Meet the Team - Benjamin Morton - Captain B1900D

Name: Benjamin Morton

Job Title: Beech 1900 Captain 

Years at CMA: 3

When did you start with CMA?

January 2022

You first started with Central Mountain Air as a dispatcher - how long did you work in dispatch for?

It took a little over one year, but I started flying in July 2022 after only 6 months in dispatch. However, I continued to work both dispatch and as a First Officer until April 2023, when I moved to Kelowna for the company and started flying full-time.

What was the best part of working in the operations?

Getting to see everyone be so calm all of the time. It can get quite stressful in operations but everybody always keeps their cool, creating an atmosphere where everyone can think clearly and any ideas are welcome. I continue this ideology on the flight deck and in my personal life.

What did you learn working in the operation that made you a better pilot today?

Learning the inner workings of an airline has been hugely beneficial throughout my time with CMA. Gaining a solid idea of what is best for the company before stepping onto the flight line helped to guide my decision making process as both a First Officer and a Captain.

When did you complete your B1900D training?

 July 2022. On wing training was completed in Vancouver with the PPC signed off by Lindsay Clougher in Smithers.

When did you complete your upgrade?

December of 2024

What is your favourite part about working for CMA?

It's the fact that a small airline can feel so big or maybe that a big airline can feel so small. From the aircraft to the routes and the seriousness of training, CMA acts like a large airline while maintaining its small business roots. I love knowing everyone I fly with personally and look forward to flights with them. I enjoy knowing who to call when I need something and that every interaction helps form relationships that build over time.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into aviation?

 Patience is your friend— or will be once you realize this is a lifelong path you are venturing along. I started with CMA right out of flight school and was flying a 1900 within 7 months of completing training, which is a very fast jump to a serious aircraft. Even so, I wanted to progress so badly that I couldn't wait to jump in and learn everything I could; I was stressed and anxious about getting a move on. But as things worked out and I learned how to navigate this new career, I came to realize that things will work out if you let them. You can work yourself up into a knot or relax and be calculated about what you want and where you go, and you’ll still get there in a similar amount of time.