Summit Air lands new jet
Contract with Det'on Cho to serve Diavik means fleet expansion in Yellowknife
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Summit Air will be growing their fleet by one with the introduction of an Avro RJ85 four-turbofan jet.
The jet is expected to spend half its time servicing Summit Air's contract with Det'on Cho Logistics to provide passenger flights between Edmonton and the Diavik diamond mine northeast of Yellowknife.
"The introduction of the Avro RJ85 to Summit's fleet is a significant change in our business model," said Summit Air president, Rob Mauracher.
"Being able to move upwards of 90 passengers to and from remote locations significantly broadens our service offering, while still providing the northern expertise in safety and reliability Summit is known for."
The jet can land on gravel landing strips, making it ideal for flights in and out of remote industrial locations.
"This is the beginning of the (Avro) program," said Kirsten Langan, corporate communications manager for Ledcor Industries, Summit Air's parent company.
"We plan to add more planes to the fleet."
Summit Air, which operates a fleet of 28 aircraft and helicopters, is focused on Northern expansion and servicing industrial development in the north. They are expanding elsewhere as well.
Last February, Summit Air formed a partnership with Haisla First Nation near Kitimat B.C. to form the Summit Kitimaat Aviation Limited Partnership.
The west coast enterprise will be primarily tied to developments surrounding several proposed natural gas liquifaction plants, natural gas pipleline, and related projects.
The Northwest B.C. commitment won't mean a draw on Summit's Yellowknife human or equipment resources.
"We add aircraft on as they are need," Langan said. "Anything we needed in the Kitimat region would probably be through additional acquisitions."
Summit Air is recruiting for a pilot and flight crew to go along with their expanding fleet.
The Avro RJ85 is a U.K.-built aircraft with a flexible seating capacity for about 90 people. It has a long-range cruising speed of 720 km/hr, and maximum operating speed of 763 km/hr, with an approximately 43,000 kg maximum takeoff weight.
Besides being able to land on gravel landing strips, the Avro RJ85 is in service with other airlines where shorter runways and inclement weather are normal.
