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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
First as a pilot, then as chief pilot with Kenn Borek Air, the new president and CEO of Air Tindi has worked at all levels of the aviation industry.

Sean Loutitt became president and CEO of Air Tindi, the Yellowknife-based Discovery Air Inc. subsidiary, in the middle of February. He takes over from past president and CEO Chuck Parker, who left in January on medical leave.

Loutitt worked with Parker from a different part of the Discovery Air group, as an executive with subsidiary Discovery Air Innovations, which is planning to bring a developing line of hybrid air vehicles to the North in 2014.

Kenn Borek Air operates on all seven continents and Loutitt was with the Calgary-based aviation company for 17 years, starting as a pilot while in his mid-twenties.

"Kenn Borek Air is a truly international company," Loutitt said. "The experience of operating internationally is really probably why (Air Tindi and Discovery Air) were interested in me working with Discovery Air.

"I think we're trying to strengthen the ability of Air Tindi to work sort of anywhere, doing the specialty aviation work that they've excelled at for such a long time."

Born and raised in the North, Loutitt is a graduate of Sir John Franklin high school, became vice-president, commercial services, of Discovery Air Innovations in 2011, and is now president of Air Tindi.

He is based in Yellowknife.

Loutitt is also president of Discovery Air International, the subsidiary created to expand the company's services domestically and around the world.

"I'd say we're trying to develop Air Tindi into a bit more flexible company, that can operate anywhere," he said.

"The work in the North and all of our work with our joint venture partners is what built the company, so the ability to maintain the services with our joint venture partners in the North is extremely important," he added.

Air Tindi operates medevac flights throughout the North, and charter flights for mining, tourism, and government services. Partners include Tli Cho Air, Aqsaqniq Air and Deh Cho Air. The company has 180 employees.

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