Melissa Haney facts for kids

Melissa Haney, born in 1981, is an Inuk pilot from Quebec, Canada. She is famous for being the first female Inuk pilot to become a captain at Air Inuit. In 2017, a special postage stamp was made to celebrate her amazing accomplishments.

Growing Up

Haney's hometown of Inukjuak, in northern Quebec

Melissa Haney was born in 1981. She spent her early years in Inukjuak, a community on the shores of Hudson Bay. As a child, Melissa loved visiting the airport. Airplanes were a common way to travel in her community. People often used planes to go to dental or medical appointments in other towns.

When she was eight, Melissa moved south with her mother. Her mother was a teacher, and they settled in the Eastern Townships. Melissa grew up there and later studied for a year at John Abbott College in Montreal. When she was 19, she heard that Air Inuit was looking for new team members. Melissa thought this sounded exciting. It would also give her a chance to reconnect with her northern childhood home.

Becoming a Pilot

In 2001, Melissa Haney started working for Air Inuit as a flight attendant. Soon, she decided she wanted to fly the planes herself! In 2003, Melissa began taking flight lessons in Cornwall, Ontario. The next year, she completed her ground school courses with Air Inuit.

One of Melissa's important teachers was Johnny May. He was the first Inuk bush pilot in Nunavik. In 2004, Melissa began flying Twin Otter aircraft for Air Inuit.

An Air Inuit Dash 8-300Q aircraft

In the summer of 2016, Melissa was promoted to captain. When she flew back to Inukjuak in September, hundreds of people from her community gathered. They came to meet her at the airport and celebrate her achievement.

Melissa now regularly flies a Dash 8 Combi-300. She often makes tricky landings on runways that are just long enough for her aircraft.

A Role Model

On August 15, 2017, the Canadian Ninety-Nines released a special postage stamp. This stamp featured Melissa Haney to honor her achievements. The president of Air Inuit spoke to reporters about Melissa. He said she "was a role model for all people in Nunavik." This included both women and men.

As of 2024, Melissa is still a key person at Air Inuit. She is not only a captain but also helps new pilots. She coordinates The Sparrow program. This program inspires and supports Inuit youth who are interested in aviation. Melissa is also involved with Elevate Aviation. This group helps people who are not often seen in the aviation industry. She travels and gives talks to encourage young people to think about careers in flying.

Family Life

Melissa Haney is married to another Air Inuit captain, Pierre-Olivier. They have two children together.