Meet Amy Johnson: Flying High to Give Animals a Second Chance
At Canadian Wings of Rescue, we’re powered by passion – the passion of our incredible volunteers who dedicate their times, skills, and even their personal aircraft to saving animal lives. Today, we want to shine a spotlight on one such remarkable individual: Amy Johnson, a volunteer pilot who truly embodied the spirit of our mission.
Amy flying high during one of her many volunteer flights with Canadian Wings of Rescue.
“It’s an honour to help give animals the second change they deserve,” says Amy. “Being able to make a difference in their lives while making an impact in communities across Manitoba using my aircraft and passion for aviation is incredibly rewarding.”
Amy’s dedication is clearly evident. Sincejoining Canadian Wings of Rescue in late 2023, she’s already completed five vital animal transports. These flights are crucial, often moving animals from overcrowded shelters or dangerous situations to new opportunities and loving homes across the province. Her first transport with us took place in November 2023.
From childhood dream to animal advocate
Amy’s journey in the skies began early. She secured her pilot’s license at just 17 years old, fulfilling a lifelong aspiration. She shares that flying had always been a dream from a very young age, even though no one else in her family flew. They strongly encouraged her to pursue it after her first flight in a small plane through the Young Eagles program when she was 10. She officially began flight training at 16, earned her commercial license at 19, and has been continuously flying ever since.
Amy flew Benny & Bailey on a very important trip to find their forever homes.
When she is not volunteering with Canadian Wings of Rescue, Amy maintains a diverse and impressive professional flying career. In the winter months she works out of Winnipeg (CYWG) as an air ambulance pilot onthe King Air 200, a role she’s enjoyed for close to seven years. During the summer, she’s busy flying a spray plane full-time. Giving back to the aviation community is also important to Amy; she volunteers occasionally with the Steinbach Flying Club and assists the Manitoba Chapter of the 99s with various events throughout the year.
The perfect combination: animals and aviation
With such a demanding professional flying schedule, why does Amy choose to volunteer her precious time and aircraft for Canadian Wings of Rescue? “I chose to volunteer with CWoR because I am a huge animal lover, and it’s a great way to combine a joy of being around animals with my passion for flying. A win-win, if you could say,” Amy shares. She finds it a fantastic way to pursue her love for both animals and aviation. Amy also enjoys having a specific purpose for her flights, noting that it provides reasons to visit different airports she might not otherwise experience. Additionally, she points out that the year-end tax receipts help with some of the costs associated with owning her plane, making it more feasible to continue these life-saving missions.
Commercial pilot in her professional life and private pilot in her spare time, Amy’s love for aviation is clear.
Amy is a vital member of our volunteer pilot team. Her dedication, skill, and deep care for both aviation and animal welfare make a profound difference in the lives of countless animals and the communities we serve across Manitoba.
We are incredibly grateful for pilots like Amy Johnson who literally go the extra mile – or many extra miles – to give animals a second chance. Stay tuned to learn more about the incredible work our volunteers do!
