WINGS
JUL AUG 2015 CANADA’S NATIONAL AVIATION MAGAZINE
wingsmagazine.com
THE QUEST FOR MORE
Saluting our Top 20 Under 40 leaders
Redefining an iconic brand KF Aerospace shakes things up
Positioning for growth Levaero Aviation spreads its wings
Diana Kelly, Manager, ACC Operations, Winnipeg Information Region, NAV CANADA
JULY/AUGUST 2015
UPFRONT 5 Leading edge
A shining light of change
8 On the fly
News and opinion
12 Alternate Approach
CSeries the toast of Paris
14 At the Gate
The missing link
15 Glidepath
Too close to home Levaero Aviation is born with a diverse product and fresh new attitude. P. 27
BACK 42 Marketplace 46 On final
A level of uncertainty
FEATURES 16 THE QUEST FOR MORE
Saluting our Top 20 Under 40 leaders BY MATT NICHOLLS
PHOTO: LEVAERO AVIATION (TOP) BOMBARDIER (TOP LEFT) AÉROPORTS DE MONTRÉAL (BOTTOM LEFT)
From top: CSeries the toast of Paris P. 12 The missing link P. 14
27 Rising to the challenge
Levaero Aviation is born with its diverse product offerings and services BY MATT NICHOLLS
30 Will lightning strike twice?
No Purolator deal? No problem. KF Aerospace confidently moves forward BY DAVID CARR
COVER PHOTO: NAV CANADA
WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
July/August 2015 | WINGS
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LEADING
EDGE
| By Matt Nicholls
Reaching new heights The legends of the past meet those of the future
O
ne of the best parts of my role as editor of Canada’s national aviation magazines is getting to know the many great people who influence this incredible industry. Hearing their stories and learning more about their many achievements is truly inspiring and it helps fuel my own passion for future content development. The annual Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame (CAHF) dinner in late spring is a case and point. The 42nd annual gala held on June 4 at the Skyservice Toronto hangar was a veritable who’s who of the Canadian aviation and aerospace worlds. Talk about an inspirational event! The room was buzzing with industry leaders from both the fixed and rotary-wing sides of the coin, and the stories shared were truly special. This year’s inductees have certainly made their marks. The multiple ovations and accolades for Arthur Roy Brown, DSC, James Stuart “Jim” McBride, George Edward Miller, and Owen Bartley “O.B.” Philp were well-deserved, as their achievements helped lay the foundation for others to achieve, prosper and grow. The same can be said for the exploits of the innovative Aerovelo Inc. team, represented on the podium by Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson (pictured here). Aerovelo received the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence for its work in flying a human powered ornithopter and helicopter to new heights. In listening carefully to the stories of each recipient, what struck me most was not necessarily their final career achievements, but the decision-making processes they made along the way. Each displayed an unabashed fearlessness to forge new paths where none existed before. They are all trailblazers, not afraid to try new things and follow their instincts in the hopes of
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They are all trailblazers, not afraid to try new things and follow their instincts in the hopes of garnering success. garnering success. Brown’s story is fascinating. A pilot in the First World War, he is best recognized for his decisive involvement in the action on April 21, 1918, which led to the death of Manfred von Richthofen – the dreaded “Red Baron.” Philp was a revered and decorated air force leader and the driving force as a founder of the acclaimed Snowbirds. His wartime service included operational flying in both Europe and Burma. The entrepreneur of the group is
PHOTO: RICK RADELL.
TOP DATA BURSTS… in this issue
1.The golf tourney at this year’s CBAA conference in Montreal raised $26,363 for Hope Air. (Pg. 8) 2. $29.3 billion: The IATA’s forecast for air transport revenue in 2015. (Pg. 8). 3. 12,700: Bombardier’s forecast for aircraft deliveries in the 60- to 150seat segment over the next 20 years. (Pg. 12). 4. A West Island LRT in the Montreal area would generate ridership of 60,000 passengers a day. (Pg. 14). 5. Levaero Aviation’s PC-12LEP removes 20,000 hours of wear and tear on the aircraft. (Pg. 27).
WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
certainly McBride, who built successful franchises for the marketing of Piper aircraft and Hughes helicopters across Canada. He also owned a charter business supporting Manitoba Hydro in its many major hydro projects in northern Manitoba, and then developed profitable air transport businesses, including turning around Winnipeg-based carrier Transair. Colonel George Miller, CD, had a diverse aviation career including 35 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces – including leading the Snowbirds – and a civilian aviation career running air shows in Ottawa, helping develop the Langley Regional Airport and more. All four inductees displayed copious amounts of leadership, fortitude, courage and a diverse skill base that helped redefine the Canadian aviation landscape. The July/August issue of Wings magazine pays homage to aviation influencers in their own right – our Top 20 under 40 winners. Though early in their careers, they display many of the same the qualities as the CAHF inductees. Dedicated, determined, assertive and innovative, all are changing the face of Canadian aviation for the better – and many have left an indelible mark. From honouring the icons of the past to highlighting the future superstars of tomorrow, there is plenty to be passionate about in the world of Canadian aviation. | W Editor's note: Wings would like to thank Seneca College for its support of the Top 20 Under 40 program.
Your feedback is always welcome. Please contact me at mnicholls@annexweb.com. @Wings_Magazine July/August 2015 | WINGS
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WINGS
JUL AUG 2015 CANADA’S NATIONAL AVIATION MAGAZINE
wingsmagazine.com
Vol. 56, Issue 4 EDITOR
Matt Nicholls mnicholls@annexweb.com 416-725-5637
THE QUEST FOR MORE
Saluting our Top 20 Under 40 leaders
MEDIA DESIGNER
Redefining two iconic brands
Brooke Shaw
Introducing Levaero Aviation, KF Aerospace
FLIGHT DECK
Positioning for growth
Rick Adams, David Carr, Paul Dixon, Brian Dunn, Frederick K. Larkin, James Marasa, Carroll McCormick, Anna Pangrazzi
Strategic business decisions help Air Canada soar
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THE LEAD INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS GRASSROOTS AWARDS PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
THE LEAD
CBAA CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL CONVENTION It started with perhaps the soggiest day in the history of corporate golf, but eventually the sun shone brightly on the 2015 CBAA convention and exhibition June 16-18 in Montreal. Some 657 delegates made their way to this year’s event held primarily at Montreal’s Hotel Montagne and AvFuel’s H-18, last year’s “Rising Star” award winner in Wings magazine’s annual Canadian FBO survey. The festivities kicked off with the association’s annual charity golf tournament at the quaint Le Parcours du cerf golf course. Some of the industry’s best – yours truly not included in this analysis – were all pumped for a competitive day on the course, but Mother Nature had other ideas. For those who have not experienced the expression “raining buckets,” this pretty much summed it up. A few brave souls managed to get in 15 holes on the day before the sogginess was mercifully brought to an end, but the experience will
forever go down as one of those “remember when” moments in CBAA exhibition history – and it was all for a good cause. During the luncheon, CBAA president/ CEO Rudy Toering handed over a cheque to Hope Air executive director Doug Keller-Hobson for $26,363. The CBAA and its National Organizing Committee have worked very hard to improve its educational content for members over the past couple of years and this year’s conference reflected this premise. Many of the delegates Wings spoke with seemed pleased with the content development, saying it has certainly grown into a more cohesive package. Some the sessions of particular note included an electric presentation by Million Air CEO Roger Woolsey on the power of first impressions and pumping up your flight operations; an introduction to and implementation of the CBAA’s new member SMS led by the CBAA’s vice-president of government and regulatory affairs, Merlin Preuss and vice-president of operations Beyond Risk Management’s Elaine Parker; and working with new business aviation airports in the GTAA, led by Martin Lamprecht, business development consultant of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport; Stephen Wilcox, airport manager for the Oshawa Municipal Airport, and Chris Wood, general manager for the Waterloo International Airport. All topics will be covered in future issues of Wings. Mike Tretheway, chief economist and
This year’s static display was one of the biggest in recent memory with 22 aircraft. 8
WINGS | July/August 2015
chief strategy officer with InterVistas was also on hand to go through details of the CBAA’s recent Canadian business aviation economic impact study which outlines the impact BizAv has in Canada (see Wings, May/June 2015 http://goo.gl/qzpg1v). And while Minister of Transportation Lisa Raitt could not be in attendance, she did send a video message reiterating her support of Canadian business aviation and the many markets it serves. Raitt noted that she is looking forward to working with Toering and the CBAA in the future. Some 22 aircraft graced the static display at the tradeshow at H-18 on the Thursday, representing the largest static display in the event's history, notes Deb Ward, CBAA’s marketing and industry relations director. And CBAA president/ CEO Rudy Toering indicated he was pleased with the way the conference came together. “We have certainly worked hard to enhance elements of the program with our educational package and make it more constructive and valuable for members. I think we achieved that,” he said. “We will continue to strive to achieve this premise going forward.” Some of the other key notes from the conference: • Jean-Christophe Gallagher, vicepresident of strategy and marketing at Bombardier Business Aircraft and Gary Wood, corporate sales and marketing at Flying Colours have joined the 2015 – 2016 Board of Directors. • Among the honouree’s at this year’s event were the Award of Merit’s Peter Ingleton, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) granted to a person, company or group in recognition of an outstanding contribution to aviation; Lifetime Honorary Member award recipient Bill Clark, of Clark and Company; a $1,500 scholarship awarded to Alexandre LaPlante, winner of the 2014 John C. Webster Memorial trophy as the top amateur pilot in Canada; and Scott Harrold, Landmark Aviation and Joseph Zigrossi, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Ltd. who were recognized by the CBAA Board of Director and Bombardier Business Aircraft and NAV CANADA for their sponsorship of Partners in Safety. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
PHOTO: MATT NICHOLLS
For late-breaking news and exclusive web content, please visit us at: www.wingsmagazine.com
LOW FUEL PRICES A BOON TO AIRLINES The global airline industry is cashing in lower fuel prices and higher passenger and cargo volumes, with North American airlines leading the charge. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an upward revision of its 2015 industry outlook at its annual general meeting in Miami. IATA forecasts the industry will achieve a $29.3 billion net profit on expected revenues of $727 billion in 2015. This represents a four per cent net profit margin, and a yearover-year increase of 47.2 per cent on profitability. “For the airline business, 2015 is turning out to be a positive year,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and chief executive. “Since the tragic events of September 2011, the global airline industry has transformed itself with major gains in efficiency. The result is a hard-earned four per cent average net profit margin. On average, airlines will retain US$8.27 for every passenger carried.” All regions are expected to see an improvement in profitability in 2015, although there are stark differences in region economies. Over half the global profit (US$15.7 billion) is expected to be generated by airlines based in North America, where the margin on earnings before interest and taxation is expected to exceed 12 per cent. That is more than double that of the next best performing regions of Asia-Pacific and Europe. “The industry’s fortunes are far from uniform,” Tyler cautions. “Many airlines still face huge challenges.”
Lower fuel prices are helping airlines such as Air Canada with their profit margins.
The decline in fuel prices has contributed to a healthier bottom line, although fuel bills still represents approximately 28 per cent of airlines’ operating cost structure. Jet fuel prices are expected to decline at a slower rate for 2015, to US$78 a barrel (33 per cent below 2014 levels). The full impact of the fall in fuel prices in Canada continue to be moderated by the decline in the value of the Canadian dollar over the past 12 months. Globally, IATA estimates that airlines have locked about half of the 2015 fuel supply at higher levels as a result of hedging policies. Passenger traffic is expected to grow some 6.7 per cent in 2015, an acceleration on the 6.0 per cent growth recorded in 2014. Passenger numbers are still expected to top 3.5 billion for the first time in 2015. A focus on efficiency is seeing supply matched more closely than ever with demand and is expected to produce a record high load factor of 80.2 per cent. WestJet recorded a load factor of 77.2 per cent for May 2015, and flew a record 1.6 million passengers, a year-over-year increase of 3.9 per cent. Revenue passenger miles increased 6.6 per cent and
capacity, measured in available seat miles, grew 9.1 per cent over the same period. Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity, and Air Canada rouge, the company’s leisure operation. For the month of May, Air Canada reported a system-wide capacity increase of 9.8 per cent and a load factor of 82.3 per cent, down one percentage point from May 2014.
SECOND SHELL AEROCENTRE OPENS AT YEG A second Shell AeroCentre has opened at the Edmonton International Airport to support growth in industrial and business traffic despite the downtick in the province’s oil industry. “There are people that are going to work sites in Fort McMurray and in the Northwest Territories, and that’s a big part of our business, as well as the corporate aircraft that come through,” David Robertson, YEG AeroCentre president told Global News. “We did a major expansion to [the first AeroCentre] in 1998, and we’ve continuously been
PHOTO: BRIAN LOSITO, AIR CANADA (TOP); NAHF (BOTTOM)
INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS
George Miller
Jim McBride
O.B. Philp
Roy Brown
Four new members of the aviation community were inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame June 4 during a gala event at the Sky Service business aviation hangar in Toronto. The 42nd annual event was indeed a magical evening with many prominent members of Canada’s aviation community in attendance. New inductees included Arthur Roy Brown, DSC, who flew with the Royal Naval Flying Service and the Royal Air Force in the First World War; James Stuart McBride, George Edward Miller, O.M.M., CD; and Owen Bartxsley “O.B.” Philp, C.M., DFC, CD, all of whom served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Their careers are truly inspirational. AeroVelo, Inc., represented by Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson, received the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence for their work in flying a human powered ornithopter and helicopter. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
July/August 2015 | WINGS
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ON THE
FLY
renovating. We’ve outgrown the facility.” Shell AeroCentre 2 offers 24,000 square feet of premium passenger lounges, office and shop space, and 43,200 square feet of hangar space. The new FBO was built in collaboration with the Edmonton International Airport (EIA). The airport operator extended a taxiway to tie into AeroCentre 2’s new apron, designed to handle Code C aircraft such as the Boeing 737. “This is an important milestone for Edmonton International Airport and Shell AeroCentre,” said Lyle Witkowicz, operations manager, Americas for Shell Aviation. “Ours is a partnership based on many shared values including safety, supply security and customer service.” Designed to meet Edmonton’s growing economy and expanding charter business in the oil and gas, and mining sectors, AeroCentre 2 offers a 20 passenger VIP lounge for clients and pilots with their own aircraft, an up-scale 150-seat area for air charter passengers and a premier 400-seat, secured passenger lounge for larger groups. “We are excited to have a
new facility to offer to aircraft owners,” Robertson added.
GRASSROOTS AWARDS
NLAF SHINES LIGHT ON TOP WOMEN The Northern Lights Award Foundation (NLAF) has announced the recipients of the 2015 Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Awards. MacGill was the world’s first female aircraft designer and an aviation pioneer, and was pivotal in the design and production of the Hawker Hurricane in Canada during the Second World War. The prestigious awards honour outstanding Canadian women who have made a significant contribution in their field and who continue to lay the groundwork for other women to enter or excel in aviation and aerospace. Pioneer Award – Dawn Bartsch, who has held her commercial license since the 1950s and has completed multiple around-the-world trips, winning bronze
for the 1997 World Air Games long distance race. Flight Operations/Maintenance Award – Judy Cameron, the first female pilot hired by Air Canada at the age of 23, the first Boeing 777 Captain in Canada and, the first woman to graduate from Selkirk College’s Aviation Technology program. Government/Military Award – Sgt. Andreena Clifford, an aerospace control operator for the Royal Canadian Air Force and a veteran of the aerial campaign over Afghanistan. Business Award – Tracy Medve, president of KF Aerospace, current chair of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), and former president of Canadian North Airlines. Education Award – Jill Oakes, an author of more than 100 publications, she is a doctor at the University of Manitoba, teaches aviation geography and helps women earn their pilots license with a donated Cessna 150. Rising Star Award 1 – Claire
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Lemiski, a commercial pilot and active member of the 1st Canadian Chapter of Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation’s Upper Canada Chapter; also a pilot for the de Havilland Employee flying club. Rising Star Award 2 – Erin Grant, a lieutenant in the RCAF Reserves and a Glider Standards Pilot. A successful Seneca Jazz Cadet, currently flies Dash8’s and is working towards her ATPL. NLAF’s mission is to inspire and encourage increased participation of women in aviation, including positioning honourees as role models. “We are proud of this year’s winners who demonstrate the courage and determination to succeed in their careers and in the community,” says Anna Pangrazzi, president and director of sales for NLAF.
N.S. YOUTH SEEKS INTERNATIONAL GLORY Ryan Leedham, a 20-year-old aircraft maintenance student at Nova Scotia
Community College (NSCC) will represent Canada at WorldSkills 2015, in Sao Paolo, Brazil this August. Held every two years, the competition is the largest vocational, education and skills excellence event in the world. The competitors, representing the best of their generation, are selected from skills competitions held in 72 WorldSkills member countries and regions. There are approximately 30 Canadians going up against 1,000 talented youth from around the world. Leedham, will be competing in the aircraft maintenance category. “I heard about the skills competition when I was doing my training at NSCC,” the Brookfield, N.S. native said. “Some of my instructors suggested I look into it.” Leedham already holds a private pilot’s licence, and has managed to combine his passion and skills in what organizers hope will be a medal winning performance. “I am extremely proud of Ryan for his accomplishments and his dedication to training,” said
Todd Lintman, his training instructor at NSCC. “He is going to represent Canada to the best of his ability.”
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
STANLEY JOINS CATHAY PACIFIC Cathay Pacific has appointed Keith Stanley in the newly created role as manager cargo, sales and service for Central Canada. He will be responsible for all aspects of the airline’s freighter operation out of Calgary. U.K.-born Stanley brings almost 40 years of experience in the airline industry having worked for various operations out of New Zealand, the U.K., United Arab Emirates and Canada. He previously held the role of Cargo Business development manager for Calgary International Airport. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific recently launched twiceweekly Calgary/Hong Kong service using the Boeing 747-8F.
WHERE EVERYONE’S A VIP. At Landmark Aviation, we treat everyone who comes through our doors with the same white glove service. Our Fixed Based Operations located in Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ) and Calgary (YYC) offer perks such as pilot lounges, cafés, snooze rooms, executive conference rooms and more. Convenient flight planning, Wi-Fi and secure computers with WSI make preparing for your next flight easy. And if you don’t see what you need – just ask. With a growing network of over 65 FBOs, make Landmark Aviation your destination of choice every time you fly. FBO / MRO / Charter / Aircraft Management
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Setting the Mark
landmarkaviation.com July/August 20154/3/15 11 | WINGS 3:35 PM
ALTERNATE
APPROACH By David Carr |
CSeries the toast of Paris
No additional orders but Bombardier still scored at the Paris Air Show
S
12 WINGS | July/August 2015
Approximately half of these will be added aircraft to accommodate passenger growth. Narrow-body aircraft will continue to lead the pack with more than one-third of production going to low-cost carriers. Colin Bole, senior vice-president of sales and asset management reports “surprising” interest from some low-cost and charter carriers, in addition to legacy and regional airlines. For its part, Bombardier forecasts demand for 12,700 aircraft deliveries in the 60- to 150-seat segment, including 7,000 deliveries of aircraft in the 100- to 150seat range over the next 20 years. “[The] segment, which has not been the focus of aircraft development for at least the past two decades, will witness a major fleet transformation with the entry-intoservice of new clean-sheet aircraft designs,” the airframer said in a statement. Pricing will continue to be a problem with the CSeries; Bombardier cannot afford to match the deals being offered by its larger rivals and continues to bet that superior economics will bridge the financing gap. Beating the brochure will make selling the aircraft a bit easier, Cromer told Reuters. Despite a lack of orders, Paris was a head-turning success for the CSeries and new orders can be expected before the CS100 enters service next year. | W
Despite a lack of orders, Paris was a head-turning success for the CSeries and new orders can be expected.
over 25 years,” Cromer said. The big news, however, was Cromer’s unprecedented “beating the initial brochure” announcement that both the CS100 and CS300 will exceed original targets for fuel burn, payload, range and airfield performance. The aircraft’s maximum range is approximately 648 kilometres more than originally targetted and has a more than 20 per cent fuel burn advantage compared to in-production aircraft, and a greater than 10 per cent advantage compared to re-engined aircraft such as the new single-aisle Airbus and Boeings. Operators will be able to add up to 15 more seats than originally planned. “The CSeries performance is better than advertised. This will provide increased profitability and market access for operators,” Cromer said. The airplane’s community noise level is also below the Federal Aviation Authority’s Stage 4 limit, which should remove the biggest thorn against the CSeries operating out of Toronto’s downtown waterfront airport. Beating the brochure is one thing: can Bombardier now beat expectations, which includes a couple of shaky orders by Republic Airlines and in Russia. Airbus predicts that more than 32,000 100-seat plus aircraft will be delivered by 2034. David Carr is a Wings writer and columnist. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
PHOTO: BOMBARDIER
hould the CSeries’ Paris debut be judged a success or failure? Bombardier did succeed in exciting the crowds at the Paris Air Show with an impressive flying display of the CS300, while a CS100 in the colours of launch customer SWISS, anchored the static display. But while the airframer kicked off the bi-annual air show with an announcement that SWISS had converted 10 of its CS100 orders to the larger CS300, the aircraft departed Paris without a single new order. “With both versions of the new CSeries family of aircraft in our ranks, we can be highly flexible in tailoring capacity to demand on our European routes,” said Harry Hohmeister, chief executive of SWISS. The re-arranged order book also widens the overall gap between the CS300 and the aircraft it will most closely go head-to-head against: the Airbus A319neo, Boeing 737 Max 7 and Embraer E195 E2. According to the U.K.’s Flightglobal Ascend Fleets, the CS300 has outpaced all three competitors combined in firm orders (180 versus 134) and options (96 versus 25), although Airbus and Boeing have eclipsed the CSeries in total orders. Still, at this stage in the airplane’s bumpy development, you look for good news where you can. And Bombardier’s retooled executive team, led by Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, arrived at Le Bourget with a belly full. This year’s Paris Air Show was already being billed as a “benign affair” with fewer aircraft on display, no major product launches or expected eye popping orders that have coloured past shows. Bombardier had already tamped down expectations of any orders in advance of the duo of aircraft making the transAtlantic flight (the CS100 returned to Montreal from Zurich non-stop in just over seven hours), although rumours circulated throughout the show of an order for 30 units. Bombardier’s Paris lift was always going to come from showing up and inserting the CS300 into the flying display after three months of testing. “We are proud to present the first all-new designed, singleaisle aircraft that the industry has seen in
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AT THE
GATE
By Brian Dunn |
The missing link
Connecting Montreal’s airports remains an ongoing challenge
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14 WINGS | July/August 2015
According to current, rather conservative figures, the West Island LRT would generate ridership of 60,000 passengers a day.
The integration and harmonization of the two projects could also result in substantial economies of scale, both in the development phase and during operation. Among others, according to ADM experts, converting the downtown terminal into an intermediate station would reduce the West Island LRT infrastructure costs. Airport accessibility would also be greatly improved, especially for people from the South Shore who would be able to get there without transferring. Over the longer term, such a network would offer opportunities for linking other sectors not yet served by a public transit system. “Frankly, it would be a shame to miss out on such an opportunity,” Cherry said. “If, as a society, we believe in public transportation, in the electrification of transportation, in sustainable and green urbanization, now is the time to prove it.” As the lead on such a project, the Caisse would decide to either go it alone or make it a public/private initiative. If the private sector were involved, engineering firm SNC-Lavalin would likely be interested since it’s part of a consortium building the Champlain Bridge. And Bombardier is probably salivating over the possibility of building all those rail cars. | W
in seven at Toronto’s Pearson. The ADM brief noted it has been studying a shuttle service to downtown since 2002 and has spent more than $40 million on related infrastructure work. The work is important to remain attractive against competitors such as Plattsburgh, N.Y. and Burlington, Vt. Cherry would like to see a service similar to Vancouver’s Canada Line started in 2009 where one in two LRT trains goes to the airport and the other to Surrey. In Montreal’s case, one in two would go to the airport and the other to the West Island, exclusive of service to the South Shore. “By integrating these two projects converging toward downtown, we would create a new urban transit network that would be very much larger than the sum of its two parts,” Cherry said. “Such a network, with a branch to Montréal–Trudeau airport and connection to the metro, would directly link the South Shore to the West Island, passing through downtown Montreal. It could include stops at Nuns’ Island, the Citédu Multimédia, at Lionel-Groulx and Atwater Market, in Lachine, in Dorval, Brian Dunn is a Wings writer and columnist. and so on.
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PHOTO: AÉROPORTS DE MONTRÉAL
ike all large airports, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), which operates Trudeau and Mirabel, is a major contributor to the local economy. Yet ADM feels it’s not adequately served by public transit compared to other major cities. This may change in the future, but not immediately. With the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec pension fund as a partner, the Quebec government has identified two priorities. One is a rail link between the South Shore to downtown Montreal over the new Champlain Bridge expected to be completed in 2018. The other would be a new rail link between downtown and the West Island (one already exists on CN and CP lines) with a spur to Trudeau Airport. In a brief submitted to the Committee on Public Finance’s consultations on Bill 38 to allow the Caisse to carry out infrastructure projects, ADM laid out its case to integrate the two projects on a dedicated track using a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. “LRT makes the most sense, because they’re electric, accelerate and decelerate quickly and they have wide doors to accommodate passengers and their baggage,” said James Cherry, president and CEO of ADM. “The CN and CP lines are mostly used for freight and commuter traffic and would not be suited for our needs of a quick, quiet and efficient service to downtown.” Passenger traffic at Trudeau has grown significantly, from 10 million in 2000 to 15 million last year. It is projected to reach 20 million by 2025 and 25 million in 2033. “According to current, rather conservative figures, the West Island LRT would generate ridership of 60,000 passengers a day, including 10,000 for the airport shuttle service (which would represent between 20-25 per cent of all daily arrivals and compares to 4,000 passengers handled by the 747 bus service). By adding the approximate ridership of the South Shore LRT, we could easily reach a total of 130,000 travellers, without even factoring in the synergy effect of using the same rolling stock for the entire system. There’s major potential,” Cherry said. He also pointed out there is a higher concentration of passengers arriving at Trudeau who travel downtown, approximately one in three, compared to one
GLIDE
PATH
| By Paul Dixon
Too close to home
Mysterious aircraft tragedies can be experienced right here in Canada
PHOTO: PAUL DIXON
T
he disappearance last year of Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370 is still a 24-kt. mystery. Conspiracy theorists have had a field day trying to top each other with increasingly outlandish theories. What we have come to realize is that there is an incredibly large part of this world that we knew virtually nothing about before March 8, 2014 – and over a year later, we still don’t know that much more about it. If someone or something disappears without warning and without leaving a trace, it seems it’s always somewhere far away, which serves to heighten the mystery. Well not always. Sometimes it’s much closer to home than the other side of the planet – much, much closer. On a Tuesday morning in April this year an RCAF Cormorant passed over my house, very low and very slow. I live at the top of Lynn Valley on Vancouver’s North Shore. Helicopters are as common as sparrows around here, but the Cormorant is an infrequent visitor and when it does make an appearance, it’s not good news. I do not require a visual sighting to confirm the Cormorant’s presence, the shaking of the house on its foundation is evidence enough. The Cormorant and a number of other helicopters, were searching for an aircraft that had dropped off the radar less than 10 minutes after departing Vancouver International Airport for Prince George. The SA-226 Metroliner is not in the same category as a B777, but it’s not an insignificant piece of machinery in its own right and there it was, gone without a trace. An intense air search of the ground in the area of its last recorded position was negative. The remains of the aircraft were located the next day by ground teams from North Shore Rescue. The crash site was barely out of sight of downtown Vancouver, 14 kilometres from Georgia and Granville and only seven kilometres from my back door. The crash site lies between Mount Seymour and Grouse Mountain, an area of wilderness park that offers a range of experiences from a simple walk in the woods along graded trails to highly technical climbs on near vertical rock faces. The area is deceptively dangerous and every year WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
the valleys of the North Shore mountains. It’s a lot closer to home than we might want to admit, literally and figuratively, the realization that an aircraft can vanish without an apparent trait. Yearwood was quick to compliment North Shore Rescue as the feet on the ground able to utilize their vast knowledge of the region and extreme capabilities, saying that it could have been days or even weeks before the wreckage may have been spotted from the air. It’s not the first time that that an aircraft has disappeared in these mountains and unfortunately it’s not likely to be the last. On November 23, 1963, a Royal Canadian Navy T-33 crashed at the 4,300-ft. level of Cypress Mountain, the site of the 2010 Olympic Freestyle Skiing competitions. It took three days of intensive searching before the wreckage was located. The engines and other sensitive equipment were removed, but pieces of the shattered airframe and body panels are still strewn across the mountainside. It’s a sobering experience to come upon the debris field as you are making your way to the top of the mountain, standing there taking it all in while at the same time looking out at the panoramic view of Vancouver at your feet. It’s not that far away, yet it really is a world apart. | W
The area is deceptively dangerous and every year North Shore Rescue conducts more than a hundred search missions here. North Shore Rescue conducts more than a hundred search missions, many requiring highly technical rescues. It’s not uncommon for the missing to never be found. The search for the Metroliner was hampered by almost a foot of snow that fell at the end of the first day, a cruel irony after one of the mildest winters on local record that had seen local ski resorts on Grouse, Seymour and Cypress suffer through their worst year ever. The wreckage was located almost 3,000 feet up steep slope underneath the canopy of trees. Transport Canada’s Bill Yearwood had flown over the area and was quoted in the local media as saying the trees were not damaged, there were no scars on the ground and no visible evidence from the air of disrupted terrain. Indications at the time were that the aircraft dropped 5,000 feet in less than a minute and whatever had happened was so sudden, that the pilots had no chance to make any call or declare an emergency. The weather at the time in the region was very unsettled, with warm, moist air pushing in from the Pacific meeting the last of the Arctic air pushing down through the mountains, fuelling the violent thunderstorms that are increasingly common in
Paul Dixon is a Vancouver-based photojournalist. July/August 2015 | WINGS 15
Mike Spina is program manager at Field Aviation
EXPLORING THE QUEST FOR MORE SALUTING OUR TOP 20 UNDER 40 LEADERS
BY MATT NICHOLLS
S
o what exactly makes a great corporate leader? Where does the drive to transform an organization and help it reach new levels of productivity, efficiency and profitability come from? Truly great leaders have a unique ability to handle multiple projects with skill, determination and an inherent grace under pressure that most
people do not possess. Innovative and creative, they have a rare ability to make those around them more efficient, productive and motivated. It’s a rare combination indeed, and once an organization unearths such talent, it usually works hard to ensure superstars have room to develop, grow and flourish. In Wings and Helicopters third annual Top 20 Under 40 report, we highlight some of
PHOTOS: CATS (TOP); AVMAX (MIDDLE)
NAME: JOSHUA (JOSH) CALDER TITLE: MANAGER, FLIGHT COORDINATION, CHARTER AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (CATS) LOCATION: MISSISSAUGA, ONT. Josh Calder, 34, has certainly made the most of his opportunities in his developing aviation career. Since graduating from Georgian College’s aviation management diploma program in 2003, Josh has been a friend, colleague, and mentor to many aviation professionals for more than a decade. From humble beginnings, Josh assisted the Canadian Aviation Expo at the Oshawa Municipal Airport from 2001-2006, and later joined the operations staff at CYLS for his co-op and extended full-time employment. He furthered his aviation experience in 2005 by joining the executive FBO ramp at Skyservice CYYZ, always carrying with him a positive attitude and the aspiration for continuous personal growth. The work/life balance of maintaining a professional career and being an exemplary father – while completing his bachelor of science in technical management with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
these top achievers – men and women who have transformed their organizations in maintenance, business operations, flight operations and more. The 20 individuals featured here were carefully selected by our editorial team following an online contest that ran earlier this spring. Candidates were nominated by colleagues based on their influence to drive change, leadership skills, commitment to clients/
– is a testament to his commitment in providing a fully supported knowledge base to every aspect of his work. This enduring pursuit led him to become the successful flight coordination manager within two different organizations over the past decade. It is here that Josh provided leadership and managerial oversight to his team members and flight personnel alike. Josh’s experience was instrumental when he joined the start-up team at Charter Air Transportation Services Inc. (CATS) in Toronto as the manager of flight coordination. He structured and set up the complete flight coordination department – and continues to provide leadership and oversight to the rapidly growing operation.
NAME: PAUL CAMPBELL TITLE: DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING SERVICES, AVMAX GROUP OF COMPANIES LOCATION: CALGARY, ALTA. Paul Campbell, P.L. (Eng.), 37, was recruited to transform the engineering department at the fast-growing Avmax Group of Companies in 2011 and that’s exactly what he did.
colleagues, and their forward thinking towards the industry as a whole. Featured alphabetically, our Top 20 Under 40 achievers represent the resourcefulness, commitment and dedication organizations are craving in today’s marketplace. On behalf of the nominees, candidates and winners, we thank you for your support and salute the achievements of all who participated.
First on the agenda: a Transport Canada Design Approval Organization (DAO) to reduce project cycle times by eliminating the need for external delegates. He then focused the department for growth in modifications, repairs and part design approvals to support the large fleet of regional aircraft owned or managed by Avmax, and at the same time, reached out to support other local operators with their engineering projects. Paul’s transformative efforts extend beyond Avmax, touching grass-root initiatives. He is active in the community, having recently completed a long-term involvement with the Air Cadets. As a teen, he earned his private pilot’s licence as an air cadet and is passionate about giving back to a program that helped him gain precious leadership skills. Paul’s philosophy of working to develop young leaders also extends to his fast-growing engineering team at Avmax where he has hired new and recent graduates to engineering roles. A proud graduate of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Aeronautical Engineering Technology Program, Paul has 15 years of modification and repair design experience in a variety of key areas. His combination of experience, skill and grass roots involvement perfectly illustrates what this award is all about. July/August 2015 | WINGS 17
Rob Carney, 37, has demonstrated dedication in providing outstanding flight training for emerging pilots for the past 15 years. Rob is the chief flight instructor at the Brampton Flight Centre. Through his tenure at BFC, Rob has actively worked towards the development of professional pilot training. He has played an integral part in the implementation of the BFC IATPL program and the BFC-Sheridan College collaborative degree program. Rob strives to achieve a level of training that goes above and beyond the expected standard. He has been involved in the training of four Webster Memorial Trophy finalists, three of whom achieved first place and one who achieved runner up. As a Class 1 instructor and flight examiner, Rob has transferred knowledge to a wide variety of pilots now in various sectors throughout the aviation industry. Rob is a graduate of the Humber College Flight and Aviation Management program and he recently completed his graduate in Aviation Management from of University of Newcastle. He is currently completing his master’s degree in aviation where he is specializing in human factors and organizational safety. In August, Rob will join Seneca College as an aviation professor.
NAME: MALLORY DELUCE TITLE: PILOT, PORTER AIRLINES LOCATION: TORONTO, ONT.
From a very young age, Mallory Deluce, 27, has had a keen interest in aviation. Mallory's passion for aviation has deep roots that run within the family, including her uncle, Robert Deluce. Robert is the President and CEO of Porter Airlines, and a past executive with several other airlines. Her father and brother are also commercial pilots. At 22, Mallory started working on obtaining her pilot’s license after graduating from university. She obtained her private license at St. Thomas Flight Centre in St. Thomas, Ont. For her multi-engine and instrument ratings, she went to the Professional Flight Centre at Boundary Bay Airport, just south of Vancouver, then came back to St. Thomas Flight Centre to acquire her commercial license and build flying time. In June 2013, Mallory was hired by Air Georgian as a first officer. Mallory’s Air Georgian training began with ground school where she learned about the company operation and about the Beechcraft 1900. After ground school, she trained on a Beech 1900 simulator. When not soaring in the clouds, Mallory can often be found on the ice – playing hockey. She is an accomplished hockey player and has excelled on a number of top levels. She is also a strong advocate for grass roots development, having done numerous media interviews talking about her experiences both as a pilot and a hockey player. Mallory has recently accepted a pilot position with Porter Airlines and will continue her career journey while
continuing to be a positive advocate for the industry at all levels.
NAME: MATHIEU DEMERS TITLE: VICE-PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER, AVIANOR INC. LOCATION: MIRABEL, QUE. Graduating from the Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal as a mechanical engineer in May 2005, Mathieu Demers, 31, joined Pratt & Whitney Canada as a quality engineer on the PW300 engine certification program where he developed expertise in statistical and manufacturing processes. Mathieu continued his career as an engineer in 3D design and modelling at the automotive group of Dassault Systems in Montreal. Moving back to aerospace, he was then selected to lead a new design program for the cabin interiors of the Falcon 7X and 900 business aircraft from Dassault Aviation. Mathieu joined Avianor in July 2010 as a project engineer and quickly rose to lead the growing engineering department as well as working more closely with company ownership. He has taken on the positions of engineering director, project management director and special projects director of manufacturing operations and maintenance. In June 2014, he was promoted to vice-president and general manager, a position created by the owners to allow them more time to focus on business development. Since that time, he has surrounded himself with a young team of
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PHOTOS: BRAMPTON FLIGHT CENTRE (LEFT); AIR GEORGIAN (MIDDLE); AVIANOR (RIGHT)
NAME: ROBERT CARNEY TITLE: CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, BRAMPTON FLIGHT CENTRE LOCATION: CALEDON, ONT.
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NAME: JAY DILLEY TITLE: PRESIDENT, HAWKAIR LOCATION: TERRANCE, B.C. As a truly authentic and inspiring leader, Jay Dilley, 36, continually pushes the boundaries of success. In 2013, Jay was named president of Hawkair. He is a member of the Young President’s Organization, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst Designation, a master of science in management, honours bachelor of commerce and a diploma in aviation studies. An ardent believer of continuing professional development, Jay has earned certificates in Safety Management, Integrated Management Systems, Auditing, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and Financial Modelling. He has also taught courses for Aurora College and Athabasca University. A board member of the Northern Air Transport Association since 2010, Jay is a committed member of the aviation
community. Prior to Hawkair, Jay was vice-president of business services for Summit Air, and had spent eight years in Yellowknife where, among other career highlights, he integrated two charter companies ahead of schedule. Most recently, he launched the airline industry’s first Women in Leadership Executive Development Program to create a culture of awareness, inclusiveness and opportunity for women in aviation. Through his commitment to transparency and communications, Jay is consciously raising the leadership of those around him – he never tires of making those around him better.
NAME: SUNDEEP DHUNNA TITLE: SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER, AVERSAN INC. LOCATION: MISSISSAUGA, ONT. Dedicated, meticulous, accomplished, invaluable. All of these words can be used to describe Sundeep Dhunna, P.Eng., 34, a talented senior engineer at
Aversan. These words also describe the ideal aerospace engineer, and in Sundeep’s case, he certainly lives up to the “ideal” part of the description. Co-workers often get excited when working with Sundeep on a project and for good reason. They describe him as a type “A” personality who is passionate, innovative, and motivated to do whatever it takes to see a project through to its end, always doing it right. Sundeep is also known for adhering to, and advocating for, the needs of his team, having an open ear, and setting a good example for his junior staff. Junior engineers often refer to Sundeep as “special forces” – the person you bring in to solve a unique issue in the most efficient and effective way possible. Sundeep started at Aversan 10 years ago as a fledgling junior engineer, eager to show off his talent and potential. His drive and motivation to produce quality work allowed him to advance his career at an exceptional rate, rising quickly to a senior software engineer. In his time with Aversan, Sundeep has achieved a number of significant accomplishments such as designing the COMAC C919 operational software for the cockpit control system – a first for Aversan at the time.
PHOTOS: HAWKAIR (LEFT); AVERSAN (MIDDLE)
dynamic managers to support the growth of the company and its ambitious goals.
PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING
JOSH CALDER
MANAGER OF FLIGHT COORDINATION CATS INC. WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK JOSH FOR HIS DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS JOSH!
CHARTER AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC.
1-855-FLYCATS | FLYCATS.CA
20 WINGS | July/August 2015
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NAME: CHRISTA GLOVER TITLE: CHIEF PILOT, UNIVERSAL HELICOPTERS LOCATION: GOOSE BAY, N.L. Christa Glover, 31, is the chief pilot of Universal Helicopters Newfoundland and Labrador LP, owned and operated by the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies. UHNL is one of Canada’s oldest helicopter companies operating a fleet of 19 light and intermediate helicopters in some of Canada’s most challenging environments. Christa grew up in a small Coastal Labrador town (Pinsents Arm) of 75 people and had a passion for aviation since a very young age. She started her career 10 years ago with Universal Helicopters and continues to pursue her love for aviation with the company, earning respect and a strong working relationship with both her colleagues at UHNL and its clients. Her flying career has taken her to all
parts of Newfoundland and Labrador and north of 60, into Canada’s High Arctic. She has also honed her skills doing her time in the bush, conducting long line drill moves, wildlife capture and forest fire suppression. Now, as chief pilot and a senior aviation manager – and being an aboriginal as well – she has become a role model for others in the industry and those contemplating an aviation career. At a young age and being the only female pilot in the company, this environment may be intimidating to some, but Christa is first to acknowledge that she has an experienced support team of aviation professionals, maintenance and flight crew who support her 100 per cent.
NAME: CAREL ISSID TITLE: LEGAL COUNSEL, ELEMENT AVIATION FINANCE LOCATION: MONTREAL, QUE. A determined, motivated professional with a deep thirst for knowledge and seeking the truth. That’s a great way to describe Carel Issid, 35, legal counsel for
the aviation finance division of Element Financial Corporation (EFC). Carel possesses outstanding interpersonal skills and has a great team ethic, which helps her handle multiple tasks under pressure, in a context of tight deadlines and constantly shifting priorities. As she will attest to, a lawyer or legal counsel must, in addition to being an advisor who provides legal expertise, take on a strategic role and excel in developing pragmatic solutions. Carel thrives in her current work environment where entrepreneurial spirit, originality and audacity are encouraged and supported by the company’s senior leadership team. Carel has a multitude of roles at EFC including: • Acting as main counsel with respect to aircraft finance (commercial loans and equipment leasing agreements, as well as the purchase and sale of large-ticket equipment, syndications and portfolio acquisitions). • Leading and managing a variety of fixed wing and rotary wing commercial and business aviation transactions originated by the Element Aviation Finance vertical. • Identifying potential risk areas arising from the complex and diverse financing arrangements (which often involve cross-border components) extended by the company and issue recommendations in order to minimize the same. It’s a large portfolio to be sure, but Carel still finds room to donate her time to speak at various events including the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Legal Forum, and to appear as a panellist in the “Winter is Coming: Advanced Roundtable on Cross-Border and Canadian Finance Issues.” Carel was a finalist in the category “Lawyer of the Year” (in house practice), Young Bar Association of Montreal “Leaders of Tomorrow” Gala in 2012 and continues to generate accolades from clients and staff for her dedication, hard work and innovation.
NAME: BHARTVEER JASWAL TITLE: AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, AVMAX GROUP OF COMPANIES LOCATION: RICHMOND, B.C. For 33-year-old Bhartveer Jaswal, having a career in aviation is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Bhartveer started his career with the Langley Museum of Flight and worked his 22 WINGS | July/August 2015
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PHOTOS: UNIVERSAL HELICOPTERS (LEFT); ELEMENT AVIATION FINANCE (MIDDLE); AVMAX (RIGHT)
Dependable and adaptable, Sundeep is the kind of employee you can always count on to get the job done right.
way up into a variety of key supervisory and management roles in aircraft maintenance. At a very early age, he given the responsibility to set up AMO for an airline. Over the past few years, he has improved and streamlined maintenance processes for several companies. A self-learner who motivates and inspires others in being the best they can be in the industry, Bhartveer takes initiative in carrying out maintenance tasks efficiently and with the highest standards of quality. Bhartveer has honed his craft by gaining experience in aircraft maintenance on a number of aircraft including the Cessna 172, King Air, Beech 1900s, Dash 8 and Q400. With Avmax Aviation Services in Vancouver, he caters to the maintenance needs of various customers with their aircraft maintenance requirements. Bhartveer’s dedicated work habits and commitment to excellence make him a key part of the Avmax team – and a worthy recipient for this honour.
NAME: DIANA KELLY TITLE: MANAGER, ACC OPERATIONS, WINNIPEG INFORMATION REGION, NAV CANADA LOCATION: WINNIPEG, MAN.
pilots to discuss safety issues and to break down barriers – a collaborative approach that has been identified as a national best practice. • She is an active member of NAV CANADA’s national Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Working Group, overseeing implementation of more efficient air routes and ascent profiles for the company’s airline customers across the country. Diana studied education at the University of Alberta (with a minor in German), before becoming a terminal controller and later enroute controller at NAV CANADA’s Winnipeg Area Control Centre. In 2008, she became a unit procedures specialist, and soon after was named shift manager – the youngest at the time and the first female shift manager at the ACC. She has continued her training to complement her various ATC roles and hone her management skills at NAV CANADA. Diana is known and respected for her hard work, personal initiative, drive and strong communication skills. She is a next-generation leader at NAV CANADA who will shape the company’s future in the years to come.
PHOTOS: NAV CANADA (LEFT); LEVAERO AVIATION (MIDDLE); FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY (RIGHT)
NAME: STAN KULIAVAS TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, At age 36, Diana LEVAERO AVIATION Kelly has risen to a LOCATION: TORONTO, ONT.
position of major responsibility within NAV CANADA. As manager of ACC Operations at the Winnipeg Flight Information Region, Diana works closely with customers and bargaining agents, and leads nearly 200 professionals that include shift managers, air traffic controllers, and other operational specialists who provide services in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario. Diana was appointed to her current role in April 2014. She is one of the first women (and among the youngest) ever to hold this leadership position at NAV CANADA, leading the way for other women in a traditionally male-dominated field. Diana’s outstanding leadership abilities, work ethic and initiative come shining through in a number of ways: • As manager of ATC Operational Requirements from 2012-14, she led the transition from flight-data strips to a paperless environment within high-level specialties and at Flight Service Stations across the region. • Her team developed highly successful “safety bear pit” sessions that bring together frontline operational staff and WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
Stan Kuliavas, 35, has always been passionate about aviation . . . so much so, in fact, that he was legally able to fly airplanes before he was legally able to drive a car. Stan is the vice president of sales and business development for Levaero Aviation in Toronto, overseeing the planning and execution of the growth strategy of the company. A licensed pilot and graduate of EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, Stan has nearly a decade of aviation experience, and OEM product involvement. He most recently spent six years as a board member of the St. Michael’s Young Leaders group, raising funds and awareness for St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and currently volunteers with various other charitable organizations. Stan has also sponsored and supported various grassroots efforts such as Careers in Aviation Expos throughout Canada to help inspire both students and adults alike looking to enter the field of aviation. He has also helped with the annual Girls Fly Too event recognizing women in aviation
and inspiring girls and women of all ages to explore the various fields of the aviation industry. In addition, Stan has taken part in a relief mission with colleague John Tory, president and CEO of Private Air, to Attawapiskat, First Nation when the reserve was declared a state of emergency in December 2011 for poor living conditions. They co-led a relief trip to Attawapiskat with the help of Global Medic and flew a PC-12 up to the reserve to deliver 100 children’s winter coats and emergency relief. Stan was one of the driving forces behind the recent rebranding of Pilatus Centre Canada into Levaero Aviation, a company with almost 20 years experience in the aviation industry. Stan has always been passionate about the aviation industry and continues to find ways to discover ways to innovate, lead and find new strategic ways to grow both Levaero Aviation and help develop and grow grass routes aviation initiatives.
NAME: JESSE MEYER TITLE: ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL, FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY LOCATION: FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA. Since joining the Fort McMurray Airport Authority in 2012, Jesse Meyer, 30, led the rebranding of the airport, significantly expanded the food and retail options in the new terminal, and lobbied airlines for additional direct air service to Fort McMurray, amongst other accomplishments. Jesse is the associate vice-president, commercial for YMM, working in a dynamic, creative and fast-paced environment at Canada’s fastest growing airport. He has a broad senior portfolio including promoting the retention and growth of air service, business development, and corporate communications. This calls for the ability to build strong relationships with airline and commercial partners, local and provincial tourism organizations and business stakeholders. It’s an accomplishment that Jesse has achieved with tremendous success. Jesse has also become involved in tourism in the Fort McMurray region. He sits on the Board of the Directors for Fort McMurray Tourism, and is involved with media, communications, and promotions for the Western Canada Summer Games 2015 Wood Buffalo. He also sits on the Marketing & Communications Committee July/August 2015 | WINGS 23
NAME: HEATHER MCGONIGAL TITLE: DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, FIXED/ROTARY WING, TRANSWEST AIR LOCATION: SASKATOON, SASK. At 38, Heather McGonigal is Transwest Air’s director of flight operations, a training captain, and SAAB 340 line captain. Heather has always had a strong interest in aviation. In her high school years, her attainment of her PPL was financially assisted by a scholarship that she was awarded by the Ninety-Nines Inc. and also by working as a swimming pool lifeguard. She continued this work while completing a bachelor of arts degree and worked towards her CPL and Instructor Rating. Heather accepted a job at Morgan Air in Calgary and was soon flying charters and teaching multi-IFR. She became chief flying instructor, and in May of 2000, accepted a Jetstream first officer position at Air Sask in Saskatoon. Shortly after she joined the team, Air Sask and Athabaska Airways merged to form Transwest Air in September 2000. Heather was upgraded to a Jetstream captain and a training pilot and was promoted to the SAAB 340 four years later. She was further appointed to senior management positions, which she has now held for several years. Heather’s ability to inspire loyalty and to lead others as part of a team approach to the organization’s operations is perhaps best illustrated in the development of Transwest Air’s SMS program. Under Heather’s leadership, Transwest was one of the first operators in its category grouping to develop and implement a viable SMS. Heather takes a particular interest in mentoring young women who are interested in an aviation career. She also teaches Canadian Aviation Regulation classes at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Commercial Pilot Program in Saskatoon. Heather is first vice-chair on the ATAC 24 WINGS | July/August 2015
board of directors and is expected to become chair in November of this year. She would be the youngest chair and only the third woman to do so in the 80-year history of the association. Heather is an excellent ambassador of Canada’s air transport industry and a strong role model for aviator’s everywhere.
NAME: CURTIS NADON TITLE: CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERS LOCATION: CALGARY, ALTA. At 35, Curtis Nadon is certainly well accomplished. He currently holds the position of chief flight instructor (CFI) at Mountain View Helicopters (MVH) at Springbank Airport in Calgary. Curtis holds a forest technician diploma, Commercial Helicopter Licence with a Class 1 Instructor Rating and is a pilot examiner and approved check pilot. Curtis’ Forest Technician education steered him towards a seasonal job as a fire ranger for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario. As a fire ranger, he spent countless hours flying to and from fires in Bell 205’s – which sparked his initial interest in aviation. At 23, he decided to purse a career as a helicopter pilot. Considerable industry research led Curtis to relocate from his home in Newmarket, Ont. to Calgary to attend MVH Flight School. After completing his initial training, Curtis was hired by MVH to fly tours at the Horseshoe Canyon in Drumheller, Alta. After getting his start flying tours, Curtis’ flying career took off – literally. He landed a job in northern Alberta flying the R44 Helicopter for Gemini Helicopters, mainly in the oil patch. After a couple years, an instructor position became available at MVH. Curtis applied for and accepted the position, and was trained as a Class 4 Instructor. He achieved his Class 1 Instructor Rating in 2008 and in 2013, took over as chief flight instructor. Curtis did not stop flying operationally when he began his flight training. MVH encourages instructors to work with other companies in the summer to build their experience. Curtis accepted the challenge and now holds type ratings on a wide variety of helicopters. At MVH Curtis, works with a team of five flight instructors to train the industry’s future helicopter pilots. His good natured, patient personality combined with a strong
work ethic have made him an invaluable asset to MVH . . . and the industry.
NAME: FRANK NEUBAUER TITLE: SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR, AIR POLICY DIRECTORATE, TRANSPORT CANADA LOCATION: OTTAWA, ONT. Frank Neubauer, 37, works in an environment characterized by high geopolitical stakes and significant implications for the Canadian aviation sector and the economy in general. As a senior policy advisor – a role he has had since 2009 – Frank has consistently demonstrated a superb client service attitude, excellent judgment in his advice to senior officials and ministers as well as great leadership and initiative. Frank is an outstanding aviation professional who manages complex international files directly affecting the viability of the Canadian air industry. He was instrumental in conducting the multi-sector consultations that led to the development of Canada’s international air policy (called the Blue Sky policy). Frank has worked closely with Canadian aviation industry associations in a number of capacities: • Managing Canada’s participation in the Canada-European Union (EU) Joint Committee, a bilateral consultative body created under the comprehensive Canada-EU Air Transport Agreement. • He is a lead technical advisor to Canada’s chief air negotiator for the negotiation of air transport treaties with countries around the world. • He has been a key advisor to federal government negotiators regarding some aviation matters in the context of international trade negotiations such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement • He also leads the implementation of the Canada-United States Open Skies Agreement and discussions on civil aviation matters with the Government of China Frank has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to his team, his department and the Canadian aviation sector. He proactively engages with stakeholders from Canadian airports and international carriers and is highly regarded for his expertise.
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PHOTOS: TRANWEST AIR (LEFT); MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERS (MIDDLE); TRANSPORT CANADA (RIGHT)
of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA). Jesse holds a master’s of business administration in airport Mmanagement from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as a bachelor of commerce in marketing from the University of Alberta. Before joining the Fort McMurray Airport Authority, he held positions at the Vancouver Airport Authority, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Vancouver General Hospital.
PHOTOS: FIELD AVIATION (LEFT); EMOND HARNDEN LLP (MIDDLE)
NAME: MIKE SPINA TITLE: PROGRAM MANAGER, FIELD AVIATION LOCATION: MISSISSAUGA, ONT. From an early age, Mike Spina, 34, decided to pursue a career in aviation. His passion for flying and aircraft would guide his education and eventually lead him into a career in the aviation industry. Mike graduated from Georgian College in Barrie, Ont. in 2002, having successfully completed Georgian’s aviation management program. Upon graduation, he entered the commercial airline sector and over the course of the next five years, held various operational management roles with Air Transat, Royal Airlines and Jetsgo. Mike acquired valuable operational, technical and commercial experience throughout this phase of his career and, after taking on ever-increasing management responsibilities, Mike decided it was time for a change in direction and sought interesting opportunities that would allow him to further develop his professional skills. In 2005, at the age of 24, Mike joined Field Aviation, a company well known for its capabilities in the modification of aircraft for special mission applications. Mike joined the program management department at Field Aviation, where he continued to further develop his expertise and studied program management. In his role as program manager at Field Aviation, Mike heads a team of skilled professionals involved in the design, fabrication, integration, testing and certification of modifications to aircraft that will configure them as highly sophisticated platforms operating in roles such as border patrol, maritime surveillance and search and rescue (SAR). Mike has successfully managed a number of high profile and complex aircraft programs for Field Aviation in recent years, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Icelandic Coast Guard, Swedish Coast Guard, Australian Coast Watch and most recently, Boeing’s new Maritime Surveillance Aircraft. Integral to the overall success of Field Aviation is the contribution of talented aviation professionals including Mike.
NAME: AMANDA SARGINSON TITLE: ASSOCIATE, EMOND HARNDEN, LLP LOCATION: OTTAWA, ONT. Amanda Sarginson, 37, began her career in aviation 10 years ago as the sole human resources manager at First Air in June 2005. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
Amanda now practices law with Emond Harnden LLP and represents more than 30 aviation clients across the country. As a member of the First Air team, Amanda never shied away from a challenge, was the chief spokesperson for negotiations with the dispatch group and supported the negotiation teams for the pilots, maintenance employees, flight attendants and ticket and cargo
agents. She played an active role in the grievance and arbitration process for all of the unionized groups. Ever seeking a challenge, Amanda made the difficult decision to leave First Air to conquer her next mission, law school. Excelling in this endeavour as well, she graduated on the Dean’s Honour List from the University of Ottawa in 2011. During law school, Amanda continued to work for First Air and joined Emond Harnden LLP as a student after her first year to deepen her understanding of the legal environment.
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NAME: JOHN TORY TITLE: PRESIDENT/CEO, PRIVATE AIR LOCATION: TORONTO, ONT. Since entering the aviation industry more than 10 years ago, John Tory, 35, has had a mindset of continuous improvement. From the early stages of John’s career, the Pilatus PC-12 has played a key role in his development, and it remains a mainstay of his career as Toronto’s Private Air grows under his leadership. Private Air is a division of Levaero Canada, formerly, Pilatus Centre Canada.
A natural leader, John’s stewardship at the helm of Private Air involved guiding the company through the recent recession, and positioning the business for growth in its wake. A customer-oriented executive with a keen awareness of for strategic operations, John’s ability to apply big-picture strategic and political elements growth strategy and day-to-day operations helps give Private Air operational flexibility through customized client solutions. John’s constant drive for improvement, growth and expanded capability have put Private Air on a growth trajectory across several areas of focus. John maintains his commercial pilot rating and is active and proficient on the Pilatus PC-12. John is a monocular pilot, having lost the sight in his left eye at the age of 14. And although his main role is president and CEO, he still flies in the line once or twice a month. He is also an active demonstration and training pilot. He has thousands of hours of flying time on the Pilatus PC-12 and has trained PC12 pilots in a variety of roles including private, commercial, medevac and law enforcement. In 2011, John was part of a relief mission with colleague Stan Kuliavas, vicepresident of sales and business development for Levaero Aviation. The relief mission was organized when Attawapiskat, First Nation reserve was declared a state of emergency for poor living conditions. John flew a Pilatus PC-12 used for the mission onto a 3,500-foot gravel runway covered in ice and snow. John is an active volunteer in both the industry and his community.
NAME: PHIL WOOD TITLE: DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE, BAILEY HELICOPTERS INC. LOCATION: FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. Phil Wood, 38, is a licenced aircraft maintenance engineer at Bailey Helicopters Ltd. in Fort St. John, B.C. who grew up as a local farm kid 13 miles north of town. Wood graduated from Northern Lights College AME program in 1998, and began his apprenticeship with Northern Mountain Helicopters (NMH), then onto Airborne Energy Solutions and Vancouver Island Helicopters (VIH) for the long term of 10 years. Phil began his next career endeavor with Bailey Helicopters in 2012 starting as an engineer, moving into the position of the quality assurance manager and was then promoted to the position of director of maintenance. Building a team of hardworking, experienced and outgoing co-workers, Phil is a respected leader who has a positive attitude, exceptional work ethic and a good sense of humor to help conquer adversity. All of Phil’s hard work, dedication and commitment have opened many more doors of opportunity along the way. Driving results forward, Phil is a confident, trustworthy leader committed to excellence and efficiency. Bailey Helicopters has a very bright future with Phil and his maintenance team leading the way.
Congratulations to Seneca Faculty Rob Carney. After being nominated by the Brampton Flight Centre, where he served as Chief Flight Instructor, Rob was recognized by Wings Magazine as one of the Top 20 under 40 in Canadian aviation.
26 WINGS | July/August 2015
Seneca welcomes Rob as a new flight line professor with the School of Aviation. Congratulations to all Top 20 under 40 recipients. For more information about Seneca’s aviation programs, visit: senecacollege.ca/aviation
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PHOTOS: PRIVATE AIR (LEFT); BAILEY HELICOPTERS INC. (RIGHT)
Amanda is now an associate with Emond Harnden LLP and provides employee and labour relations advice. Her practice includes assisting employers in hiring and terminating employees, drafting policy manuals, defending human rights applications, conducting investigations and representing the employer at mediation, arbitration and collective bargaining. She has also appeared before a Coroner’s Inquest, Human Rights Tribunal/Commission both federally and provincially, Small Claims Court, and the Superior Court. Amanda is passionate about educating those in the industry. Over the past four years, she has provided numerous practical workshops to operators attending the annual conferences for HAC, NATA and ATAC.
Levaero Aviation president/CEO Rob Arnone and executive vice president and COO Steve Davey, are set for a new challenge.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE T
LEVAERO AVIATION IS BORN WITH ITS DIVERSE PRODUCT OFFERINGS AND SERVICES
BY MATT NICHOLLS
PHOTO: LEVAREO AVIATION
here comes a time in the development of any successful operation where future opportunities may be curtailed by the blueprints of the past – when a corporate brand just doesn’t accurately depict the vast diversity of a growing product offering or properly illustrate the company’s
potential. This being the case, the only logical thing for that company to do is undertake a redefining moment – a transformation that clearly defines the new corporate structure, a pathway to future growth and prosperity. It’s one of the main reasons savvy corporate marketing specialists are paid handsomely to help growing businesses understand and identify what they are and carefully guide them through the, at times, uncomfortable rebranding process. Steve Davey, executive vice president and COO of Levaero Aviation, can certainly identify with this process. Davey’s company Pilatus Centre Canada – which he co-owns with president/CEO Rob Arnone – has recently been transformed into Levaero Aviation, bringing together growing aviation products and services. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
Founded in 1997, Thunder Bay, Ont.-based Pilatus Centre Canada established itself as one the country’s iconic aerospace companies. Specializing in the servicing and refurbishing of the versatile PC-12 aircraft, the company was purchased by Arnone and Davey nine years ago. They have worked tirelessly to develop the business into the multi-dimensional offering it is today. A rebrand was an obvious next step. Levaero Aviation – the name has French and Latin influences meaning to “rise and lift up” – is now the largest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in northern Ontario. With additional sales offices in Toronto and a service centre in Kelowna, B.C., the company provides national support to an extensive support base to the more than 70 operators of PC-12 aircraft across Canada, operating close to 100 aircraft. Levaero Aviation employs nearly 100 people across the country, and has strong ties with Thunder Bay’s Confederation College. Many of the company’s employees have graduated from the college and it remains an important pipeline for graduates of all aviation July/August 2015 | WINGS 27
disciplines. Specializing in repair services for more than two decades, Levaero Aviation customers have grown accustomed to top-notch customer service and client experiences under the Pilatus Centre Canada name. Levaero Aviation also includes Toronto-based charter and aircraft management firm Private Air and Aerigo Solutions. The company offers clients a wide variety of services including MRO/ aircraft refurbishing and completion, aircraft management, sales and charters, training, financing/leasing brokerage, aircraft appraisal and much more. It’s a comprehensive array of aviation services, that wasn’t properly conveyed with its old corporate identity. Of course while this indeed may be the case, Davey notes that taking the plunge to change an iconic Canadian brand was anything but easy. “When we were first taking about the concept of a rebrand, you almost take it as a personal insult,” Davey said. “You had to ask, ‘Why would we do that, we are doing a good job. Why do you want to fix something that is not broken?’ But when you sit down and take some input from people on the outside, the agencies we worked with and our customers, you come to the conclusion that, yes, we are doing the right thing. It does make sense. This is the logical next step for us, because we are already doing more things than we were doing before. This clearly identifies the new direction we are going in.” Like Davey, Arnone had his own reservations about the change, which took roughly 18 months to complete. But the new direction more aptly captures the spirit and future prospects of the growing organization – and change, though often scary a times, is necessary. The process has turned out to be quite a “rush” according to Arnone. “It’s an exhilaration when you develop growth. That’s what we did this for,” he said. “We love the challenge, we love being able to fulfill our goals and this is just one of them. In terms of Pilatus Centre
28 WINGS | July/August 2015
Canada, that has been a stand-alone for us and the PC-12 is what it is – a great product and this element of our business will continue to prosper. The advent of the jet (the new PC-24 which had its first flight on May 11) is another growth opportunity. If you look at it from a divisional standpoint, it will still remain as a core piece of our business while operating as a key flag of Levaero for sure. But it’s the other products – dealing with other aircraft on the maintenance and refurbishing side, the acquisitions and sales side – these are areas of development that we are going to see a lot more of.” The successful transformation to Levaero Aviation from Pilatus Centre Canada would not have been possible without the development of a solid foundation within the aviation community – one based on excellent customer service and a varied product offering, notes Stan Kuliavas, vice-president of sales and business development. The company’s commitment to service excellence on the versatile PC-12 aircraft has helped ensure a smooth transition in other areas of the business was possible. “Without the foundation of the past 20 years, we couldn’t go into the direction that we wanted to go into moving forward,” Kuliavas said. “Now, we can take those extra pieces in various areas like aircraft acquisition and sales, aircraft maintenance, special mission projects, unique maintenance, and the PC-12 Life Extension Program, which no one else in the world does. It’s a unique set of expertise that our engineers in Thunder Bay have – they do things that no one else in the world does.” The development of the PC-24 will provide future growth opportunities for Levaero Aviation, as will the continued implementation of avionics, complicated refurbishments and the development of new STC’s for the PC-12. A recent example of the company’s prowess in STC development was the FAA STC it received on May 14 in association with Northeast Engineering & Development for the
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PC-12 Enhanced Vision System. It is one of a growing number of STC’s that Levaero has developed in the past few months, an area Davey is keen to grow. Continuing the strong focus on the PC-12 Life Extension Program (LEP) is another key focus. The two-part life extension program extends the hourly life of an aircraft more than two-and-a-half times its original 20,000 hours. The first part of the original design life of the PC-12 is 20,000 hours or 27,000 landings. It is the first major teardown inspection in the life of these aircraft, and engineers are looking for corrosion and wear and tear to doors and frames, flight control systems, and wiring, among other issues. If required, the engine and prop will be sent to approved maintenance organizations for repair or overhaul. “We remove the interior, floors, windows, landing gear, engine, wings, tail and flight controls,” Davey said. “After cleaning out the debris and corrosion protection materials, we spend at least four weeks carrying out in-depth visual and NDT (nondestructive testing) inspections.” The second part of the inspection is due at 25,000 hours or 30,000 landings. LEP2 consists of supplemental structural inspections as defined in the PC-12 maintenance manual. These inspections are repeated at various intervals until the aircraft reaches retirement at 50,000 hours or 60,000 landings. With the LEP program, older aircraft feel like new again. “This certainly adds value to our whole operation,” Davey said. “The process removes 20,000 hours of wear and tear, and when the plane comes out, it is tight, it flies like new.” Innovation in maintenance coupled with an educated, balanced and responsible assessment of future growth opportunities is bound to help Levaero Aviation in terms of its future development, but as Davey notes, growth is not without its challenges. For example, space limitations at the Thunder Bay site is an issue, but the company is reticent to
spend impulsively if it doesn’t have to. “In Thunder Bay, we have a space limitation with our existing facility but at the same time, I suppose we could just go spend a couple of million and build another hangar,” he said. “But we have seen so many people do that over the years and we are not ready for it. We are very cautious about our growth.” Finding top talent and keeping the ones Levaero Aviation has is also a challenge. “There are fewer and fewer people getting in to the trade, all trades for that matter, and obviously, aircraft maintenance is critical to our business,” Davey said. “We do have plenty of support and Confederation College provides most of our maintenance staff. We really want to see that program succeed.” Another plus for Levaero is the versatility and durability of the product it sells and maintains. The PC-12 is a proven winner in the Canadian environment, able to take on a variety of missions for a wide array of operators working in often challenging conditions. It is essentially unaffected by market fluctuations, Davey said. “That airplane does well when the market is doing poorly and it does well when the market is strong. We have seen that over the years when cycles change. The PC-12 often thrives in a bad economy because it is such an efficient airplane” With its rebranding now firmly in place, what does the future hold for Levaero Aviation? And how has the new look been received? In Arnone’s words, the future is looking very bright – and customers and employees couldn’t be happier. “The response has been very positive, from both employees and customers,” Arnone said. “They understand the dynamics for the change, they like the name and understand where we are headed. Mergers and acquisitions is one area where we have identified as a growth plan and we are actively in discussions to enhance our business in a number of areas. It is a very exciting time for Levaero Aviation” | W
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Nominations can be made at any time throughout the year, prior to the deadline of September 14th, 2015 For entry requirements contact: Jane Abramson, Founder & National Administrator Tel: 450-458-3164 Fax: 450-458-5245 Email: janeabramson@videotron.ca
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July/August 2015 | WINGS 29
WILL LIGHT
STRIKE TWICE? KF AEROSPACE TAKES A NEW ROUTE
BY DAVID CARR 30 WINGS | July/August 2015
WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
KF Aerospace is the largest private sector company in Kelowna and a source of civic pride.
TNING PHOTO: KF AEROSPACE
?I
n the mid-1990s, the loss of a contract to deliver freight for Canada Post and its Purolator courier subsidiary triggered a company-wide "re-think" at Kelowna Flightcraft. New directions were needed, and a strategy was devised to plug a hole that accounted for over 75 per cent of its revenue. “It was about 1995 that I really had to take a hard look and say, ‘what is it now that Kelowna Flightcraft is going to do,’ ”Barry Lapointe, president WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
and co-founder would later tell Wings. The answer was a diversification strategy that enlarged Flightcraft’s footprint, including a presence in third-party heavy maintenance, military flight training, aircraft leasing and cargo. Fast forward to 2015, and Kelowna Flightcraft is again contemplating a future without another Canada Post/Purolator contract, but with a new name, KF Aerospace, and a more confident outlook.
“It was a very large contract for KF Aerospace, that we didn’t want to see go away,” insists Bryan Akerstream, director of business development. “But we are very well balanced now, so it hurt less than it otherwise would.” KF had already seen the writing on the wall when the post office released the request for proposals (RFP). The contract was not there for KF to win despite a 99 per cent reliability rate. The company opened parallel tracks and bid July/August 2015 | WINGS 31
for the contract while searching for new business opportunities. “No matter which avenue you arrive at, at KF Aerospace, when you contract with us you are getting the full meal deal,” Akerstream points out. “When pursuing MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), we have a fleet of DC-10s and 727s, so we know what it means to have well-maintained aircraft with higher
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KF Aerospace sees great potential for YYZ to be Canada’s JFK – and one of the critical hubs for the movement of cargo.
local company without a very large footprint. We are a very large company spread out across Canada with our aircraft flying globally. We figured keeping that regional focus was not doing us any good.” KF is the largest private sector company in Kelowna and a source of civic pride. Was there any resistance to taking the Kelowna out of the brand? “More than anything, what this has done is brought recognition to Kelowna because it was a fairly large effort and campaign to rebrand,” Akerstream says. “It brought an understanding to the local population of how big we really are, and what our scope of operation is. If anything it has improved the sense of pride the people of Kelowna can feel with respect to having KF Aerospace raised in their background.” On May 30, a freshly painted KF Aerospace DC-10 roared out of Toronto’s Pearson International Airport en route to Brussels via Moncton. It was the first of four weekly cargo flights to the Euro-capital, launching “Kelowna’s” return to domestic and international air cargo services, adding an unprecedented amount of freighter space to Canada’s thin air cargo market, overnight. “Canada is a bit of a unique beast in the sense that there is not a lot of competition. A lot of companies have found unique ways to get their freight from here to Europe or Asia. We are offering a new product that changes that dynamic,” Akerstream says. “We’ve gone into this with our eyes wide open.” Indeed. An internal memo obtained by the Hamilton Spectator outlines: “Unlike our previous contracts with (Purolator and Canada Post), we have no single customer, no guarantee of volumes and no guaranteed revenue.” The new focus on international cargo has meant a shift to Toronto from neighbouring Hamilton where Kelowna Flightcraft, like WestJet on the passenger side, was one of the modern-day pioneers pulling the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport out of Pearson’s shadow, operating freight service since 1987, and using the airport for line maintenance. “We’ve lost our single source of revenue and cargo, and now the majority of the customers we want to fly for are based in Toronto,” Grant Stevens, KF’s director of human resources told the Spectator. “Now we’re trying to break into a new market, so we have to be in Toronto.” Hamilton will continue as a third-party, heavy maintenance base. KF will operate out of GTA Aviation’s world cargo and ground handling facility to Pearson. GTA, which opened in 2013, wants WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
PHOTOS: KF AEROSPACE
reliability. When we do military pilot training, we understand what it takes to train pilots and why you need highly training pilots because we operate aircraft, too. And when we want to go flying cargo somewhere, we are also a maintenance company with a significant record of exceptional maintenance, which is why we can operate aircraft at such a high reliability. The reason we are successful in one particular area is because of the backing in all the other areas.” It’s a message that may have got muddled under the old Kelowna Flightcraft banner; hence the rebrand. “It has been a massive undertaking,” Akerstream says, “and we are not quite done yet.” There were two very distinct issues driving the change: taking the regional aspect out of Kelowna Flightcraft and building an umbrella that covers all parts of the operation. “A lot of people who know where Kelowna is figured that we are a very
KF has a much more diverse product offering now than it has had in the past says Bryan Akerstream, director of business development.
KF will operate out of GTA Aviation’s world cargo and ground handling facility to Toronto Pearson.
to position Toronto as a North American cargo hub. Its cargo facility includes specialized controlled temperature rooms at 2-8 and 15-25 degrees, oversized freezer, a large VAL/VUN cage and class one vault, ideal for moving pharmaceuticals and other perishables, which will likely be the bulk of the freight moved by KF. “We see great potential for YYZ as Canada’s JFK and one of the critical hubs for the movement of cargo,” Gary Ogden, GTA’s vice-president says. “In ground handling, we have brought in a high capacity GSE to provide reliability and scope for anything our customers may carry. KF Aerospace, with their ability to reliably offer specialized freighter services out of Toronto, using [our] facility will propel YYZ into ‘P-1’ for Canada’s cargo.” Still, with four DC-10s weekly, that is a lot of capacity to fill. “It is a very large amount of volume,” Akerstream admits. “One of the things we were advised on very early is if you really want to have an impact on the supply chain, you have to have a reasonable number of flights. If a product were to miss a flight it can’t sit and wait a full week before it gets on a plane and moves to where it needs to get to. It can possibly wait a day – maybe two – but beyond that, you start losing business.” The early plan to open the route with just three flights a week was bumped to four at the insistence of the lobster industry in Atlantic Canada, a market that had always figured into the calculation. What was unexpected, however, was a last minute diversion from Halifax to the Greater Moncton International Airport. “We laboured over that for some time,” Akerstream says. “We were always
focused on Halifax. The market is closer to the Halifax airport. Our concern over Halifax was more around the growth of the airport itself and its ability to grow. Certainly there are fantastic people at that airport and another cargo operator might
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go in there and not see the same obstacles or prioritize them the same way we did. At the end of the day, we were blown away with the attitude of the [Moncton] airport and its focus on growing the cargo market.”
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KF has also launched a daily Boeing 727 freighter service between Moncton and Toronto. “When you consider all of the Maritimes and its geographic location, there were just a lot of positive things where Moncton could grow in the future, and the part we could play.” The loads out of Europe have been stronger than onboard the aircraft leaving Canada. This was not unexpected, and Akerstream says that more and more pallets are finding their way onto the Brussels bound flights out of both Toronto and Moncton. KF has engaged the Kales
Group, an Amsterdam-based freight specialist to help fill capacity. Kales recently opened an office in Toronto. While increasing capacity may be in the cards, Akerstream does not see KF’s European operation expanding outside of Brussels, a major cargo hub within eight hours trucking distance of three-quarters of the European market. “We fly to Brussels for a couple of reasons,” he says. “One is the lobster side; they have great distribution networks already established into Europe for that market. Brussels is also a significant hub beyond Europe, mainly to
Africa. Obviously we are focused on a lot of freight that needs to go beyond Brussels, but our intention is to get Canadian product into Brussels and allow partnerships with other airlines to carry it beyond that.” This summer, KF will expand its international cargo service to Anchorage, Alaska from Calgary and Vancouver. The goal will be to interline with Asian carriers that will transport the freight to their home markets. While the company remains focused on the nascent cargo operation, it is not the only new project keeping the night lights burning at KF Aerospace’s Kelowna headquarters. The company is also a partner in Team Spartan, the consortium that is pursuing the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) program, along with Alenia Aermacchi, General Dynamics Canada and DRS Technologies Canada. KF would work with General Dynamics to provide long-term MRO as well as engineering and supply chain support services for a fleet of C-27J search and rescue aircraft across Canada. The bidding process closes in September. The Brussels and Anchorage flights will help KF to pick up some of the slack left by the loss of the Canada Post contract on the cargo side of the business. The speed with which the aerospace company has entered the international cargo market suggests this has been something KF has been considering for some time. “Certainly we couldn’t have timed this any better,” Akerstream says. “With the federal government signing free trade agreements all over the planet, fuel prices at an all-time low and aircraft that are fully paid for and capitalized. It is the perfect time for us to try and get into international markets.” By the time the Anchorage service ramps up, KF will have all of its DC-10s and three or four of its 12 parked 727s back in the air. Whether these particular airplanes are the right fit for the new operation remains to be seen. For now, they are providing KF with a sense of what the market can produce from a cargo perspective. It is entirely possible that the company may adjust the mix by adding either a Boeing 747 or 767 on the long haul operation and a 757 or 737-400, depending on if demand requires a step up or small step down from the 727. “We have our eyes focused on the future,” Akerstream adds. “We are looking at what those different aircraft might be able to provide us from an operational cost perspective. We are on a path we are very happy with. Hopefully two years from now we will be looking back and saying, ‘That was a very positive thing to happen to us, and very timely.’ ” | W
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The official publication of the Canadian Business Aviation Association
NEWS BRIEF
New directors join CBAA board
CEO’S CORNER
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he CBAA is pleased to welcome two outstanding aviation leaders to its 2015 – 2016 Board of Directors, ratified at the June 18th association Annual General Meeting. Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Bombardier Business Aircraft, has extensive engineering experience in new product design and continues to play a leading role across Bombardier in the increasingly critical environmental portfolio. A private pilot since 1997, his current responsibilities include managing Bombardier’s fleet of Learjet, Challenger and Global demonstration aircraft with operations in Wichita, Kansas; Hartford, Connecticut; and Montreal. Mr. Gallagher is active with several industry associations and agencies worldwide, and currently represents Bombardier as its deputy representative with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Gary Wood, Corporate Sales and Marketing at Flying Colours, has been an active member of the CBAA for over 30 years and served as the Ontario Chapter Chair from 1992 to 1997 and on several annual convention committees. He
www.cbaa-acaa.ca
A gathering of past and current board members L to R: Jim Thompson; Mike Fedele (Treasurer); Scott Harrold (past executive committee members), David Mann, David Hall (Chair), Anthony Norejko, Rudy Toering (President & CEO), Rod Barnard (Vice Chair)
Reviewing international regulations at the Mini-IOC session
served or participated with numerous global aviation associations, including NBAA, EBACE and others. CBAA also acknowledges and thanks retiring board and audit committee member Joseph Zigrossi, President
& CEO, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers and board and executive committee member, Scott Harrold, Landmark Aviation, for their years of service and commitment to the CBAA and to business aviation.
As part of an International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) initiative, on June 9th 2015, IBAC, the CBAA and NBAA made a special presentation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, focusing specifically on international business aviation. Dealing with issues within Canada can take our focus off the International picture, and for me, this very successful and rare meeting was of tremendous value. Our goal was to ensure the Council, the highest body within ICAO, understood IBAC’s critical role in civil aviation, and how all 14 international business aviation association, including the CBAA, support IBAC’s work, and why. It was evident that our message was well-received at the follow-on reception when the President of the ICAO Council made it clear that we would not wait another five years to have these type of discussions. My hat’s off to IBAC’s Kurt Edwards, Peter Ingleton and the team at IBAC for this great opportunity. Mission accomplished!
CBAA-ACAA News Brief
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SPONSORS WE SINCERELY THANK THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT
DIAMOND
955 Green Valley Crescent, Suite 155 Ottawa, ON K2C 3V4 Tel: (613) 236-5611 • Fax: (613) 236-2361 Email: info@cbaa.ca • Website: www.cbaa-acaa.ca
STAFF MEMBERS President and CEO Rudy Toering, rtoering@cbaa.ca
PLATINUM
Executive Assistant and Director of Administration Aime O’Connor, ext. 228, aoconnor@cbaa.ca Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs Merlin Preuss, 613-656-0505, mpreuss@cbaa.ca Membership Sales & Communication Services Manager Lindsay Berndt, (613) 236-5611 ext. 221, lberndt@cbaa.ca Marketing & Industry Relations Debra Ward, 613 274 0619 dward@cbaa.ca
SILVER
Events Coordinator Lise Hodson, lhodgson@cbaa.ca
Finance Otus Group accounting@cbaa.ca
BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BRONZE
Chair • David Hall Maintenance Manager Irving Air Services Past Chair • Frank Burke Vice Chair • Rod Barnard, Flight Department Manager/Chief Pilot, Kal Aviation Group Secretary • Andrew Wilson Litigation Council Rohmer & Fenn Treasurer • Mike Fedele, Innotech Execaire
BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE
MEDIA
BC Campbell • Aviation Director, Chief Pilot Scotiabank Louise Dunlop • President, Sterling Aviation Services
GOLF SPONSOR
David Mann • Director of Aviation, TransCanada Pipelines Jean-Christophe Gallagher • Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Bombardier Business Aircraft; Bill McGoey • President, Aurora Jet Partners Clement Nadeau • A.G. Aviation, Ltee. Anthony Norejko • Director, Travel Services & Aviation/Chief Pilot, Walmart Canada Corporation; Jim Thompson • Chief Pilot Saskatchewan Air Transportation Services Andrew Tuck • Assistant Chief Pilot, Air Services Branch, RCMP Jaime Vins • CEO, Vins Plastics Limited Gary Wood • Corporate Sales and Marketing, Flying Colours
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CBAA-ACAA News Brief
GIVING A NEW LIFE TO HANGAR 18
O
riginally conceived and built by Pratt & Whitney Canada in the mid-80’s to serve as the home for PWC’s engine flight test division, since 2012 this mammoth hanger has seen a major change in its utilization. The hangar was designed to house PWC’s Boeing 720 (C-FETB) that flew as a “flying test bed” for their numerous engines. After flying almost everyday from 1988 until its last flight between CYHU and CFB Trenton on May 9th 2012, the B720 is resting at the Canadian Aviation & Space Museum. This test bed function was taken on by 2 B747’s and relocated to Montreal Mirabel – CYMX. In June of 2012 CYHU H-18 Services Inc., purchased the hangar complex from PWC which included over 300,000 sq. ft. of property made up of a 49,000 sq. ft. of hangar, offices and shops as well as over 200,000 sq. ft. of ramp and a 181,000 liter fuel farm. The rich history of the St-Hubert Airport included the utilization of the H-18 ramp and taxiway during the “Cold War”. Sharing the H-18 ramp are two hangars that have been converted to shops by PWC. These hangars were part of the RCAF’s 425 “Alouettes” squadron based at CYHU from 1954. They were called the “ALERT” hangars for the RCAF’s fleet of CF-100 Mark 3’s. The H-18 complex has now been converted into a Fixed Base Operation (FBO), the first such facility to be located on the north side of the airport adjacent to the main 7820’ runway 24R-06L. The FBO is now capable of receiving all types and sizes of aircraft up to B737, A320 and RJ’s. Since the summer of 2012 H-18 has hosted the Canada Games receiving 45 aircraft in 3 days including B737’s, RJ’s, DASH-8’s and a Convair. The last scene of X Men
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“Days of future past” was shot on the H-18 ramp in summer 2013. In April 2014 the Commercial Aircraft Company of China (COMAC) made a tech-stop at H-18 during its maiden flight to Canada for certification testing. Offices have been converted to lounges and a new façade has been put on this historic workhorse of a hangar. Having several based flight departments now resident in H-18 will now extend the life to this facility and major expansion plans are now ongoing with the airport operator DASH-L and the city of Longueuil. Hosting the 2015 CBAA Convention & Exhibition is an honour and a privilege for CYHU H-18 Services.
This is the first time that a major Canadian city’s secondary airport has hosted the event and we look forward to assisting the first civil airport in Canada re-taking its place in the new business world of general aviation and domestic regional air transportation. 6575, chemin de la Savane Saint-Hubert (Qc) J3Y 8Y9 (450) 468-4400 tel (450) 468-6600 fax
CBAA-ACAA News Brief
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PNC Aviation Finance: Leading the Way in Aviation Finance Q&A WITH WAYNE STARLING SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & NATIONAL SALES MANAGER AT PNC AVIATION FINANCE
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ayne Starling is a senior vice president and national sales manager for PNC Aviation Finance. He has been in thebanking and finance industry for over 20 years, 13 of those spent in the aviation business. Prior to PNC, his careerin aviation began with Aviation Finance Group, a privately owned aircraft lender founded in 1998. Wayne was apart of the original AFG team and stayed with the company when it was acquired by PNC Financial Services, Inc. in2004. Q: We’ve heard about PNC Aviation Finance and its “No financial disclosure, non-recourse” financing. Could youelaborate on this program? We have excelled in our industry by offering a suite of financing solutions designed to meet the needs of savvy corporate aircraft owners. PNC Aviation Finance is widely known for its one-of-a-kind “no financial disclosure, nonrecourse”(asset-based) lending program, enabling many aircraft owners to finance without providing financial documentation. By offering this unique program, on top of traditional credit-based options, leases and our competitive pricing structure, PNC Aviation Finance is poised to tailor a solution for each individual owner’s needs.
Q: PNC Aviation Finance has been an industry leader in the number of corporate aircraft loans funded in the USAthe last five years in a row. What’s the secret to your success? PNC Aviation Finance:
Leading the Way in Aviationto Finance On top of our hassle-free approach financing, PNC Aviation Finance builds its foundation on a seasoned team Q&A with Wayne Starling of industry professionals. From our territory finance Senior Vice President & National Sales Manager at PNC Aviation Finance officers to our in-house operations staff, we pride ourselves on the Wayne Starling is a senior vice president and national sales manager for PNC Aviation Finance. He has been in the banking and finance industry for over 20 years, 13 of those spent in the aviation business. Prior to PNC, his career in aviation beganexpertise with Aviation Finance Group, privately owned founded in 1998. Wayne was a experience and we abring toaircraft thelendertable. Through part of the original AFG team and stayed with the company when it was acquired by PNC Financial Services, Inc. in 2004. every transaction, PNC Aviation Finance strives to make the Q: We’ve heard aboutprocess PNC Aviation Finance its “No financial disclosure, non‐recourse” financing. Could you aircraft financing asandsmooth as possible. elaborate on this program?
We have excelled in our industry by offering a suite of financing solutions designed to meet the needs of savvy corporate aircraft owners. PNC Aviation Finance is widely known for its one‐of‐a kind “no financial disclosure, non‐
lending program, enabling many aircraft owners to about finance without providing financial Q: How recourse” can(asset‐based) readers find out more PNC documentation. By offering this unique program, on top of traditional credit‐based options, leases and our competitive pricing structure, PNC Aviation Finance is poised to tailor a solution for each individual owner’s needs. Aviation Finance? Q: PNCoffices Aviation Financeacross has been an industry numberCanada, of corporate aircraftPNC loans funded in the USA With 10 theleader USin theand Aviation the last five years in a row. What’s the secret to your success? Finance is here to make aircraft financing hassle-free. On top of our hassle‐free approach to financing, PNC Aviation Finance builds its foundation on a seasoned team of industry professionals. From our territory finance officers to our in‐house operations staff, we pride ourselves on the experience and expertise we bring to the table. Through every transaction, PNC Aviation Finance strives to make the aircraft financing process as smooth as possible.
Please visit our website at www.pncaviationfinance.com, Q: How can readers find out more about PNC Aviation Finance? call us atWith 888.339.2834 or stop by booth #53 at the 2015 10 offices across the US and Canada, PNC Aviation F nance is here t make aircraft financi g hassle‐free. visit our website at www.pncaviationfin nce.com, c ll us at 888 339 2834 or stop by booth #53 at the 2015 CBAAPlease Convention in Montreal. CBAA Convention in Montreal. Platinum Sponsor of the 2015 CBAA Convention Montreal June 15th‐ 18th
One of the biggest in years!
22 aircraft on display at CBAA 2015 Static at AVFUEL H-18, Montreal/St. Hubert Airport
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CBAA-ACAA News Brief
photo by Guy Pomerleau
www.cbaa-acaa.ca
CBAA-ACAA News Brief
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ATAC SEEKS PARTY LEADERS’ POSITION ON AVIATION ISSUES
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n light of the upcoming federal election, ATAC has asked the three main political party leaders where they stand on the following seven issues, all key to a safe, world-leading and sustainable Canadian air transport industry which employs almost 150,000 Canadians and supports over 400,000 jobs.
Transport Canada Funding Commercial aviation in Canada works in a highly regulated environment with important oversight by Transport Canada. The demand for air services in Canada has been growing at a rate of almost 5% annually while the budget allocated to Transport Canada - Aviation Safety & Security has been cut by $29.1M or 12.5% since 2012-13, making it increasingly difficult for Transport Canada to carry-out its mandate. ATAC has asked party leaders to commit to increase funding to Transport Canada – Aviation Safety & Security.
Aviation Security Fees Canada has the highest aviation security tax in the world. The Air Transport Security Charge (ATSC) on all airplane tickets has brought over $250 million more than the expenditure on airport security services. Why is the ATSC another cash grab imposed on air travellers in Canada? Terrorists are not at war with the airlines, but rather with the airlines’ country of origin. ATAC has asked party leaders to make the ATSC a dedicated charge based on CATSA’s operational needs and to have Public Safety Canada share the cost of airport security, as is done in the US and in the majority of other jurisdictions.
Excise Taxes on Aviation Fuel The Aviation Fuel Excise Tax was originally introduced to finance airport infrastructure. Once airports were divested, it was maintained as a temporary measure to help fight the deficit. The
government collects over $100 million per year through the Aviation Fuel Excise Tax. As his very first election promise of the 2008 Campaign, the Conservative Party leader pledged to cut federal excise taxes on diesel and aviation fuel in half within four years, reducing it to two cents per liter from the current four cents. He had declared that this promised reduction was “modest, affordable and responds to real needs”. This election promise has yet to be fulfilled. ATAC has asked party leaders to commit to reducing or abolishing the excise tax on aviation fuel.
Airport Rent In 1996, the total net book value of airports in Canada was established at $1.5 billion. An annual rent of $300 million has been charged to airports ever since resulting in airport authorities having paid over $4 billion in rent to the Federal Government, almost three times the value of the assets rented. The objective was to offer Canadians a “national airport system comprised of airports that are safe, commercially oriented and costeffective”. Today airport infrastructure is funded by money either borrowed on the capital markets, or collected through services fees and Airport Improvement Fees. ATAC has asked party leaders to reduce or abolish airport rent and help make our airports as competitive as their US neighbours.
A Level Playing Field which Recognizes Aviation as a Key Economic Driver While the aviation industry and its passengers fill government coffers in the order of $1 billion a year, VIA Rail is subsidized to the tune of $500 million a year, twice the amount generated in rail passenger revenue. This annual subsidy pays for 2/3 of each ticket sold on VIA Rail. Government-owned VIA Rail carries about four
million passengers per year. The aviation industry services 120 million passengers per year and has to compete with highly subsidized international carriers and neighbouring US airports. Annual airport passenger leakage to US airports is greater than the total number of VIA Rail passengers in a given year. Leveling the playing field for all modes of transport would be a clear indication that the government indeed considers aviation, which moves cargo as well as passengers, to be a key Canadian economic driver both domestically and internationally. ATAC has asked party leaders where they stand on establishing a level playing field for all modes of transport in Canada.
International Cooperation To enable growth in Canada’s global share of the pilot training business and the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul industry, the Canadian Government should provide support and otherwise remove regulatory road blocks to growth for these value added Canadian enterprises. ATAC has asked party leaders to foster global partnerships and mutual recognition between civil aviation authorities globally.
Aviation Infrastructure in the Northern and Remote Regions of Canada The combined population of the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut is under 120,000 and is spread over 3.9 million square kilometers. Commercial air service is extended to roughly 50 airports and about 10 of these have paved runways. This greatly limits the type of aircraft that can be used to service these communities. Also, the lack of navigation and communication aids, including weather reporting, contributes to lowering flight safety and limiting service. Similar situations exist in the Northern and remote regions of many of the provinces. ATAC has asked party leaders to commit to investing in aviation infrastructure in the Northen and remote regions of Canada. ATAC will report back on the responses. John McKenna, President & CEO
Air Transport Association of Canada 700 – 255 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6A9 Phone: (613) 233-7727 • Fax: (613) 230-8648 • Website: www.atac.ca
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FINAL Michael Dery | guest columnist
A level of uncertainty
Amendments to CARs creates confusion for private operators
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46 WINGS | July/August 2015
it has received that, instead of working towards compliance with the regulations, operators are now looking at workarounds, including non-Canadian registration or downgrading to smaller non-regulated aircraft. The worry from the CBAA’s perspective is that the regulations are forcing private operators out of a currently safe sector to situations that lack regulation and SMS. The CBAA has developed a number of fee-based tools to assist private operators achieve compliance. From a legal perspective, regulatory changes of this magnitude can create uncertainty. Aside from the interpretive problems noted by the CBAA, another issue for operators will be whether failure to strictly comply with each and every one of the new provisions will result in a fine or suspension of an operator’s license. If the answer is no, then when does non-compliance become sufficient for the Minister to step in? Operators (and their legal counsel) must continually evaluate how the regulator is interpreting and enforcing the new provisions. Failure to accurately predict the regulator’s actions can indeed be costly. | W
If the answer is no, then when does non-compliance become sufficient for the minister to step in? to seven years based upon their specific risk indicators. These activities would include program validation inspections, process inspections and assessments. There are no fees for registration or the recurring monitoring activities, resulting in savings for current and future private operators. TC’s goal with the new system is to reduce the administrative burden placed on private operators. The 24-month exemption period implemented by the minister is due to expire on June 1, 2016. Until then, operators who held a valid POC prior to May 30, 2014 will be subject to the old licensing and monitoring regime, though these operators must still satisfy certain provisions under the new regime. New companies, however, are required to adhere to the new private operator regulations. The CBAA describes this as a “double standard.” It is one of a handful of concerns that the industry association has with the regulations. The CBAA maintains the proposed amendments are unfairly rigid, too complex, and open to misinterpretation. The CBAA is also concerned due to reports
Michael Dery is a partner and vice-chair of the Aviation Practice Group at Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP. www.airlawblog.com. WWW.WINGSMAGAZINE.COM
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he halfway point of the twoyear exemption period established by the federal government in recent amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) for the oversight of business aviation in Canada is basically here, and there is still much confusion in the process for private operators. In May 2014, the Minister of Transport announced new, all-encompassing amendments affecting requirements regarding registration, flight operations, personnel requirements and training programs, emergency equipment, maintenance, cabin safety and safety management systems (SMS). The revision was significant, with more than 150 new provisions. Many of the provisions set out comprehensive lists of requirements. Section 604.86, for example, lists the requirements for aircraft safety features cards including details of how seatbelts are used, the location of emergency exits and details of when and where smoking is permitted. The new regulations were based on a ministerial decision that the certification and oversight of private operators were core responsibilities of Transport Canada (TC) that should not be held by the private sector. The decision was made after the November 2007 Fox Harbour landing accident (a business aircraft landed short of the runway). Previously, the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) oversaw licensing and operations of private operators, and was responsible for issuing Private Operator Certificates (POC). The CARs required POC applicants to become members of the CBAA, submit specific documents for review (e.g. operations manuals), and undergo a successful pre-certification audit (including payment of a $1,700 fee in 2010). Initial and recurring annual certification dues were based on fleet composition. POC holders had to undergo recurring safety audits every one to three years. Under the new system, applicants are not expected to go through a pre-certification audit, and would only have to provide general biographical information to receive a Private Operator Registration Document. Registration holders will have to undergo recurring monitoring activities every one
2012 2013 2014
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