Calm Air

Calm Air Pilots
A Calm Air ATR 42 waiting to depart Coral Harbour Airport in Nunavut. Photo: Capt. Chris Baxter (Calm Air)

At A Glance

Pilots joined ALPA: 1997

Number of pilots/flightcrew members: 102

Pilot bases: Thompson and Winnipeg, Man.

Hubs/key markets: Winnipeg and Thompson, Man., and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Headquarters: Winnipeg, Man.

Operations: Calm Air flies scheduled passenger and cargo service throughout northern Manitoba and Nunavut, including destinations along the western shore of Hudson Bay and into the high Arctic.

Fleet: 13 ATRs—5 ATR 42s (4 cargo/passenger combis and 1 passenger-only) and 9 ATR 72s (4 freighters, 2 cargo/passenger combis, and 3 passenger-only)


In April 2023, the Calm Air pilots ratified a new five-year collective agreement that contains pay increases, stronger job-security protections, and quality-of-life improvements.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished by negotiating a fair and equitable contract that works for both Calm Air pilots and our company,” said Capt. Brendan Potter, then the pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) chair. “Additional changes to work conditions and compensation reaffirm that Calm Air is a career destination,” Potter remarked.

In August, with a new contract in place, Potter announced he’d be stepping down after four terms as MEC chair, stating, “New ideas and guidance would be beneficial for the pilots of Calm Air going forward.”

On October 1, Capt. Edward Oakes began his term as the newly elected MEC chair, thanking Potter for his efforts and noting he was looking forward to guiding the pilot group into the future.

The northern lights seen from a Calm Air ATR 42 on the way to Baker Lake from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Photo: F/O Valerii Kukin (Calm Air)