Tara Foss (TFF)
Chief PIlot
Small in stature, but big in personality and talent, Tara got hooked on helicopters since the ripe age of six days old. That’s when her Dad, a helicopter pilot, took the family out for a flight.
Growing up surrounded by family members in aviation, it was inevitable that Tara would someday become a helicopter pilot.
Her career spans over 24 years of flying in Alberta and northern BC
Tara loves what she does and can’t imagine doing anything else— and we’re glad about that!
ps Tara knows Trina Moyles
Matthew Willemsen
Operations Manager
Matt is best described (by his mother) as witty and punctual.
Graduating from the aviation program at Canadore College in 2001, with a helicopter pilot’s licence and an aircraft maintenance engineer’s designation, Matt left the farm and Ontario to head for Alberta……
He joined Black Swan Helicopters in 2015 as both a pilot and AME
Always ready for a new challenge, in 2016 Matt took over the role of Operations Manager at BSH.
His mother would be proud!
Scott Brickwood
Director of Maintenance
If Scott was a plant he would be thistle, because?
a) prickly and difficult to eradicate
b) an invasive species from Scotland
c) purple is his favourite colour
(Choose all that apply)
Originally from lower mainland Scott made a slow migration East through various locations and operators in BC arriving in the Peace Country in the early 90s. This was to become home. Scott has raised two daughters and numerous hounds over the past 25 years. Scott is involved in various community organizations when not performing maintenance type activities.
The last to say “not it” Scott became director of Maintenance in 2016.
Linda Johnson
President
While her classmates made paper airplanes from the programs at her high school graduation, Linda fashioned a helicopter.
And so began her 42-year long and varied career path in the helicopter industry.
In 2015 Linda was honored to be recognized by Global News Woman of Vision – which celebrates the accomplishments of women who have implemented their passion and inspire others.
Linda’s reputation of her fear of heights and flying is always a topic of conversation, but allows her to expound on all the other stuff that goes on in a helicopter operation on the ground.