Pull a 200,000-pound plane.
Make a real impact in Calgary.
Plane Pull brings workplace teams together for an unforgettable challenge that demonstrates the power of community.
Teams fundraise for United Way of Calgary and Area leading up to the event, then hit the tarmac to compete for three awards: most funds raised, fastest plane pull and best team spirit!
Just like the plane on the tarmac, challenges like financial hardship, isolation and barriers to opportunity can feel too heavy to carry alone. But when people pull together, even the heaviest obstacles can be moved.
When the weight upon your shoulders becomes a burden to heavy to carry, and systemic barriers feel impossible to navigate, a helping hand, a guiding voice and the assistance of a friend can build momentum to push forward through financial hardship, social isolation, mental health struggles and barriers to opportunity.
Returning in 2026 with presenting sponsor UPS, Plane Pull combines teamwork, connection and local impact in one powerful experience, showing what is possible when a community pulls together.
One plane. Hundreds of people. Countless lives impacted.
Event at a glance
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Location: 22 Aero Drive NE, Calgary, AB
Team size: Each team can register up to 20 members, but only 15 people can pull the plane with at least four members of the opposite gender.
Registration deadline: August 28, 2026.
Team registration goal: $2,250 per team.
Let’s pull together
When your team pulls, you’re pulling Calgary forward.
You’re helping people move from poverty to stability, access critical supports and build the connections they need to thrive.
Why it matters:
- 47% of Albertans are just $200 away from financial hardship
- 1 in 4 Calgarians struggle to meet basic needs
- 33% of Calgarians rated their mental health as only fair or poor
- Nearly 1 in 4 Calgarians say they don’t feel a sense of belonging
How it works
Getting started is simple.
- Register your team
- Start fundraising
- Build momentum and team spirit
- Pull the plane on event day
- Celebrate your impact
Still wondering how it all works? Visit our FAQ to get the details.
Team resources
Everything you need to succeed is right here.
Kids Plane Pull
Your kids can get in on the action too!
During Plane Pull, youth between 7 and 17 years old can join Kids Plane Pull and team up to pull an 11,000-pound airplane across the tarmac. It’s an unforgettable moment that shows them a simple truth: no challenge is too big when a community works as one.
Advance registration is encouraged and closes September 17. Event day on-site registration will also be available until 10:30 a.m. Kids Plane Pull will occur at 11:30 a.m. on September 20.
Ready, set… pull. What happens when a city comes together for local change
Let’s get social!
Follow along as we move the impossible.
See you on the tarmac!
In support of
Presented by
