Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 15/01) - Aklak Canadian Helicopters is expecting to double its fleet this winter to keep up with growing demand from oil and gas exploration in the Mackenzie Delta.

The company is a joint venture between Canadian Helicopters Ltd., and the Inuvialuit Development Corp., and currently operates 14 aircraft.

Canadian Helicopters expects its Inuvik fleet to double in size this winter. - Lynn Lau/NNSL photo

By April, the busiest time of the winter, Aklak Canadian Helicopters is expecting to operate 30 or more helicopters from its Inuvik base.

"It's going to be a good season for the helicopter industry in the Mackenzie Delta," said Bob MacKay, Canadian Helicopters' Western Canada vice-president and general manager in Edmonton. "It's really welcome in our industry. It comes at a time when we're traditionally not that busy -- in the winter."

The additional aircraft will come from locations in the NWT and Western Canada, where operations consist mainly of summer forestry work.

MacKay said the company has seen a steady increase in business in Inuvik over the last several years. Last winter, it was operating about 20 helicopters here.

Although most of the additional helicopter pilots will be provided from Canadian Helicopters' other locations, the Inuvik office is always looking to hire local people interested in flight or aircraft maintenance training, MacKay said.

Canadian Helicopters Ltd., employs more than 750, with 150 aircraft and 51 locations across Canada.