Discovery Air Incorporated
Encyclopedia
Discovery Air Incorporated ("DA"), founded and Incorporated in 2004, is a specialized aviation company that operates primarily in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Through its five subsidiary companies, Discovery Air provides aviation and aviation related services for both corporate customers as well as the Federal
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...

 and Provincial
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...

 governments of Canada. The Discovery Air operating units provide both fixed-wing
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...

 and rotary-wing
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...

 services as well as logistics and remote operations management services. This includes cargo and passenger air charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...

 services throughout Canada, vital air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....

 services in the North and utility flying for mining exploration. The Discovery Air business units also provide specialized searvices to provincial governments with forest fire detection and suppression as well as providing airborne training and special mission services to the Canadian Land Force Command
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...

, Maritime Command
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...

 and Air Command
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...

. Discovery Air also provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions to airline customers through Discovery Air Technical Services Inc., based in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...

.

Headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...

 and traded publicly on the Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...

 (TSX) under the symbol DA.A, Discovery Air's subsidiary companies have bases all across Canada.

Corporate history

  • 2004 - Discovery Air Inc. is incorporated by the Pacific & Western Bank of Canada
    Pacific & Western Bank of Canada
    The Pacific & Western Bank of Canada is a bank that was founded in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1980, and now maintains its headquarters in London, Ontario. The bank is wholly owned by Pacific & Western Credit Corp. ....

  • 2004 - Discovery Air Inc. acquires Hicks & Lawrence Limited
  • 2006 - Discovery Air Inc. completes an initial public offering of $3.85 million
  • 2006 - Discovery Air Inc. acquires Great Slave Helicopters Limited
  • 2006 - Discovery Air Inc. acquires Air Tindi
    Air Tindi
    Air Tindi is an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Now owned by Discovery Air, it operates scheduled and on demand charter services. Its main base is Yellowknife Airport and the airline was formerly owned by the Arychuk family...

     Limited
  • 2007 - Discovery Air Inc. purchases Wheel Division Assets of Walsten Air Service
  • 2007 - Discovery Air Inc. acquires Top Aces Incorporated
  • 2008 - Discovery Air Inc. acquires Discovery Mining Services
  • 2009 - Discovery Air Inc. announces new Chief Executive Officer, David A. Jennings
  • 2010 - Discovery Air Inc. announces commencement of operations at Discovery Air Technical Services Inc.
  • 2011 - Discovery Air Inc. announces the opening of a new business unit, Discovery Air Innovations Inc.
    • August - Discovery Air Innovations sign a provisional deal with Hybrid Air Vehicles
      Hybrid Air Vehicles
      Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd., led by Chief Executive Gary Elliott , is a designer of air vehicles known as hybrid airships. These vehicles, such as the prototype HAV-3, utilize both aerodynamics and lighter-than-air technology to generate lift, potentially allowing the vehicle to stay aloft for a few...

       to purchase hybrid airship
      Hybrid airship
      "A hybrid airship is an aircraft that combines characteristics of heavier-than-air technology, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter, and lighter-than-air , aerostat technology."[1]Examples include helicopter/airship hybrids intended for heavy lift applications and dynamic lift airships intended for...

      s for use in Northern Canada
      Northern Canada
      Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...

      . The deal, which the companies hope to have finalised by 2012, could involve up to 45 airships at $40 million per craft, with the first being delivered in 2014.

Operating units

Discovery Air Inc. provides specialized aviation services through two operating segments: the Northern Services and the Government Services.

Northern Services

The Northern Services segment consists of three operating units: Great Slave Helicopters Limited ("GSHL"), Air Tindi Limited ("Tindi") and Discovery Mining Services ("DMS.") Together, these three operating units have a customer base servicing companies and government entities in the business of mineral, base and precious metal exploration and production, wildlife services, forest fire suppression, oil and gas exploration, power line construction and maintenance, aerial surveys, seismic, air ambulance, scheduled charters and tourism.

More specifically, founded in 1984, Great Slave Helicopters is the second-largest VFR operator in Canada with 68 helicopters in its fleet. It provides, alone and along with several First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...

 and Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...

 groups in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...

, scheduled and chartered passenger and air cargo services to private sector companies and governments. Under the name Northlinx, Great Slave Helicopters has partnerships with Akaitcho Helicopters, Dehcho Regional Helicopters, Denendeh Helicopters, (49%, Evergreen Forestry Management Limited has 51%), Gwich'in Helicopters, Havgun Helicopters, Hudson Bay Helicopters (100%), K'ahsho Got'ine Helicopters (majority First Nations owned), Kitikmeot Helicopters (49%, Bill
Bill Lyall
Bill Lyall C.M. of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada is a former territorial level politician. Lyall was elected to the 8th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly in the 1975 election....

 and Jessie Lyall own 51% ) Kivallingmiut/Kivalliq Aviation (majority Inuit owned, Air Tindi is also a minority share holder), Sahtu Helicopters (49%, various land corporations have 51%), Superior Helicopters and Tlicho Helicopters.

Air Tindi
Air Tindi
Air Tindi is an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Now owned by Discovery Air, it operates scheduled and on demand charter services. Its main base is Yellowknife Airport and the airline was formerly owned by the Arychuk family...

, founded in 1988, is a charter airline based in Yellowknife, NT. With their main base as the Yellowknife Airport
Yellowknife Airport
Yellowknife Airport is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The airport is part of the National Airports System, and is operated by the government of the Northwest Territories. The airport has regular scheduled passenger service, and is also used as a forward operating base for...

, they provide scheduled and on demand charter services throughout Northern
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...

 and Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...

. With 24 fixed-wing airplanes in their fleet, they are capable of transporting 46 passengers or 10,000 pounds of cargo. Tindi has the largest Medivac fleet in Northern Canada.

Founded in 1991, Discovery Mining Services is a NWT-based company that provides remote exploration camps, expediting, logistics and staking services to primarily diamond and mineral exploration companies.

Government Services

The Government Services segment consists of two operating units: Hicks & Lawrence Limited ("Hicks") and Top Aces Incorporated ("TA"). These two operating units provide niche services primarily aimed at government entities.

More specifically, Hicks & Lawrence, a company that has been in operation since 1947, is a fixed-wing company based in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. In addition to providing air charter services through their turbine division, Hicks' piston division also provides services to the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....

 as part of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...

 forest fire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...

 management program.

Founded in 2000 by three former CF-18 pilots, Top Aces is a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

-based fixed wing aviation company that acts as the prime supplier of Airborne Training Services to the Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

. Flying their 16 Alpha Jets and 4 Westwind Aircraft
IAI Westwind
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98. Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9....

 are former fighter pilots.

Discovery Air Technical Services

Discovery Air also provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to airline customers through Discovery Air Technical Services Inc., which was created in 2010 through the acquisition of the former ExelTech Aerospace MRO facility in Quebec City. Discovery Air Technical Services is an airframe MRO with extensive in-house shop capabilities - welding, avionics, engineering, machining, heat treatment, composite and sheet metal repairs - that offers repair services for Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...

, Dash 8 and Embraer ERJ 145
Embraer ERJ 145 family
The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...

 aircraft.

Great Slave Helicopters

The fleet consists of 68 helicopters
Great Slave Helicopters Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Astar 350 21 AS350 B2, AS350 B3, AS350 BA
Bell 205
Bell 204/205
The Bell 204 and 205 are the civil versions of the ubiquitous UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, and one of its most common uses, aerial...

2 205-1 The Great Slave Helicopters website lists 205A1+ and 205A1++
Bell 206
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...

24 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4 The 206L-1 is not listed at the Great Slave Helicopters website
Bell 212 9 212 Single, 212/212HP
Eurocopter EC130 2 EC130 B4
MD 500
MD Helicopters MD 500
The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...

9 Listed by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...

 as Hughes 369D
Schweizer 269 1 269C Not listed at the Great Slave Helicopters website

Air Tindi

The fleet consists of 21 or 23 aircraft
Air Tindi Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...

1 1900D
Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...

3 Model 200, Model 200C
Cessna 185
Cessna 185
-Specification for differing configurations:-References:* Jan Churchill, Hit My Smoke: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, Sunflower University Press, Manhattan KS, ISBN 0-89745-215-1...

2 A185 F Skywagon
Cessna 208 4 208 Caravan, 208B Grand Caravan
Single Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...

2 Not listed at the Air Tindi website
Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...

6 Series 200, Series 300
Dash 7
De Havilland Canada Dash 7
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop-powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada, was purchased by Boeing and was later sold to Bombardier...

3 DHC-7-102, DHC-7-103

Hicks & Lawrence

The fleet consists of 33 aircraft
Hicks & Lawrence Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Rockwell Twin Commander 500 7 500B, 500S Listed by Transport Canada as Aero Commander 500
Beechcraft King Air
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...

2 Model C90, Model C90A
Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...

3 Model 200
Cessna 208 1 Caravan Not listed at the Hicks & Lawrence website
Cessna Skymaster
Cessna Skymaster
The Cessna Skymaster is a United States twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. Its engines are mounted in the nose and rear of its pod-style fuselage. Twin booms extend aft of the wings to the vertical stabilizers, with the rear engine between them. The horizontal...

19 337B, 337D, 337G, 337H
Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave
Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave
|-See also:...

1 PA-36-375 Not listed at the Hicks & Lawrence website

Top Aces

The fleet consists of 23 aircraft
Top Aces Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Variants Notes
Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...

1 Model 300 Not listed at the Top Aces website
Canadair CL-600
Bombardier Challenger 600
The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a family of business jets designed by Bill Lear and produced first by Canadair until that company was bought by Bombardier Aerospace in 1986.-Development:...

1 2A12 Not listed at the Top Aces website
Alpha Jet 19 Model A
IAI Westwind
IAI Westwind
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98. Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9....

4 1124 Listed by Transport Canada as the Israel 1124

Locations

  • Discovery Air Head Office - Yellowknife
  • Great Slave Helicopters - Kapuskasing • Dryden
    Dryden, Ontario
    Dryden is the second-largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on Wabigoon Lake. It is the smallest community in the province of Ontario designated as a city...

     • Churchill
    Churchill, Manitoba
    Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" that has helped its growing tourism industry.-History:A variety of nomadic...

     • Calgary
    Calgary
    Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...

     • Rankin Inlet • Fort Simpson • Cambridge Bay • Inuvik • Norman Wells • Fort Liard • Hay River
    Hay River, Northwest Territories
    Hay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...

     • Yellowknife
  • Air Tindi - Fort Simpson • Yellowknife
  • Discovery Mining Service - Yellowknife • Nunavut
  • Hicks & Lawrence - Dryden • Kenora • Sudbury • Timmins
    Timmins
    Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...

     • Geraldton
    Greenstone, Ontario
    Greenstone is an amalgamated town in the Canadian province of Ontario. The area of the town is , stretching along Highway 11 from Lake Nipigon to Longlac; it is one of the largest incorporated towns in Canada....

     • Chapleau
    Chapleau, Ontario
    Chapleau is a township in Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. It is home to one of the world's largest wildlife preserves. Chapleau has a population of 2,354 according to the Canada 2006 Census....

  • Top Aces - Halifax (CFB Halifax
    CFB Halifax
    Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....

    ) • Pointe-Claire (CFB Montreal
    CFB Montreal
    Canadian Forces Base Montreal is a Canadian Forces Base network located in Montreal, Quebec.The base is home to:* Land Forces Quebec Area* 34e Groupe-Brigade du Canada which includes:...

    ) • Bagotville (CFB Bagotville
    CFB Bagotville
    Canadian Forces Base Bagotville , commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, is a Canadian Forces Base located west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay, Quebec. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet...

    ) • Cold Lake
    Cold Lake, Alberta
    Cold Lake is a city in northeastern Alberta, Canada, named after the lake it is situated near.-Geography:The city is situated in Alberta's "Lakeland" district, 300 km northeast of Edmonton, near the Alberta-Saskatchewan provincial border. The area surrounding the city is sparsely populated,...

     (CFB Cold Lake
    CFB Cold Lake
    Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...

    ) • Victoria
    Victoria, British Columbia
    Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...

     (CFB Esquimalt
    CFB Esquimalt
    Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....

    )
  • Discovery Air Technical Services - Quebec City
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