Harold (Mitch) Mitchinson learned to fly at the Saskatoon Flying Club, earning his Private Pilot License in 1936 and his Commercial Pilot License in 1937. Mitch was also an aircraft maintenance engineer apprentice from 1936 to 1938.
Mitch then served with the RAF in World War II as an Instructor Pilot. Following the war he returned to Saskatoon and started Mitchinson Flying School which was later renamed Mitchinson Flying Service.
Mitch is considered to be one of the pioneers in flight training in Saskatchewan and was appropriately inducted into the Saskatchewan Aviation Hall of Fame in June of 1989.
Janet Keim was hired by Air Canada in 1979 and after completing the DC-9 ground school she was lured back to Saskatchewan to purchase Mitchinson’s from Harold and his son Fred Mitchinson. She owned and operated it until 2013. During that time she oversaw many changes and improvements to the flight training industry. Many instructors and students gained extensive knowledge and experience either training under her or employed by her. Her knack for understanding students needs was and still is second to none.
Janet is still very much involved in the aviation community and with MFC; along with instructing part-time she administers both Private and Commercial Pilot flight tests. Her flight training knowledge and inherent instructional skills are very much an asset to MFC and greatly appreciated by the new ownership group.
In 2013 Mitchinson was purchased by four Mitchinson alumni, Dan Glass, Dale Tiedeman, Jim Guenther, and Jonathan Kirzinger. They helped to grow and modernize the business over the next decade and increase student enrolment to record levels. Management and staff were added in key positions and new programs like the Integrated ATPL were developed to bring Mitchinson well into the 21st century of flight training.
In September 2025, Mitchinson was sold to PIC Investment Group. Dan Glass and Dale Tiedeman remain in their management positions to help guide Mitchinson into the future, under the direction of PIC. View the press release.
