Episode 59- Warren Holt- President of the Urban Pilots Network

Episode 59 is out today with guest Warren Holt!

A pilot with Air Canada for the past 17 years, Warren Holt is also the President of a non-profit organization called the Urban Pilots Network, or UPN. Warren became interested in flying at an early age and continued the pursuit of his dream by enrolling in the Aviation and Flight Technology Program at Seneca College. After graduation it would take Warren 7 years to accrue the flight time and experience necessary to ultimately land him his dream job as a pilot at Air Canada. 

During those seven years gaining experience, Warren instructed at Canadian Flight Academy in Oshawa, flew for Wasaya Airways as a pilot in Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout, and was also a pilot at Air Jamaica. Throughout his time at Air Canada, Warren has flown many different aircraft types, and is currently transitioning from the Boeing 787 to Captain on the Boeing 767 for Air Canada’s cargo operation.

In his time as an instructor, Warren met and instructed a black student, who at the time, was an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer at Air Canada. They had similar interests and remained in contact. In 2004, that same student would start the Urban Pilots Network with the goal of increasing diversity in the flight deck, and right across the aviation industry. Upon his return to Canada in 2005, Warren would join the organization as its Vice President and would remain in that role until 2020, when he would step into the President’s role.

Currently as President, Warren continues to push UPN’s mandate to “Bridge the Gap between the Urban Community and the Aviation Community.” Now that the foundation of UPN is solid, with a spectrum of programs for BIPOC youth, and UPN members, Warren is looking to expand UPNs’ reach and impact by establishing relationships with the “big players” in the industry.

Employment is the ultimate measure of the success of UPNs’ programming, and so these relationships will solidify everything that UPN has worked for.

Inspiring to Aspire Higher is UPNs’ motto, and Warren is determined that once the youth have been inspired, that there is a pathway for success established so they can achieve their aviation dreams.

Inspiring to Aspire Higher!

To find Warren and the Urban Pilots Network visit their website at www.urbanpilots.net/, or on instagram @urbanpilotsnetwork, Facebook under Urban Pilots Network Inc, and Linkedin under Urban Pilots Network.