Yellowknife (Apr 26/06) - First Air is looking for another Hercules aircraft because it can barely keep up with the transport needs of the area's diamond mines.

Operating the only civilian Hercules in the North has kept the airline busy.

Orders from mining and exploration companies began pouring in with the early closure of the Tibbitt-Contwoyto ice road on March 26.

"We're trying to bring in additional supplies and not be totally tied up," said Mike Olson, director of sales for the western region with First Air.

The company is in negotiations with various companies to lease another Hercules for as long as it takes to catch up on the backlog of orders.

The Ekati and Diavik diamond mines and De Beers' Snap Lake site, which is still under construction all relied heavily on the ice road to transport supplies. They have been left looking to the air as an alternative. The supplies being shipped are a "combination of dry goods and fuel," said Olson, adding if the company was to make due with the single Hercules it would be going 24 hours a day, seven days a week until December.

The details of the potential lease price and charter rates are not being made public.

Arctic Sunwest Charters has also been busy supporting mines and exploration firms.

"There has been a little less than a two fold increase for the spring," said Thom Pilgrim, general manager at Arctic Sunwest.

The company's two DHC-5 Buffalo and two Dash 8-100 aircraft have been making most of the trips. With First Air and Arctic Sunwest mainly occupied with the mine shipments, it has opened up other opportunities for Buffalo Airways.

"We're chartering out mostly supplies and fuel for exploration companies," said Buffalo's Ivan Rand.