Perimeter Aviation

One of Perimeter’s Dash 8-100s on the ramp at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. Photo: Matthew E. Capina

Following the corporate merger of Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines in 2018, the two pilot groups began negotiating for a joint collective agreement in early 2020. After many months of complicated contract negotiations, the pilots ratified a tentative agreement on June 20, 2023. The new five-year agreement provides across-the-board improvements, including a revamped credit-based scheduling and pay system, a comprehensive system for seniority in case of layoffs and recalls, substantial salary increases, and a sizeable increase in training pay.

In September, the Perimeter and Bearskin pilots successfully integrated their seniority lists. And on October 30, they merged their Master Executive Councils (MEC) into a single MEC while Perimeter Aviation operates both airline divisions under one joint collective agreement and seniority list. As a symbolic gesture to the longstanding history of Bearskin within ALPA, the merged MEC sought approval to change the ALPA airline identifier to PBA for Perimeter Bearskin Airlines.

Also on that day, Capt. Riley Box was elected MEC chair, Capt. Josh Poland vice chair, and Capt. Brandon Oberdorfer secretary treasurer for two-year terms. Two Local Executive Councils (LEC) were also formed. LEC 219 includes Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, and Timmins, Ont., pilots, with Capt. Rob Maxwell elected chair and captain representative, F/O Tracy Dodds vice chair and first officer representative, and Capt. Kelvin Lau secretary-treasurer. LEC 238 includes Winnipeg and Thompson, Man., and medevac pilots, with three new representatives being elected in 2024.

Perimeter pilots are looking forward to the future with renewed optimism that they’ll have a sustainable and long-lasting career at their carrier.

A Perimeter Metro III and Dash 8-100 at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. Photo: Matthew E. Capina