For Josh Enns, the dream of flying didn’t arrive in one single moment of inspiration—it was built step by step, beginning in high school.

‍

FAs a student at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, he enrolled in the school’s four-year aviation vocational program. “In Grade 9, I just thought I’d give it a try,” he recalled. The program introduced him to aviation theory, aircraft systems, meteorology, navigation, and even flight simulation. By the time graduation rolled around, Josh had earned a scholarship that allowed him to begin working toward his private pilot licence. “I was a little scared at first, but once I got started it all just kind of played out,” he said.

‍

That early momentum carried him into the Air Cadet program, where he spent five years sharpening his skills. By 18, he was offered a spot in the prestigious Power Pilot Training Course in Regina. For seven weeks, Josh’s life revolved around flying multiple times a day and intensive ground school classes. He still remembers the moment he went solo for the first time—one of the biggest milestones in a pilot’s journey.

‍

The road wasn’t without its hurdles. Josh didn’t pass his preflight exam the first time, but rather than let that setback define him, he returned weeks later and succeeded. He kept building on each achievement: earning his night rating at Harv’s Air, logging countless hours across Manitoba and Ontario, and later moving to Alberta to pursue his multi-engine and instrument ratings. It was an intense three-week period, flying seven hours a day, but Josh thrived in the challenge. “By the end of it, I had my commercial license and all my exams done. It came together really fast.”

‍

Even with determination and long days in the cockpit, Josh acknowledges that scholarships were essential to his journey. “It’s hard to come out of high school with enough funds to start a career like this,” he explained. Local and aviation-focused scholarships provided the financial breathing room he needed, while his work with Perimeter Aviation and volunteering with the Manitoba Aviation Council, Air Show, young eagles and other various events certainly strengthened his applications.

‍

When asked about the hardest parts of training, Josh laughed. “Steep turns just about got me. I spent five hours one day doing nothing but that.” Later, mastering the instrument landing system in high winds proved to be another test of patience and precision. But these challenges, he said, only made him a stronger pilot.

Josh will continue to grow in his career, and we can’t wait to see him take off this fall. No matter where he goes, he will be a valuable asset to the aviation community for decades to come.