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Discovery Air

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Discovery Air
Company typePublic
TSX: DA.A
IndustrySpecialized Aviation
Founded2004
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Key people
Jacob (Koby) Shavit, President and CEO[1]
Paul Bernards, CFO[2]
Websitewww.discoveryair.com

Discovery Air ("DA"), founded and incorporated in 2004,[3] is a specialized aviation company that operates primarily in Canada. Through its subsidiary companies, Discovery Air provides aviation and aviation related services for both corporate customers as well as the Federal and Provincial governments of Canada. The Discovery Air operating units provide both fixed-wing and rotary-wing services as well as logistics and remote operations management services. This includes cargo and passenger air charter services throughout Canada, vital medivac air services in the north and utility flying for mining exploration. The Discovery Air business units also provide specialized services to provincial governments with forest fire detection and suppression as well as providing airborne training and special mission services to the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. Discovery Air also provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul services to airline customers through Discovery Air Technical Services, based in Quebec City.[4]

Headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and traded publicly on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol DA.A, Discovery Air's subsidiary companies have bases all across Canada.[5]

Corporate history

  • 2004 - Discovery Air is incorporated by the Pacific & Western Bank of Canada.[6]
  • 2004 - Discovery Air acquires 50% of Hicks & Lawrence, later renamed as Discovery Air Fire Services, with the other 50% being acquired in 2005.[6][7]
  • 2006 - Discovery Air completes an initial public offering of $3.85 million.[8]
  • 2006 - Discovery Air acquires Great Slave Helicopters (GSH).[9]
  • 2006 - Discovery Air acquires Air Tindi.[6]
  • 2007 - Discovery Air purchases the Wheel Division Assets of Walsten Air Service.[10]
  • 2007 - Discovery Air acquires Top Aces, later rebranded as Discovery Air Defence Services.[11]
  • 2008 - Discovery Air acquires Discovery Mining Services[12]
  • 2009 - Discovery Air received a Can$34 million loan from the Government of the NWT.[13]
  • 2010 - Discovery Air announces commencement of operations at Discovery Air Technical Services.[14]
  • 2011 - Discovery Air announces the opening of a new business unit, Discovery Air Innovations.[15]
  • 2012 - Discovery Air Innovations sign a provisional deal with Hybrid Air Vehicles to purchase hybrid airships for use in Northern Canada. The deal, which the companies hoped to have finalised by 2012, and could have involved up to 45 airships at $40 million per craft, with the first being delivered in 2014.[16][17]
  • 2011 - Discovery Air Fire Services announces launch of new subsidiary, Discovery Aviation Academy.[18]
  • 2012 - Discovery Air announces that it has repaid the 2009 government loan 10 months early.[19]
  • 2012 - On 8 August 2012, it was announced that Discovery Air had let the deal with Hybrid Air Vehicles lapse as they no longer wished to purchase the vehicles.[20]
  • 2012 - Great Slave Helicopters acquires Helicopters.cl SpA.[21]
  • 2012 - Great Slave Helicopters acquires Northern Air Support.[22]
  • 2013 - Discovery Air acquires Advanced Training Systems International Inc.

Operating units

Discovery Air provides specialized aviation services through two operating segments: the Northern Services and the Government Services.[23]

Northern Services

The Northern Services segment consists of three operating units: Great Slave Helicopters ("GSHL" or "GSH"), Air Tindi ("Tindi") and Discovery Mining Services ("DMS.") Together, these three operating units have a customer base servicing companies and government entities in the business of mineral, base and precious metal exploration and production, wildlife services, forest fire suppression, oil and gas exploration, power line construction and maintenance, aerial surveys, seismic, air ambulance, scheduled charters and tourism.[24]

Founded in 1984, Great Slave Helicopters is a VFR and IFR helicopter operator in Canada with 64 helicopters in its fleet.[25][26] It provides, alone and along with several First Nations and Inuit groups in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, scheduled and chartered passenger and air cargo services to private sector companies and governments.[27] Under the name Northlinx, Great Slave Helicopters has partnerships with Akaitcho Helicopters, Dehcho Regional Helicopters, Denendeh Helicopters, (49%, Evergreen Forestry Management has 51%), Gwich'in Helicopters, Havgun Helicopters, Hudson Bay Helicopters (100%), K'ahsho Got'ine Helicopters (majority First Nations owned), Kitikmeot Helicopters (49%, Bill and Jessie Lyall own 51% ) Kivallingmiut/Kivalliq Aviation (majority Inuit owned, Air Tindi is also a minority share holder), Sahtu Helicopters (49%, various land corporations have 51%), Superior Helicopters and Tlicho Helicopters.[28]

Air Tindi, founded in 1988, is a charter airline based in Yellowknife, NT. With their main base as the Yellowknife Airport, they provide scheduled and on demand charter services throughout Northern and Western Canada. With 24 fixed-wing aircraft in their fleet, they are capable of transporting 46 passengers or 10,000 pounds of cargo. Tindi has the largest medivac fleet in Northern Canada.[29]

Founded in 1991, Discovery Mining Services is a NWT-based company that provides remote exploration camps, expediting, logistics and staking services to primarily diamond and mineral exploration companies.[30]

Government Services

The Government Services segment consists of two operating units: Discovery Air Fire Services and Top Aces ("TA"). These two operating units provide niche services primarily aimed at government entities.[31]

Discovery Air Fire Services (formerly Hicks and Lawrence), a company that has been in operation since 1947, is a fixed-wing company based in Ontario. In addition to providing air charter services through their turbine division, DAFS' piston division also provides services to the Government of Ontario as part of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire management program.[32]

Founded in 2000 by three former CF-18 pilots, Discovery Air Defence Services is a Quebec-based fixed wing aviation company that acts as the prime supplier of Airborne Training Services to the Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force.[33] Flying their Alpha Jets and Westwind Aircraft are former fighter pilots.[34]

Discovery Air Technical Services

Discovery Air also provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to airline customers through Discovery Air Technical Services, which was created in 2010 through the acquisition of the former ExelTech Aerospace MRO facility in Quebec City.[4] Discovery Air Technical Services is an airframe MRO with extensive in-house shop capabilities - welding, avionics, engineering, machining, heat treatment, composite and sheet metal repairs - that offers repair services for Saab 340, Dash 8, ATR 42 and Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.

Fleet

Great Slave Helicopters

As per the Civil Aircraft Register, the Great Slave fleet consists of 64 helicopters. The Great Slave website also lists the Bell 407 that is not shown in the Transport Canada registration list. Numbers correct as of January 4, 2013.[25][35]

Great Slave Helicopters Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Astar 350 23 AS350 B2, AS350 B3, AS350 BA
Bell 205 5 205-A1, 205B The Great Slave Helicopters website lists 205A1++
Bell 206 24 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4 The 206L-1 is not listed at the Great Slave Helicopters website
Bell 212 9 212 Single, 212/212HP
Bell 412 1 412EP
Eurocopter EC130 1 EC130 B4
Schweizer 269 1 269C Not listed at the Great Slave Helicopters website

Northern Air Support

Great Slave Helicopters acquired Northern Air Support on February 21, 2012 which is based in Kelowna, British Columbia with a base in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.[36]

Aqsaqniq Airways, registered to Air Tindi, at Cambridge Bay Airport

As per the Civil Aircraft Register, the Northern Air Support fleet consists of 10 aircraft. Numbers correct as of January 4, 2013.[37][38]

Northern Air Support Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Astar 350 4 AS350 B2
Bell 206 2 206B
Bell 407 3
MD 500 1 Listed by Transport Canada as Hughes 369D

Air Tindi

Main article: Air Tindi

The fleet consists of 32[39] or 25[40] aircraft. Numbers correct as of January 4, 2013.

Air Tindi Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft
(TC list)		 No. of Aircraft
(AT list)		 Variants Notes
Beechcraft 1900 1 1 1900D
Beechcraft Super King Air 8 7 Model 200, Model 200C, Model 300 All listed on the Air Tindi site as B200
Canadair CL600 3 2 CL-600
Cessna 208 5 3 208 Caravan, 208B Grand Caravan
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter 1 0 Not listed at the Air Tindi website
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 6 6 Series 200, Series 300
Dash 7 5 4 DHC-7-102, DHC-7-103
Learjet 35 3 2

Discovery Air Fire Services

The fleet consists of 35 aircraft.[41] Numbers correct as of January 4, 2013.

Discovery Air Fire Servicest
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Rockwell Twin Commander 500 7 500B, 500S Listed by Transport Canada as Aero Commander 500
Beechcraft King Air 2 Model C90, Model C90A
Beechcraft Super King Air 3 Model 200
Cessna 172 3 172M
Cessna 208 1 Caravan
Cessna Skymaster 18 337B, 337D, 337G, 337H
Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave 1 PA-36-375

Discovery Air Defence

Main article: Discovery Air Defence Services

The fleet consists of 26 aircraft.[42] Numbers correct as of February 4, 2013.

Top Aces Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Beechcraft Super King Air 2 Model 300 Not listed at the Discovery Air Defence Services website
Canadair CL-600 2 2A12 1 listed at the Discovery Air Defence Services
Alpha Jet 17 Model A 16 listed at the Discovery Air Defence Services
IAI Westwind 4 1124 Listed by Transport Canada as the Israel 1124
Learjet 35 1 Not listed at the Discovery Air Defence Services website

Locations

Discovery Air "Hawk One" Sabre over Gatineau Executive Airport
  • Discovery Aviation Academy - Sudbury

Hawk One

Hawk One, officially Discovery Air Hawk One, is a Canadair Sabre owned by Vintage Wings of Canada that, in partnership with Discovery Air and the Department of National Defence has been refurbished. The aircraft, originally a Mk.5, was given an Orenda 14 engine and wings with leading-edge slats, making it closer to a Mk.6, and has been painted in the colours of the Golden Hawks. Hawk One, which tours Canada with the Snowbirds, has been flown on several occasions by astronaut Chris Hadfield.[44][45][46]

References

  1. ^ Discovery Air announces appointment of Jacob Shavit as President and CEO and appointment of Brian Semkowski as Chair of the Board
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ The Little Bank That Did
  4. ^ a b Discovery Air Announces Commencement of Operations at Discovery Air Technical Services Inc.
  5. ^ Company Profile
  6. ^ a b c One on one with Shawn Clarke, chief operating officer of Discovery Air
  7. ^ Hicks & Lawrence Ltd. announces the rebranding of its fire services business and the integration of Hawkeye Infrared Services
  8. ^ Discovery Air Completes $3.85 Million Initial Public Offering
  9. ^ Discovery Air Buys Great Slave Helicopters
  10. ^ Hicks & Lawrence Ltd. acquires Walsten Air Service
  11. ^ Discovery Air acquires Top Aces Inc
  12. ^ Discovery Air acquires Discovery Mining Services
  13. ^ MLA questions N.W.T.'s bailout of Discovery Air
  14. ^ Company Overview of Discovery Air Technical Services Inc.
  15. ^ Discovery Air Innovations
  16. ^ Futuristic 'airships' planned for North at CBC.
  17. ^ UK group secures commercial airship deal at the Financial Times
  18. ^ Discovery Air Fire Services
  19. ^ Discovery Air announces early repayment of existing $34 million NWTOF indebtedness, amendments to existing secured convertible debentures and provision of a short term bridge loan from a related party
  20. ^ Discovery Air lets airship deal lapse
  21. ^ Discovery Air Purchases Chilean Servicios Aéreos Helicopters
  22. ^ GSH Completes the Acquisition of Northern Air Support
  23. ^ Discovery Air (DAA: TSX)
  24. ^ Google Finance: DA.A TSE
  25. ^ a b Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Great Slave Helicopters". Enter "Great Slave Helicopters" in the "Owner Name" box.
  26. ^ Great Slave Helicopters
  27. ^ Great Slave Helicopters Ltd
  28. ^ Great Slave Helicopters - Partnerships
  29. ^ Air Tindi Ltd. - Complete Profile
  30. ^ Discovery Mining Services
  31. ^ Discovery Air Inc. - Company Profile Snapshot
  32. ^ Discovery Air Fire Services
  33. ^ History
  34. ^ Top Aces - Our Team [dead link]
  35. ^ Great Slave Helicopters - Fleet
  36. ^ Discovery Air subsidiary Great Slave Helicopters acquires Northern Air Support
  37. ^ Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Northern Air Support". Enter "Northern Air Support" in the "Owner Name" box.
  38. ^ Northern Air Support’s Helicopters
  39. ^ Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Air Tindi". Enter "Air Tindi" in the "Owner Name" box.
  40. ^ Our Aircraft Fleet
  41. ^ Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Discovery Air Fire Services". Enter "Discovery Air Fire Services" in the "Owner Name" box.
  42. ^ Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Discovery Air Defence". Enter "Discovery Air Defence Services" in the "Owner Name" box.
  43. ^ Discovery Air Inc
  44. ^ A flying tribute to a century of aviation history
  45. ^ Vintage Wings of Canada Hawk One The Return of a Legend
  46. ^ Astronaut Chris Hadfield Flying the Golden F-86 Sabre for the Last Time at the Windsor International Air Show
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Discovery Air.
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