Yellowknife (Sep 27/06) - A growing helicopter company here has its business taking off in a new direction and it will affect the industry across the North.

Great Slave Helicopters, now owned by Discovery Air, was recently approved as an authorized service centre and parts provider for Bell Helicopter.

By becoming a certified maintenance shop, Great Slave Helicopters can now service any Bell that comes to the NWT, said David Taylor president and chief executive officer with Discovery Air.

"Becoming a maintenance service provider for Bell will allow Great Slave Helicopters additional forms of revenue."

The addition of the Bell Service Centre is expected to create some new jobs, said Taylor, although numbers were not specified.

"Its a win, win, win situation."

The application to become a certified Bell Helicopter maintenance and parts provider began last spring, said Louie Dines quality assurance manager with Great Slave.

The company found out last week of the positive recommendation. Great Slave is one of just three companies worldwide to be granted a maintenance licence this year, he said.

"It's a big deal - a great opportunity," he said.

Great Slave will be able to buy directly from Bell and sell parts in addition to providing maintenance work, he said.

The maintenance division at Great Slave employs 70 workers.

Currently, Great Slave has five types of Bell helicopters in its own fleet including the 204B, 205 A-1+, 206B, 206LR, 206L3 and 212.

With more than 1,100 Bell helicopters located throughout Canada, Dines expects to provide support for a number of different models in the near future. "We have a huge inventory of parts."

If a part isn't available in Yellowknife, Great Slave can have one in under 24 hours, he said.

"We are now the only Bell Service Centre in the NWT and Nunavut," he said.