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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Arctic Sunwest Charters and Trinity Helicopters are now united under the banner of Summit, after Ledcor officially launched the rebranded airlines last week.

Trinity Helicopters and Arctic Sunwest Charters, both owned by Ledcor Air Ltd., are now united under the Summit brand. - NNSL file photo

"We are serious about our airline charter business," said Ledcor chief executive officer Dave Lede during the Summit launch event in Yellowknife June 20. "When we put our mind to something we do it."

Ledcor purchased Trinity earlier this year and Arctic Sunwest in August 2012 through its aviation company, Ledcor Air Ltd. Arctic Sunwest Charters was merged with Summit Air Charters under the name Summit Air, and Trinity Helicopters is now called Summit Helicopters.

The various aircraft will gradually be repainted with the white and blue Summit logo, when they can be spared from operations.

Paul McElligott, president of resources and transportation for Ledcor Group of Companies, said the purpose of acquiring of these airlines was to create a "one-stop shop" for clients' aviation needs. Having an aviation option within the company will allow Ledcor to offer a "broader sweep of services to existing and new clients," he said.

The Ledcor Group of Companies has projects in such sectors as communications, building construction, forestry, infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, power, forestry, and transportation.

Arctic Sunwest was formerly owned by RTL Robinson Enterprises Ltd. and Trinity Helicopters had been owned by Donnie and Joan Robinson in 2012 after purchasing majority stake in the company from Det'on Cho Corp.

McElligott said there is no plan to centralize operations in a Southern city and the company will continue to hire locally whenever possible.

"We're here because we support the North," he said.

Summit Air now has 140 employees and 27 fixed wing and rotary aircraft.

Officials in attendance

Mayor Mark Heyck spoke at the event and said he was glad to see Ledcor committed to engaging in the community, as both Trinity Helicopters and Arctic Sunwest Charters had done under their previous owners.

"I've seen the great work they have done in our community," he said. "When I think of Trinity, it immediately calls to mind the highly successful Girls Fly Too event."

Heyck told the crowd, which included representatives from the GNWT, city council, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, and the NWT Chamber of Commerce, it was rewarding to see investments like these as council has made economic development a high priority.

Industry, Tourism, and Investment Minister David Ramsay, who is also Minister of Transportation, had similar sentiments to share, and pointed to the territory's economic and mineral strategies under development as initiatives working to "grow our community."

McElligott said Summit plans to host a community open house and barbecue later this summer, where the public will be invited to meet the pilots, tour aircraft, and take photos.

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