew into Shamattawa First Nation at the end of 2025.

“It was a very humbling experience,” says Pangman, who grew up in Shamattawa but is now based in Thompson, Man. “I hope to fly back on a regular basis because I want to inspire people back home.”

Pangman wants to set the same example for others as he got from his inspirations: Raven Beardy and Robyn Shlachetka — Manitoba’s first female Indigenous medevac team — and Atik Mason, one of Perimeter’s first Indigenous pilots from a community it serves. “I want to follow in those footsteps and push Indigenous aviators to the forefront,” he says.

He realized his dream through the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway, a fully-funded flight training program created by Exchange Income Corporation (EIC), Perimeter’s parent company. The pathway, inspired by Mason, was created in 2022 for aspiring Indigenous pilots to overcome the barriers people from remote communities may face in attaining a pilot’s licence, including cost and relocation.

The one-of-a-kind pathway brings training to students by offering flexibility and no strict timelines for completion. It is delivered primarily in Thompson and in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, meaning students don’t have to leave Northern Canada for the majority of training.

Being close to home is crucial for some aspiring pilots, like Pangman, who became a father while pursuing his licence.

“That’s the unique thing about the pathway — it’s not linear,” he says. “Sometimes your route could be twisty, then back and forth, but there’s no failure. When you’re ready, you’re ready.”

Graduates are given the opportunity to pursue a career within the EIC airline network. Perimeter currently employs five pilots from the pathway.

For remote communities, air travel is an essential service, necessary for everything from medical appointments to groceries. It’s a responsibility Perimeter takes seriously, from Indigenous representation to cultural awareness training and a high safety standard.

“Perimeter works with the North differently than any other company I’ve served,” says president and CEO Joey Petrisor, who has been in the aviation industry for almost 30 years, 15 in the North.

“We’re very tied into northern communities,” he says. “We take care of the communities that we serve.”

Staff are given the right tools for the job, including training in specialty safety procedures like de-icing, but also cultural knowledge such as identifying, handling or not handling regalia and sacred items. Aircraft are outfitted with boarding ramps for people experiencing mobility challenges.

A comfortable experience is particularly important as many passengers are on medical trips, Petrisor explains. “Being a lifeline and understanding our importance to the day-to-day lives of the communities we serve is something we are all proud of to be part of.”

Since Petrisor stepped into the role in 2022, Perimeter has built a newly-expanded passenger terminal at its Winnipeg base, increased its fleet and completed several hangar renovations.

In a high-pressure industry like aviation, where Perimeter employees come together for a shared purpose, ensuring they are set up to do their jobs is a point of pride for Petrisor.

“It’s always going to be hard,” he says. “But when the company gives you what you need to succeed, it’s a really special thing.”

For Pangman, Perimeter and the pathway program have given him the opportunity to live out his dreams — not only as a pilot, but as a force for good.

“My calling is to impact people in a positive way,” says Pangman. “I want to inspire the next generation of aviators and Indigenous people.”