Victoria, BC, May 7th, 2018:Longview Aviation Asset Management (LAAM) of Calgary, Alberta, in cooperation with Viking Air Limited of Victoria, British Columbia, has launched the Viking CL- 415EAF (“Enhanced Aerial Firefighter”) Conversion Program.
The collaboration between the two sister-companies on the CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter Conversion Program will provide an economic boost throughout Western Canada derived from job creation, aerospace manufacturing innovation, supply chain development, academic partnerships, and global export opportunities.
To initiate the program, LAAM will be hiring up to 150 technicaland support staff members at itsCalgaryfacilities,whereelevenspeciallyselectedCL-215aerialfirefightingaircraftownedbyLAAM will undergo the modification process utilizing Viking-supplied conversionkits.
To support development of the conversionkits, Viking has hired 50 employees to date and haslaunched a recruitment campaign to hirean additional 50 staff at its Victoria, BC location. Viking will also be reinstatingits very effective “Viking Academy” paid-training program to provide successful applicants with the targeted technical training required for these positions.
Both LAAM and Viking are working with local post-secondary institutions to develop innovative technologies and provide training assistance in support of this program. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has been engaged for personnel training inAlberta, and Viking is actively developing partnerships with companies participating in the British Columbia Technology Super Cluster initiative.
The Viking CL-415EAF Conversion Program forms part of a staged approach to utilize the advancements made with the LAAM converted aircraft as the basis for the proposed Viking CL-515 new-production amphibious aerial firefighting aircraft.
To facilitate the launch of the proposed CL-515 amphibious aircraft manufacturing program, Viking has applied to the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) from the federal Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) for funding support. The SIF funding would be invested between British Columbia and Alberta’s aerospace manufacturing, supply chain, academic, and skills training sectors, and provide program benefits to both provincesin WesternCanada.
About Viking Air Limited:
Headquartered in Victoria, BC, Viking is the global leader in utility aircraft services, and the manufacturer of the world-renowned Series 400 Twin Otter. Viking is the Original Type Certificateholderforallout-of-productiondeHavillandaircraft,DHC-1throughtheDHC-7,and provides exclusive spare parts manufacturing and product support for the legacy de Havilland fleet. In 2007 Viking launched the Twin Otter Series 400 production program, and to date new Viking aircraft have sold to 30 countriesworldwide.
In 2016, Viking acquired the Type Certificates (manufacturing rights) for the CanadairCL-215, CL-215T, and CL-415 aircraft. With this transfer, Viking assumed responsibility for all product support for the global fleet of 170 aerialfirefighters.
Viking is managed by Longview Aviation Capital and forms part of the portfolio of a prominent Canadian family investment firm that maintains a long-term investment horizon and is one of the leading investors in the Canadian aerospace industry. For additional information, please visit www.vikingair.com.
About Longview Aviation Asset Management:
Longview Aviation Asset Management Inc. (LAAM) was established in 2016 to provide attractive financing and lease options, as well as trade-in aircraft capabilities, for aircraft supported and manufactured by Viking Air Limited (Viking).
In2018,LAAM,inpartnershipwithViking,formallylaunchedtheCL-415EAF“EnhancedAerial Firefighter” aircraft conversion program. The CL-415EAF combines the proven performance oftheCL-215airframewithmodernupgradestocreatethenextgenerationoftheworld’sonly purpose-built aerial firefighter and multi-mission amphibiousplatform.
For additional information, please visit www.lvaam.ca.
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