Rankin Inlet (Mar 05/03) - Canadian North unveiled the new livery adorning its planes to rave reviews in Rankin Inlet this past month.

The company held a special gathering in Rankin on Feb. 24 to officially present the new colour scheme and treat people to some prizes, cake and refreshment.

Canadian North's Rankin Inlet manager, Randy Miller, said the new look is truly unique and very much a part of the North.

He said he was expecting a few more people to turn out for the Fresh Paint gathering, but was pleased with the size of the crowd that did show up.

"Overall, the response from people concerning the new paint has been very positive," said Miller.

"A few people saw it on Feb. 21 when it first went through and they really liked it.

"People were actually going outside to watch as it approached the runway.

"It was lit up when it came in, including the taillights that completely lit the tail of the airplane, so that looked pretty cool."

Companies, on average, change their colour schemes and/or repaint their aircraft about once a decade.

During the next two years, Canadian North's entire fleet of B-737 200 Combi jets will be painted in the new look, as they cycle through the airline's regularly scheduled maintenance program.

It takes two weeks and about 115 kilograms of paint to do a B-737 aircraft.

Electrostatic application is used to ensure the paint goes directly to the surface of the plane without dissipating through the air.

The paint is positively charged, and the plane negatively charged, so they are attracted to each other.

The belly of the plane is applied with a Teflon coating to prevent nicks when landing on a gravel strip.

Purchased from Canadian Airlines International in 1998, Canadian North is owned by Norterra Inc., a jointly owned company of the Inuvialuit Development Corp. and Nunasi Corp.

Miller says the new paint job was inspired by the work of world-renowned Northern artist Dawn Oman.

He said three icons unique to the North -- the polar bear, midnight sun and northern lights -- are used to communicate the essence of Canadian North and its people.

"It's been awhile in coming, but you're seeing the development of Canadian North's own distinct identity, apart from Canadian Airlines."