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SEPT FALL OCT 2026 2025 CANADA’S NATIONAL FIXED AND ROTARY WING MAGAZINE

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The Aces state aims of thetobusiness Top prepare RCAF airpower aircraft with livemarket synthetic ADAIR training

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UPFRONT 5 Leading Edge

Business information for Canadian operations

6 On the Fly

Coulson adding more Hercs, Air Canada’s new CEO, AirSprint deal

10 Position Report

Canada’s national aerial firefighting program

12 Alternative Approach Avoiding airline strike shutdowns

BACK

PHOTOS: TOP TO BOTTOM: TOP ACES/AIRCREW PHOTOS, CHARTRIGHT AIR GROUP, LOCKHEED MARTIN

52 ATAC Report Why industry gatherings matter more than ever 53 Marketplace 54 On Final AIAC outlines Canada’s aerospace advantage

From top: Chartright launches the 8000. P. 20.

RCAF modernization plans. Pg.49

Top Aces of Montreal, the world leader in contracted adversary air services, completed its acquistion of Select Global International, providing it with advanced synthetic training assets and even greater team combat experience. P.16

FEATURES

14 SPONSORED CONTENT: CHARTRIGHT GROWTH Chartright Air Group’s new hangar at YKF will enhance client services and industry partners BY CARROLL MCCORMICK

16 READY FOR RAGNAR

Top Aces submits its team to lead RCAF’s operational training modernization program BY JON ROBINSON

20 CANADA’S TOP FIXED BASE OPERATOR

Results from the annual coast to coast survey focusing on usage and client preferences BY JON ROBINSON

22 SPONSORED CONTENT: INSIDE LEVAERO

The growth of one of Canada’s most important aviation operations BY PHIL LIGHTSTONE

24 AVIATION MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Major primes are aggressively acquiring subsystem makers to secure their future BY PHIL LIGHTSTONE

27 AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2026 The ultimate resource of operators, services and technologies helping to lead wildfire suppression

49 CANADIAN AIR FORCE MODERNIZATION

A report from AIAC’s Aerospace Defence and Security Expo in Abbotsford BY BRIAN MCNAIR

COVER PHOTO: GEERT VAN DE PUT. TOP ACES F-16 VIPER TRAINING IN ARIZONA

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LEADING

EDGE

By Jon Robinson |

Data in a time of uncertainty

A series of new reports provide Canadian operations with business insight

T

PHOTO: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA

he Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, on July 15 released their annual State of Canada’s Aerospace Industry report, based on 2025 year-end data. The report shows Canadian aerospace contributed $33.1 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The industry also increased annual R&D expenditures to more than $1.8 billion and maintained its position as a domestic R&D leader at 4.5 times the manufacturing average.

In releasing the report, Mike Mueller, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), explained “[The report] reflects the industry’s commitment to investing in R&D, talent and exports. But Canada’s aerospace advantage is not something to be taken for granted – it’s why we need a national industrial aerospace strategy, to make sure this momentum continues.” Mueller provides greater insight into AIAC’s position in this issue (page 54), focusing on a broader concept for Canada’s Aerospace Industrial Strategy.

This issue of Wings also includes a report from AIAC’s Aerospace Defence and Security Expo held in August at Tradex in Abbotsford, B.C., focusing on a presentation from RCAF Commander Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, who addressed the modernization of the force amid massive defence spending and Canada’s bold approach to build out a domestic military production base.

As Canada pours dollars into defence, some results are already being seen in operations, as noted by Speiser-Blanchet in a recent interview with The Canadian Press, where she acknowledged that preparing the entire service for a rapid and “giant transformation” sometimes gives her pause. Speiser-Blanchet

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The flight-standard engine for the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator, assembled at Pratt & Whitney Canada’s test facility, began ground testing in July 2026. also noted yearly RCAF flying hours, which fell over the past decade, are now on an upswing with CC-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemasters and CF-18 Hornets getting more time in the air. The cover story on Top Aces, which has become the world’s de facto standard for advanced adversarial air combat training, also helps lead Canada’s renewed defence push.

AIAC’s report was one of several key industry reports released in July, with Levaero Aviation publishing its fourth annual State of the Canadian Aircraft Market. The report looks at the fundamentals of what Levaero describes as one of the world’s tightest aircraft markets. The 2026 edition of the report arrives at a defining moment, according to

TOP DATA BURSTS… in this issue 1. Coulson doubled its Hercules fleet acquiring 10 aircraft from the RCAF. P.6. 2. The year 2025 was Canada’s secondworst wildfire season with over 8.3 million hectares burned.

P. 10. 3. Top Aces holds over 140 aircraft in its fleet. P. 16. 4.

Conair has converted 28 Dash 8-400s for aerial firefighting operations. P. 27. 5. Canadian aerospace generates more than 70 per cent of its revenue through exports. P. 54.

Levaero, with aircraft inventory sitting at its thinnest in years.

The company notes the best aircraft are trading quickly, often before they are ever publicly listed, and conditions have tilted firmly toward sellers.

Boeing in mid-July released its 2026 Commercial Market Outlook report, as well as separate Services Market Outlook and Pilot & Technician Outlook reports, all focused on growth projections for global aviation and aerospace out to 2046. The global commercial airplanes fleet is expected to grow nearly 80 per cent to more than 50,000 airplanes by 2045. Globally, operators are forecasted to need nearly 44,000 new airplanes to support air travel demand and air cargo expansion over the next 20 years. Half of these deliveries are projected to replace previous-generation airplanes.

Over the next two decades, Boeing forecasts a demand for more than 2.4 million new commercial aviation professionals. Fuelled by fleet growth and evolving market demands, Boeing’s 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects an industry need for approximately 674,000 pilots, 728,000 maintenance technicians, and 1,023,000 cabin crew members through 2045. Two-thirds of this demand will replace retiring personnel, while one-third will support fleet growth. Boeing stated demand and traffic in commercial aviation is set to double over the next 20 years and that near-term disruptions will not have an impact on long-term aviation growth. | W Fall 2026 | WINGS

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THE LEAD COMMERCIAL ENGINES HELICOPTERS DEFENCE AEROSPACE AIRPORTS

THE LEAD

COULSON ADDING 10 HERCULES TO FLEET Coulson Aviation Canada, the Canadian division of Coulson Aviation, acquired 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft from the Government of Canada. The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global C-130H fleet from 10 aircraft to 20.

The parent company notes the acquisition gives its Canadian division the scale to build the world’s largest and most capable C-130 airtanker fleet. The announcement was made at Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford, where several of the former RCAF aircraft are currently located. The Hercules conversion and delivery program will be led by Coulson Aviation Canada and its engineering, manufacturing, maintenance and operational teams in British Columbia.

“These aircraft served Canada for decades and we would like to recognize the men and women of the RCAF that operated these aircraft with exceptional professionalism throughout their service,” said Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Aviation Canada.

Coulson Aviation notes, that for many years, the CC-130H served Canada in tactical airlift, search and rescue, Arctic operations, disaster response, humanitarian missions and international deployments. The company explains, with Canada facing more complex wildfire seasons, showing greater

duration and intensity over the past several years, today’s aerial firefighting environment requires aircraft that can reach fires quickly, deliver large and controlled retardant lines, and sustain operations.

The Hercules acquisition builds on Coulson’s existing C-130H program and its experience modifying, certifying, operating and supporting the aircraft as an airtanker.

Coulson’s operational C-130H airtankers are equipped with the company’s proprietary RADS-XXL retardant delivery system. Each aircraft can carry up to 4,000 U.S. gallons, or more than 15,000 litres, of water or fire retardant. Coulson explains the RADS-XXL system gives flight crews precise control over the amount and coverage level of each drop; and that its high flow rate, combined with the C-130’s payload, speed, range and ability to operate from shorter runways, makes the aircraft well suited to both rapid initial attack and sustained wildfire response.

In related news, Coulson in August announced its Tanker 138, a Lockheed C-130H registered as N382CG, began a 60-day Exclusive Use contract with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Coulson notes the contract makes Tanker 138 the first Large Airtanker placed under contract by the newly established federal service.

COMMERCIAL

AIR CANADA NAMES VAN DER WERFF NEXT CEO Air Canada in July announced that Anko van der Werff will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board, by the end of January 2027.

Van der Werff, currently President and CEO at Scandinavian Airlines, succeeds Michael Rousseau, who previously announced his retirement, scheduled for August 31, 2026,

One of Coulson Aviation’s existing Hercules C130 aircraft converted for aerial firefighting on static display in October 2025 at the 6th annual Canadian Wildfire Conference in Kelowna, B.C. 6

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Anko van der Werffandard, who holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University, is joining Air Canada after leading Scandinavian Airlines.

after 19 years with Air Canada. “[Mr. Van der Werff] has an exceptional breadth of international aviation experience and a proven 25-year track record, including his most recent forward-looking executive leadership at Scandinavian Airlines, Avianca Group, and Aeroméxico and earlier at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (now Air France-KLM) and Qatar Airways,” said Vagn Sørensen, Chair of the Board, Air Canada. “We are confident he will drive further valuecreating growth and transformation while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation.”

Air Canada notes it conducted a comprehensive global search for its new CEO, based on number of criteria, including the ability to communicate in French. A native of the Netherlands, Van der Werff served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association until June 2026, among similar positions with several international organizations in the aviation, technology and business sectors. He holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University and completed executive studies at Harvard Business School.

Later in August, Air Canada announced that funds managed by Blackstone and La Caisse, together with other Canadian institutions, are making a $2.5 billion minority equity investment in Aeroplan Inc. The transaction terms provide that the investor group is acquiring a 25 per cent non-controlling equity interest in Aeroplan, valuing the program at $10 billion. Air Canada will maintain full operational control of Aeroplan and a controlling ownership interest after the minority investment.

Aeroplan remains a core part of Air Canada’s WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS: JON ROBINSON, AIR CANADA

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commercial strategy and customer value proposition, and the experience of members, partners and employees will be unaffected by the transaction.

FAA CERTIFIES BOEING 737 MAX 7 The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in August granted Boeing an amended type certificate for the new 737-7 airplane, clearing it for commercial service. The smallest and longest-range member of the 737 MAX family, Boeing explains the 737-7 model serves an important market segment by offering 135 to 160 seats (in a two-class configuration) while providing about 10 per cent more range potential than its siblings.

The test program, which began in 2018, included more than 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing. Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the 737-7 launch customer, are preparing for delivery of the first airplane.

A team is readying the first airplanes, including implementing updates to the airplane’s final configuration. The 737 MAX

family order book stands at more than 7,200 airplanes, of which more than 2,300 have been delivered through the end of June 2026. The 737-7 offers a range of up to 3,800 nautical miles (7,040 km).

The 737-8, designed to profitably serve most short- and medium-haul markets, seats 160 to 180 passengers with a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km). The 737-9 has three more seating rows than the 737-8 and serves 175 to 195 passengers with a range of up to 3,300 nautical miles (6,110 km). Boeing states the 737-10, the largest in the family, offers the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane. It seats 185 to 210 passengers with a range of up to 3,100 nautical miles (5,740 km). Boeing is working to certify the 737-10 this year.

VOYAGEUR BECOMES CANADIAN FLEXROTOR LAUNCH CUSTOMER Voyageur Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation, and Airbus Helicopters signed a purchase agreement for

the Airbus U030 Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) during a signing ceremony at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow. This agreement marks the first Flexrotor sale into Canada.

Voyageur explains the purchase agreement strengthens its existing expertise in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The Airbus U030 Flexrotor is a Group 2 tactical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system capable of providing long-endurance ISR and multi-mission operations from both land and maritime environments. The UAS features a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs) and delivers an operational flight endurance of more than 12 hours in standard configurations.

Headquartered in North Bay, Ont., Voyageur notes this makes the U030 Flexrotor well suited to Canada’s diverse geography, remote operating areas, maritime approaches, and demanding environmental conditions. Voyageur outlined plans to work strategically with Airbus to explore future collaborative opportunities to

Among Quebec's Top 3 FBOs Best-in-class service Pilot lounge

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ONEX MOVES TO ACQUIRE AIRSPRINT Onex Partners in late June announced that the Onex Partners Opportunities Fund, TriWest Capital Partners and certain other co-investors agreed to acquire AirSprint Inc., a fractional jet operator headquartered in Calgary, Alta. AirSprint’s founder and chairman Judson Macor, president and CEO James Elian, and some other current shareholders will remain investors following closing of the transaction. AirSprint states it operates the largest fractional fleet of private aircraft in Canada, catering to the needs of more than 600 fractional owners.

AirSprint explains the purchase agreement will support its next phase of growth, including fleet expansion, operational enhancements, technology investments, and strategic initiatives designed to further strengthen its leadership position in the Canadian private aviation market. The investment, explains the company, will also support continued investment in AirSprint’s team of more than 400 professionals across Canada. Following closing of the transaction, Judson Macor will become AirSprint’s Chairman Emeritus and James Elian will continue in his executive role and remain on AirSprint’s Board of Directors.

ENGINES

PRATT TO INVEST $275 MILLION IN LONGUEUIL Pratt & Whitney Canada at the Farnborough International Airshow announced a $275 million investment to enhance manufacturing operations at its Longueuil, Quebec, facility. The investment will be funded by Pratt & Whitney Canada with support from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec. Pratt & Whitney 8

WINGS | Fall 2026

is an RTX business. “This strategic investment in Longueuil strengthens our industrial capacity, enabling us to better support our customers and meet growing global demand,” said Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, President, Pratt & Whitney Canada.

With this investment, Pratt & Whitney Canada will enhance industrial capabilities at its largest manufacturing facility, where nearly 4,500 employees support the production of engines for regional, business, general aviation and rotorcraft platforms.

The site will add automated production lines, modernized machinery and digital processes. At Farnborough, Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced the federal government will contribute up to $34 million to support this modernization of the Longueuil facility.

explained Airbus, pointing to its flat cabin floor and range of available optional equipment. Today, more than 4,800 H125 family helicopters are flying globally. Airbus noted the H125 in 2025 held a market share in the intermediate single-engine helicopter category of around 75 per cent.

DEFENCE

SAAB TO BUILD UP TO 10 SURVEILLANCE PLANES WITH CANADIAN JETS At the July 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO will begin formal negotiations with Saab regarding the acquisition of up to 10 GlobalEye Airborne

HELICOPTERS

NOVA SCOTIA DNR COMPLETES FLEET RENEWAL WITH AIRBUS Airbus Helicopters delivered the final of four H125 aircraft to the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (NSDNR), concluding the province’s fleet renewal program. Ordered in 2024, the new aircraft replace a fleet that entered service in 2016. Airbus explained the modernized fleet will support critical provincial missions, including wildfire response, search and rescue, aerial surveillance, and emergency and personnel transportation in remote areas.

Airbus explained to meet NSDNR’s specific operational needs, the helicopters feature Canadian-designed supplemental type certificates and specialized mission equipment. This includes high-visibility doors, cargo pods, longline capability, cargo mirrors, an enlarged floor window, a cable cutter, a litter kit, and an optimized utility panel. “Completing this fleet renewal gives Nova Scotia a modern, capable, and versatile fleet ready to support the critical work carried out by the Department of Natural Resources,” said Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada.

The H125 is widely used for demanding aerial work and public service missions,

A Bombardier Defense Global 6500 ISR aircraft, which forms the base of Saab’s GoldenEye fleet.

Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) systems. As of press time, Saab had not signed a contract or received an order related to the announcement, but it was set to begin negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to secure a contract. In its statement Saab states NATO has identified the need to replace its existing AEW&C capability as part of a broader effort to modernize and strengthen the alliance’s surveillance and situational awareness capabilities.

Saab explained GlobalEye, built from a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, will enable NATO to monitor vast areas of land, sea and air, significantly enhancing the alliance’s ability to detect and respond to a range of threats. GlobalEye integrates Saab’s Erieye Extended Range radar with an advanced suite of sensors and a multi-domain Command and Control (C2) system. As an AEW&C system, Saab explains, GlobalEye provides long-range detection with high update rates, capable of identifying lowobservable and stealthy threats, as well as drones, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: BOMBARDIER

deliver contracted UAS services that meet commercial and government requirements within Canada, such as border and land security surveillance, environmental monitoring, search and rescue support, maritime and Arctic operations, and other critical use cases where endurance and flexibility, with rapid deployment, are crucial.

even in complex environments characterized by heavy clutter and electronic jamming.

Later in August, Saab received an order for two GlobalEye aircraft from a country in the Middle East. The order value is SEK 10.1 billion ($1.4 billion in Canadian dollars) and deliveries will take place in 2030. As well, Bombardier Defense reached a deal in July to provide two Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for South Korea’s Electronic Warfare program, in addition to four Global 6500 aircraft for Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) announced in October 2025. Also in July, Cara Salci was named President of Saab Canada, starting September 8, 2026. She brings more than a decade of executive leadership in Canada’s defence and security sector, including her most recent previous role as Vice President, Growth, Industry & Corporate Affairs for Thales Canada.

PHOTO: GREATER TORONTO AIRPORTS AUTHORITY

PAL TO SUPPORT RCAF CT-142Q CITADEL PAL Aerospace, a subsidiary of Exchange Income Corporation, entered into a contract for approximately $750 million for the provision of modification, inservice support and training services to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training program, which is overseen by SkyAlyne. The Government of Canada officially awarded the Future Aircrew Training program (FAcT) contract to SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, in late May 2024.

Under this new agreement with SkyAlyne, PAL Aerospace will provide all aircraft modifications for the RCAF CT-142Q Citadel, deliver Wings Standard training to all Air Combat Systems Officers and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators through the life of the contract and provide In-Service Support for the operation of the fleet.

SkyAlyne anticipates its new contract with PAL Aerospace will be finalized over the next several months. The FAcT program, designed as a 25-year initiative, is currently in a multi-year transition period to become the sole ab-initio aircrew training program for the RCAF. FAcT modernizes and enhances both pilot and aircrew training. PAL Aerospace will now work closely with SkyAlyne to shift focus toward the delivery of initial operating capabilities, explains SkyAlyne, WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

for a smooth transition from existing programming while remaining focused on the RCAF’s mission-critical requirement to preserve operational readiness.

AEROSPACE

GERMAN COMPANY SIGNS 10-YEAR DEAL TO USE SPACEPORT NOVA SCOTIA Isar Aerospace and Halifax-based spaceport operator Maritime Launch Services signed a contract under which Isar Aerospace will develop a dedicated launch complex for its Spectrum launch vehicle at Spaceport Nova Scotia near Canso. Maritime Launch Services (MLS) explains the agreement marks a decisive step toward advancing Canada's sovereign access to space and extending Isar Aerospace’s end-to-end launch capability globally.

Spaceport Nova Scotia is being developed as Canada's dual-use orbital spaceport, providing launch infrastructure for commercial, civil and defence missions and clients. The agreement builds on the letter of intent signed by both parties in May 2026. Isar Aerospace offers fully integrated space access, covering the entire value chain from designing and operating launch pad infrastructure to engineering and launching its in-housedeveloped Spectrum vehicle. Maritime Launch Services will provide the licensed launch site, including the launch pad, assembly, integration and testing (AIT) facilities, a launch operations centre, and a facility for payload integration. The build-out is planned to begin in 2026, with first orbital launches targeted for 2028. The launch site will be designed to support frequent launches, with the potential for Spaceport Nova Scotia to offer additional capacity for future expansion. To anchor its North American presence, Isar Aerospace has established a dedicated Canadian entity, Isar Aerospace Canada Inc. “While every nation needs data from space, almost no nation has the end-toend capability to access it independently,” said Alexandre Dalloneau, Vice President Mission and Launch Operations, Isar Aerospace. “This makes launch capacity one of the most consequential bottlenecks in defence and intelligence today, and we

are here to close it. Canada is the next step in our roadmap to bring full end-to-end launch capability to sovereign nations – and we are proud to be doing it here in, and together with Canada.”

AIRPORTS

The T1/T3 Revitalization Program marks the second major announcement of Pearson LIFT, following a $3 billion investment around airside and baggage systems.

PEARSON $1.5 BILLION TERMINALS PROJECT The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, announced that a $1.5-billion investment to launch the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 Revitalization Program has been awarded to NORR-DIALOG and PCL Construction. The terminal program, explains the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), aims to modernize aging infrastructure and create a faster, more comfortable airport experience for millions of travellers.

This includes investments in gates, passenger processing areas and customs and immigration facilities.

Program improvements being made throughout both terminals include: expanded terminal spaces, refreshed lounges, expanded in-terminal charging stations, improved baggage processing, modernized check-in areas, and advanced security screening.

The GTAA explains the construction of the program will be delivered in stages, ensuring that the airport continues to operate safely and efficiently while minimizing disruptions for passengers and airline partners. The T1/T3 Revitalization Program marks the second major announcement under the Pearson LIFT strategic plan, following a $3-billion investment in airside and baggage systems. | W Fall 2026 | WINGS

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POSITION

REPORT

By Tim Anderson |

Canada’s aerial firefighting plan More aircraft, or better use of what we have?

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A national problem that is managed regionally Wildfire response is led primarily by provinces and territories, reflecting local 10 WINGS | Fall 2026

Building on the operational capability of the CL-415, the Canadair 515 aircraft includes design changes that incorporate new materials and corrosion protection to reduce maintenance costs.

expertise and Canada’s varied operating environments.

CIFFC coordinates personnel, equipment and aircraft under the Canadian Interagency Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement. Canada can also request international assistance.

This works when fire seasons peak at different times.

The weakness appears when several provinces experience extreme conditions simultaneously. The historic 2023 season demonstrated what happens when demand becomes national and remains elevated for months. The federal government reported that 2025 became the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history, with more than 6,000 fires and over 8.3 million hectares burned.

At that scale, there may be no unaffected province with

aircraft and crews waiting to be loaned.

The national surge program is intended to fill that gap. Its aircraft do not replace provincial fleets; they provide a reserve that can be positioned where the national need is greatest. Operationally, that makes sense.

Aircraft are only one part of suppression Aerial firefighting is highly visible. A water bomber skimming a lake or a tanker laying down retardant provides a compelling image of action.

However, aircraft rarely extinguish large wildfires by themselves. They slow fire growth, protect structures and escape routes, and create opportunities for ground crews. Their success depends on early detection, timely dispatch, suitable weather,

accurate intelligence and firefighters who can secure what has been accomplished from the air.

Aircraft type also matters.

Amphibious scoopers can deliver repeated loads when water is nearby. Tankers require loading infrastructure, while helicopters offer flexibility but bring their own range, fuel and payload requirements. Birddog crews coordinate operations around multiple aircraft, smoke and changing visibility. A national fleet cannot simply be parked at one central base.

Aircraft must be positioned using fire-weather forecasts, then supported by fuel, retardant, maintenance personnel, spare parts and rested crews.

An aircraft may be listed as available yet offer little immediate value if it is hours away or lacks support.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS: DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT

anada has entered a new era of wildfire response. For the first time, the federal government is funding a national aerial firefighting surge capacity: 10 leased aircraft and two support assets that can be dispatched through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) when provincial and territorial resources are stretched.

The announcement is significant, but the description requires some care. Canada has not created a federal air force of government-owned water bombers. It has funded a nationally coordinated pool of contracted aircraft. For the 2026 wildfire season, that pool consists of four air tankers, one birddog aircraft, five heavy-lift helicopters and two support assets. Budget 2025 committed $316.7 million over five years to the program, with CIFFC arranging leases through established Canadian operators.

That distinction leads to the larger question: Does Canada need a permanent national firefighting aircraft fleet, or does it need a betterfunded and more professionally managed system that makes full use of the aircraft, operators and provincial fleets already here? The answer is likely a combination of both, but buying airplanes is not the same as building capability.

Is a permanent national fleet feasible?

Technically, yes. Canada has the operators, manufacturers, maintenance capability and wildfire experience to establish one. The Canadian-built DHC-515, successor to the CL-215 and CL-415, presents an opportunity to renew capacity while supporting domestic aerospace employment.

Purchasing aircraft is only the beginning. A permanent fleet requires bases, training, maintenance and engineering support, dispatch systems, and enough pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers to provide reliable coverage. Experienced wildfire crews cannot be created when the season begins. Federal ownership could also duplicate existing capabilities. Provinces and Canadian contractors already have infrastructure, procedures, crews and maintenance systems. If Ottawa competed for the same limited number of pilots and AMEs, Canada might merely move personnel between fleets without adding much capacity.

This makes the lease model a practical first step. It adds capacity quickly, uses proven operators and gives CIFFC time to measure results before Canada commits to a permanent structure. CIFFC has already sought a five-year evaluation of the initiative, including annual reviews, cost-benefit analysis and performance measurement. That evidence should guide what comes next.

Where should urgent funding go?

The danger is that aircraft absorb political attention and large budgets while less visible needs remain unresolved. If governments have limited funds, or have underfunded their firefighting programs, the priority should be resources that can enter service immediately. That includes retaining firefighters, improving detection and communications, supporting Indigenous and remote communities, and keeping existing aircraft serviceable.

It also includes FireSmart programs, fuel reduction, community planning and prescribed burning where appropriate.

There is little value in adding another tanker if a province lacks crews to use the line it drops or has existing aircraft grounded while waiting for parts, maintenance personnel or operating funds.

Urgent funding should first remove known bottlenecks from the current system.

Existing help also remains essential.

Provincial sharing and international assistance are rational responses to a hazard that crosses borders. Yet mutual aid works only when partners have resources WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

De Havilland Aircraft in March 2026 announced that the Supplemental Type Certificate for its CL-415 Avionics Upgrade was officially approved by Transport Canada.

to spare. As severe seasons increasingly overlap, foreign assistance should remain an additional layer of resilience, not the foundation of Canada’s plan.

Professional management matters more than ownership The strongest argument for a national capability is not simply that Ottawa can buy aircraft. It is that Canada can improve coordination, standardization and longrange planning.

Professional management begins with knowing more than how many aircraft exist. Decision-makers need reliable information about serviceability, crew availability, maintenance status, response time and operating limitations. Performance measures should track dispatch time, mission completion, availability and productive flight hours.

Fleet planning must also look decades ahead. Many Canadian firefighting aircraft are aging. Waiting until availability deteriorates will expose governments to production backlogs, higher costs and declining parts support. A coordinated plan could sequence provincial and federal acquisitions, expand common training and maintenance opportunities, and provide Canadian industry with predictable demand.

Management also means respecting aviation realities. Dispatch pressure must never displace operational control, airworthiness or crew judgment. Smoke, terrain, low-level manoeuvring, congested airspace and changing winds make aerial firefighting unforgiving. Experienced aviation leadership must therefore be part of the program’s governance, not

placed below contract administration and emergency-management policy.

Building the right system Canada should continue developing a national aerial capability, but success should not be measured by the number of aircraft wearing federal markings.

The most effective model may be a mixed one: strong provincial fleets, long-term contracts with experienced Canadian operators, a federally funded reserve coordinated by CIFFC, and selective public ownership where it provides a clear advantage. Canada needs additional aerial capacity, but foremost, it needs properly funded provincial programs. Adding capacity while existing fleets are parked due to lack of funds and mismanagement is counterproductive, to say the least. Canada also urgently needs trained people, serviceable existing aircraft, effective prevention and professional coordination.

Aircraft are tools. The real capability is the system that predicts where they will be needed, keeps them airworthy, places them close enough to respond and integrates their work with crews on the ground. If Canada builds that system, a national fleet can be both feasible and valuable. If it focuses on acquiring aircraft alone, the country may own more equipment without being better prepared for the next extreme fire season. | W Tim Anderson is a professor at Fanshawe College, Norton Wolf School of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, located in London, Ont. He also serves as the Coordinator of the Aircraft Maintenance program.

Fall 2026 | WINGS

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ALTERNATE

APPROACH

By John Gradek

Airline strike shutdowns

Why the aviation system in Canada stops and how other countries avoid it

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Canada’s all-or-nothing approach Once an airline strike begins, Canada offers little institutional middle ground. Either the walkout proceeds and strands hundreds of thousands of travellers at the height of the season, or the federal government intervenes to bring the dispute to an end.

Employers and unions can negotiate, mediate or settle without government intervention, as WestJet and its flight attendants ultimately did. The problem arises when bargaining fails and a strike continues.

12 WINGS | Fall 2026

WestJet in late 2025 outlined plans to buy 67 more Boeing jets, including 60 737-10s and seven 787-9s, bringing its firm order book to 123 airplanes as the carrier plans to expand its domestic and international networks.

Canada has few mechanisms for allowing a lawful strike to proceed while maintaining a predictable floor of air service.

That leaves the government facing a difficult choice. It can allow the disruption to continue, with costs for passengers, businesses and communities that depend on air travel, or it can intervene in a dispute – even though employees have a right to strike recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada as part of the freedom of association protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ottawa has increasingly turned to Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code in major federal labour disputes.

The provision lets the labour

minister direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board to take steps to help resolve a labour dispute.

The government used the provision in the 2024 rail and port disputes and again during the 2025 Air Canada strike. Unions have challenged the government’s use of these powers, including on constitutional grounds.

The underlying issue is structural. Canada has no general framework for targeted or partial airline strikes that would allow workers to maintain bargaining pressure while maintaining a predictable level of service. When a dispute reaches an impasse, the disruption can, therefore, become

difficult to contain without government intervention.

Other countries offer alternatives Other countries have developed more targeted and proportionate approaches to labour action worth considering.

Italy’s aviation rules establish minimum services during strikes involving pilots, flight attendants, maintenance personnel and airline ground staff. Strikes are announced in advance, limited in duration and scheduled around protected periods. An independent commission oversees compliance.

France takes a different approach. Air traffic controllers WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

IMAGE: BOEING

ver the August long weekend, roughly 250,000 WestJet passengers had their flights cancelled when the airline’s flight attendants walked out over pay, including compensation for ground duties performed before takeoff and after landing.

Less than a year earlier, an Air Canada strike grounded the country’s largest carrier for about 60 hours. The two disputes were different in their details, but both exposed how quickly a strike at a major airline can disrupt the wider airtravel system.

I’ve spent years studying how airlines and their unions collide, and in Canada the pattern is becoming familiar.

Once an airline strike begins, there is little institutional middle ground between widespread disruption and government intervention. Other countries show this is not the only way to manage a strike.

are required to give at least 48 hours’ notice before joining a strike, giving authorities time to organize air traffic and inform passengers about expected disruptions.

Germany, on the other hand, relies heavily on short, pre-announced “warning strikes” during bargaining rather than open-ended national walkouts.

These systems illustrate two tools that could help create more predictability during an aviation strike: advance notice and a defined minimum level of service.

The aim is not to eliminate disruption entirely, as a strike needs to impose real costs on an employer to give workers meaningful bargaining leverage. The aim is to make that disruption more predictable and proportionate, allowing airlines to keep some services operating while workers continue to exercise their right to strike.

Strikes can preserve public support A more graduated system could also help unions sustain public support during a prolonged dispute in Canada.

WestJet’s flight attendants had a clear and widely understandable grievance over unpaid ground work. The union estimated that members spent about 35 hours a month performing unpaid duties, such as boarding passengers and conducting safety checks, before their paid time began.

That argument can generate public sympathy. Prolonged disruption, however, can put that support under pressure.

Large-scale disruption can also increase political pressure for government intervention. Once Ottawa invokes Section 107, the union’s immediate bargaining leverage can give way to a process that brings the strike to an end. The very mechanism used to exercise the right to strike can therefore create pressure for the government to curtail it.

The aim is to preserve that leverage while distributing the disruption over time. Workers would still be able to impose meaningful costs on an airline, but passengers and the wider economy would have greater certainty about when and where those costs would fall.

The timing is significant. Ottawa is currently consulting on changes to the federal labour-relations framework. Among the issues under consideration is a review of Section 107 of the labour code, along with changes to bargaining timelines, strikes and lockout notices, and approaches used in other jurisdictions.

Any new framework would have to preserve a meaningful right to strike. A durable minimum-service model should be developed with unions and employers, rather than imposed on them.

Air travel is an important part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure. Other countries show that protecting that system doesn’t mean eliminating workers’ bargaining power. Canada can preserve the right to strike while giving workers, employers and passengers a more predictable framework for exercising it.

That design can be changed; the question is whether Canada chooses to do so before the next long weekend forces the issue again. | W This article was originally published by The Conversation. John Gradek is a Faculty Lecturer and Program Coordinator at McGill University for various programs, including the Integrated Aviation Management Program.

Recent Canadian airline labour disputes Over the past three years, strikes have briefly brought operations at major Canadian airlines to a halt.

Here’s how recent key showdowns played out: May 2023, WestJet pilots: Bargaining between WestJet and the union representing its 1,800 pilots came down to the wire, prompting WestJet to cancel more than 230 flights in preparation for a job action.

A deal was reached hours ahead of the strike deadline and the pilots notched a 24 per cent pay increase over four years.

June 2024, WestJet AMEs: One day after the federal labour minister issued a directive for binding arbitration, WestJet AMEs went on strike and the work stoppage ended when the union accepted a deal with wage gains of more than 26 per cent over five years.

August 2025, Air Canada flight attendants: Ten years after signing their last contract, some 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants hit the picket lines on August 16 after failing to get the major gains on wages and boarding pay. Fewer than 12 hours later, Ottawa intervened by invoking Section 107 of the Labour Code to order employees back on the job. Air Canada said the strike cost it $430 million in revenue.

December 2025, Transat pilots: Air Transat and the union representing its 750 pilots struck a deal hours before a Dec. 10 strike deadline. The five-year contract included raises of more than 50 per cent for most pilots over that time period. The airline managed to cap its flight cancellations at just 18. | W

A better model for Canada Canada doesn’t need to redesign federal labour law from the ground up. The Canada Labour Code already provides a limited framework for maintaining services during a strike.

Under Section 87.4 of the code, employers and unions are required to maintain services to prevent an immediate and serious danger to public health or safety. Extending that principle toward a genuine minimumservice threshold for critical transportation would be an adjustment rather than a wholesale transformation.

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PROVIDING SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Chartright Air Group’s new hangar at the Kitchener-Waterloo International Airport will enhance its client services I By Carroll McCormick

Award-winning private aircraft charter company Chartright Air Group is adding a new hangar to its infrastructure portfolio, creating new opportunities for tenant companies and aircraft management customers. “We expect our new facility to be operational in the summer of 2027. There is a dire need for aviation infrastructure in Canada, and we are anticipating the requirements of our customers,” says Constantine Tsokas, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure, Chartright, noting that it will have a hangar door height that can accommodate a Boeing 737.

Chartright, headquartered at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ), lays claim to being one of Canada’s largest private jet operators. Its fleet includes more than 40 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, locations at seven airports, including two FBOs, and an exceptional depth of servicing and maintenance capabilities in both Canada and the United States.

This year Wings magazine recognized Chartright’s FBO at Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF), expanded just three years ago, as Ontario’s number-one FBO and ranking amongst the Top Three in Canada. It is a member of World Fuel’s Air Elite Network, an exclusive group of over 80 FBOs around the world that 14 WINGS | Fall 2026

provide luxury ground and aeronautical services for business aviation. Tsokas is the first Canadian to serve as a member of Air Elite’s international board of directors. “I hold myself and my team to champion both Chartright and Air Elite service and safety standards,” Tsokas says.

Chartright’s other FBO, located at Lake Simcoe Regional Airport (YLS), also placed fourth among Ontario FBOs this year. “Lake Simcoe airport is becoming another busy and important airport outside of Toronto, where Ornge Air Ambulance is making a large investment in infrastructure,” Tsokas says, “and we’re in active discussions on how we will be supporting their operational requirements.

“Chartright has continuously enhanced the private aviation experience in Canada,” says Tsokas, who has been with the company for 20 years. “Chartright’s FBO experience is a natural extension of the same customer-first culture that has allowed the company to become one of Canada’s leading aircraft management organizations. Every interaction is designed around customer convenience and personalization. Customers receive the same level of care whether they own an aircraft, charter an aircraft, or simply arrive at a Chartright facility.”

Tsokas attributes much of the company’s

The VIP lounge in Chartright’s FBO at YKF.

success to its employees. “Our employees genuinely enjoy taking care of customers.

Many have spent years developing relationships with regular flight crews, owners, passengers and tenants. Most of our executives here come from flying jobs and have been in aviation for a long, long time.

Aviation and service run in our blood.” He notes that many of their FBO staff are on aviation career paths, building flight hours or focusing on careers in aircraft maintenance.

Chartright’s services are vertically integrated, with infrastructure that supports its aircraft management and charter business and the broader aviation industry. For example, Chartright has close to 200,000 square feet under lease at YYZ, with one of the largest footprints there behind Air Canada and WestJet. “We have hangar space at each of our locations. Customers get full turnkey service at each; for example, aircraft management and operations, charter, maintenance, deicing and grooming services,” says Tsokas.

Chartright has 40 years of experience handling aircraft management, charter, acquisitions and sales. “The very first Bombardier Global 8000 was delivered to a Chartright customer, with a second one following shortly after,” Tsokas says. Its maintenance teams can handle everything WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: CHARTRIGHT

SPONSORED CONTENT

Team members help to recognize Peter Uddenberg, General Manager of Chartright’s FBOs, for 10 years of service.

Constantine Tsokas, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure, Chartright.

from routine maintenance to heavy inspections and full MRO services for most major manufacturers. Services include scheduled maintenance checks, warranty and parts programs, maintenance tracking and forecasting, non-destructive testing, avionics, technical records reviews, and prepurchase inspections.

“We deliver all of the maintenance services a customer needs in-house, rather than having to send aircraft south to the United States,” Tsokas says. “Beyond the charter business and the reputation for managing these extremely valuable assets, we are looking to do this cost-

PHOTOS: CHARTRIGHT (TOP), TYLOR ZADNIK (BOTTOM)

Chartright’s services include fueling, ground handling, catering, and on up.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

effectively for customers and maintain the value of their aircraft. We have some very high-profile customers who are very meticulous.”

Some customers are members of Chartright’s Jet Club, a subscription-based membership program – a step between charter and ownership – that, for an annual fee, allows them to access an array of aircraft types without the larger commitment and depreciation incurred with fractional ownership.

Chartright recently extended its maintenance reach into the United States with the creation of ChartrightGO, a mobile maintenance support

service for Canadian-registered aircraft operating in the United States. Its technicians hold both Transport Canada and FAA licences. Aircraft types it can support include Challenger, Citation, Global and Learjet models, and, while based in Florida, its geographical reach primarily services the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

“We realized that there was a maintenance service gap in the U.S. Not every U.S. MRO or MRT can work on every aircraft type or even on Canadianregistered aircraft,” Tsokas says.

“We provide a dedicated service that prioritizes our customers.

We are the first operator in Canada to do this in the U.S.”

The new hangar at YKF will be an important addition to Canada’s aviation industry, to which Chartright already provides many services.

Its current tenants include Bombardier and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited.

“DeHavilland purchased [the avionics company] Mid-Canada Mod Center and is performing major upgrades to older water bombers at our facility,” Tsokas explains. “At YKF, Bombardier performs pre-flight checks on every Global it manufactures.

They include function checks, engine runs, and test flights, if necessary, before each aircraft receives its Certificate of Airworthiness and is flown to Bombardier in Montreal for completion. We enjoy a unique relationship with Bombardier as we’re a customer, but also part of their supply chain.”

The Region of Waterloo has a rapidly growing aerospace industry in addition to the technology and manufacturing it is known for, Tsokas says.

“Having skilled local talent is an essential part of where these companies establish an operation. Also essential is having access to a wellserviced airport, as a gateway to international trade. Chartright’s FBO presence ensures that the business aviation needs for all the local movers and shakers of this industry are well served.” I Fall 2026 | WINGS 15

Top Aces in 2022 began operating the world’s only private fleet of F-16s as part of its ADAIR training with the U.S Air Force and plans to introduce this platform in other geographies, including Canada.

READY FOR RAGNAR TOP ACES AIMS TO PREPARE RCAF AIRPOWER WITH LIVE-SYNTHETIC TRAINING

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BY JON ROBINSON

16 WINGS | Fall 2026

F-16 Vipers, Alpha Jets and Douglas A-4 Skyhawks featuring – as of 2024 – the proprietary Advanced Aggressor Mission System, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar to simulate threats, and tactical datalink capabilities.

Top Aces holds more than 140 aircraft, collectively flying at least 16,000 hours per year backed by more than 800 employees, including over 100 pilots, as the largest fleet of commercially operated fighter aircraft in service.

About half of its aircraft are deployed on active contracts at a couple of dozen air bases across Europe and North America, which affords Top Aces an enviable capacity to grow as demand increases. The company also holds 160,000 accident-free flight hours in its position as a world ADAIR leader.

Top Aces today finds itself at the conflux of the steepest year-over-year increases in global military investments since the end of the Cold War – US$2.9 trillion in 2025, according to the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database – and bold new policy framed under Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy to build domestic military supply and infrastructure as Ottawa chases North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) spending targets currently set at 2.5 per cent of a member’s annual Gross Domestic Product. A target scheduled to reach five per cent by 2035. Top Aces is one of Canada’s greatest private defence assets in its ability to secure massive long-term contracts at home and abroad; and also in terms of helping the

Canadian Armed Forces save billions of dollars through cost efficiencies and extending the lifecycle of military fleets. Top Aces estimates it has saved the Government of Canada $6 billion if you consider, for example, providing ADAIR training by decreasing expensive CF-18 flight-training hours, which also extended the life of that fleet by about 10 years.

Top Aces is now poised to serve as the prime contractor for Canada’s Operational Training Infrastructure Enterprise Modernization (OTIEM) program, also known as RAGNAR, an acronym for Range Advancement Generation Next & Airspace Revitalization. Top Aces in May 2026 submitted an all-Canadian OTIEM team proposal, including: SGI; Raytheon Canada, an RTX business which would serve as the program’s Lead Technical Integrator; and CogSim, which delivers modelling, simulation and distributed mission training technologies. OTIEM is an RCAF initiative designed to upgrade how Canada trains, tests and exercises multi-domain operations and fifth-generation fighter aircraft, by merging private contractor expertise with military frameworks across Canadian bases like Cold Lake, Bagotville and Moose Jaw.

Domestic and international growth Founded in 2000 by a small group of highly accomplished former RCAF fighter pilots, Top Aces flourished under CATS, delivering livefly execution starting in 2005. The company WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: RICHIE BECKE

op Aces in July 2026 completed its acquisition of Select Global International, a Canadian defence company specializing in simulatorbased fighter pilot instruction for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The transaction brings together the high-fidelity synthetic training expertise of Select Global International (SGI) and Top Aces’ more than 20 years of advanced live-fly operational training.

It positions Top Aces as an even greater partner to support the RCAF’s transition to fifthgeneration fighters, even as the Government of Canada’s early-2023, $19-billion commitment to purchase 88 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II jets remains under review.

Top Aces in 2021 joined the SkyAlyne team, a joint venture of prime contractors KF Aerospace and CAE, in its efforts to win the landmark Future Air Crew Training (FAcT) program, valued at $11.2 billion over 25 years, for RCAF pilots, air combat systems operators and airborne electronic sensor operators.

SkyAlyne in May 2024 won the contract under which Top Aces will supply instructor pilot training. For the past 20 years, Top Aces has been providing the RCAF with advanced airborne adversary (ADAIR) training through the Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) program, which has helped the Montreal company develop an impressive international portfolio. Today, Top Aces maintains unique fleet capabilities with supersonic

PHOTOS: TOP ACES (LEFT), JAMES DEBOER

Top Aces CEO and co-founder Paul Bouchard is a former RCAF CF-18 fighter pilot.

Top Aces holds a fleet of more than 140 aircraft with approximately half of them involved in active training at bases across North America and Europe, affording the company a significant capacity for growth.

began operating in the United States in 2019, gaining critical security clearances, which includes, as of 2022, operating the only private fleet of F-16s in the world, training U.S. Air Force F-22 and F-35 pilots. In 2022, Top Aces acquired a U.S. business called Blue Air Training, adding Close Air Support training – how to coordinate airstrikes on enemy targets located very close to friendly forces – to its ADAIR core competency.

Top Aces back in 2015 began working with Germany, which has renewed their contract a couple of times. In January 2026, Germany extended its Top Aces partnership for another 10 years under a 420 million euro (CDN$680 million) contract. “With the current geopolitical dynamic, there is a lot of emerging demand from Europe,” says Paul Bouchard, Chief Executive Officer and cofounder of Top Aces. “In recent years, we’ve delivered training and support to a growing number of allied air forces, including those of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Belgium and Argentina. We are also supporting Ukraine’s operation of former NATO F-16s by helping train both pilots and maintenance personnel.”

In March 2026, Top Aces reached into South America for the first time with the signing of a $33.2 million training program (two years, with a year option) to accelerate the Fuerza Aérea Argentina’s (FAA) transition to F-16 operations as new aircraft arrive from Denmark. The program will be managed by the U.S. Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron, with training conducted

by Top Aces instructor pilots at FAA air bases using Argentina’s own F-16 aircraft. Denmark began its transition to the F-35 in late2023 (with training starting in 2021 on U.S. soil) and in 2025 committed to a fleet expansion for a total of 43 F-35A aircraft.

“Delivering this type of specialized training

requires far more than aircraft and pilots,” says Bouchard. “It demands security clearances, airworthiness approvals, and the expertise to operate seamlessly across multiple countries and regulatory environments. That capability is part of what makes Top Aces unique. We built our growth strategy on the belief that most NATO nations would transition to fifth-generation fighters, and that prediction has proven correct.”

Bouchard explains the Top Aces management team knew it needed higher performance planes to help build out its fifth-gen offering, which led to the F-16 purchase, while also focusing on capabilities like radar, jamming and communications systems. “It allows us to easily customize the technology package in the planes for a customer’s needs and then adapt it over time,” says Bouchard.

“It’s been a big differentiator for us.”

Among commercial providers, Top Aces has the most live flight training experience with fifth-generation aircraft in the world, beginning in 2018 when it worked with Australia and its F-35 ramp up. According to Bouchard, the shift from traditional fourthgeneration air combat training to fifth-generation operations is driving a fundamental change in how pilots prepare for combat.

Whereas training was once conducted primarily in live aircraft against live adversaries, modern air forces increasingly rely on blended live and synthetic environments to replicate the complexity of today’s battlespace.

With the F-35, for example, pilots can train in a live aircraft while simultaneously interacting with live, virtual and constructive entities.

This allows air forces to create highly realistic scenarios combining advanced air defence systems, and massed formations of friendly and adversary aircraft, many of which might be impractical or impossible to replicate through live training alone.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

“OTIEM is about creating an integrated live-synthetic training ecosystem by modernizing both the physical and digital infrastructure that underpins military training,” says Bouchard. “But technology and infrastructure are only part of the equation. As our tagline has reflected since 2006, experience matters. Ultimately, success depends on having the operational expertise and subject matter knowledge to design, deliver and evolve advanced training. When you look at Top Aces, particularly with the addition of SGI, we have by far the largest concentration of highly experienced fighter pilots in Canada. That expertise is a strategic national resource.”

Founded in 2013, SGI built its reputation by delivering high-fidelity synthetic training for CF-18 aircrew. The company is comprised of highly experienced former CF-18 instructor pilots, many of whom have recent operational and command experience within the RCAF. The RCAF’s full transition from the CF-18 to the F-35 will take years, but the Canadian government is focused on developing its frontline mission through fifth-gen fighters and combat readiness. Canada in 2017 awarded Top Aces a new 10-year contract under CATS with four option years. Two of the option years have been exercised, putting their partnership out to 2029 at least, which matches up well with the expected 2028 first arrival of F-35s in Canada (with F-35 training for the RCAF scheduled to start in late-2026 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona).

The OTIEM program Request for Information is scheduled to close on September 30, 2026, with an expected contract start this December, formal definition phase anticipated in 2027/2028, and Initial Operational Delivery expected in 2029/2030. Having performed more than 5,000 sorties of ADAIR support with allied fifth-generation fleets, Fall 2026 | WINGS 17

Top Aces notes its team is prepared to begin the OTIEM definition phase immediately.

standard across NATO, demand for advanced training grew alongside them. More than 20 years later, we’re bringing that expeFuture fighters and live-synthetic rience back to Canada. We’ve never left, but As Canada prepares to introduce fifth‑gener- we’ve developed capabilities on a global scale ation fighters, OTIEM represents a strategic, that are highly relevant to OTIEM. sovereign capability essential to modernizing “OTIEM is not about any single aircraft. the RCAF operational training enterprise. It’s about connecting platforms, simulators Top Aces explains it will define the deploy- and training systems into a common ecosysment of Canada’s fifth‑generation airpower tem,” continues Bouchard. “Whether Canaand strengthen the country’s readiness, in- dian forces are training together or operating teroperability with allies, and national con- alongside allied aircraft, the goal is to create trol over a mission-critical training capability. a realistic live-synthetic environment that “We started in Canada and have exported prepares crews for modern operations. That’s AerocourseWINGSAd2026-4.6875x4.75 1 2026-08-10 5:50 PMTop Aces speour expertise to the world,” says Bouchard.FALL.pdf exactly the kind of integration “As fifth-generation fighters became the cializes in.”

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Top Aces, together with Blue Air Training, which the Montreal company purchased in 2022, supports allied partner nations like Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Belgium and Ukraine.

OTIEM will link multiple ranges and multiple nodes with modernized ground capabilities and aircraft fleets, including the 14 new Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft Canada is acquiring for around $10 billion, for example, refueling aircraft, long-range drones, short-range combat drones, frigates and destroyers, even submarines – Canada in May 2026 announced its award to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the preferred bidder to supply up to 12 diesel-electric Type 212CD submarines beginning in 2034 – with an initial estimated price tag toward $30 million.

The ongoing investments in defence globally has been compared to a spending spree.

Findings from the SIPRI database show 11 straight years of year-over-year expenditure increases, including a 9.7 per cent rise from 2023 to 2024. Global military spending in 2025 equalled 2.5 per cent of global GDP. Canada in early 2026 set up the Defense Investment Agency to expedite procurement decisions, counter to the country’s Future Fighter Capability Project that officially began in 2010. Regardless of future military equipment decisions, OTIEM represents an industry-led execution of Canada’s defence spending where technologies turn into sustainment through long-term contracts.

“For years, Canada was recognized as a destination of choice for advanced air combat training,” says Bouchard, pointing to Exercise Maple Flag, which ran from 1977 until 2018 at CFB Cold Lake and the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, often with Five Eyes allies as core participants. “We have some of the largest and most attractive military airspace in the world, and that remains a significant strategic advantage today. The opportunity now is to modernize the infrastructure and training ecosystem needed to fully support fifth-generation and future capabilities.”

Canada, under OTIEM, will have the most modern live-synthetic training environment among its allies and, with Top Aces on board, also the most capable; again, laid over top of the world’s largest airspace – where fifthgeneration airpower takes control through distributed deterrence and stealth.

“Once this transformation is complete, Canada can again become a destination of choice for advanced military training, and I believe that’s one of the country’s broader objectives,” says Bouchard. “The Royal Canadian Air Force successfully delivered Maple Flag for decades. What we’re proposing is a model that combines military leadership with industry partnership to create a worldclass training ecosystem. Let’s bring allied nations here, leverage Canada’s unparalleled airspace and infrastructure, and establish a premier hub for multinational training.

I believe Canada is uniquely positioned to achieve that.” | W

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Skyservice Business Aviation YVR Skyservice Business Aviation YYC Fast Air Jet Centre YXX Sunwest Aviation YYC Integrity Flight Support YPK

TOP FBOS IN CENTRAL CANADA (SASK, MAN, NUNAVUT) Kreos Aviation YQR Fast Air Jet Centre YWG Kreos Aviation YXE

TOP FBOS IN ONTARIO

Chartright Air Group YKF Skyservice Business Aviation YOW Skyservice Business Aviation YYZ Chartright Air Group YLS Enterprise FBO YOO

TOP FBOS IN QUEBEC

Skyservice Business Aviation YUL Signature/Starlink YUL AFS Exécutif YQB LUX FBO YHU Avjet YQB

CANADA’S TOP FIXED BASE OPERATOR

COAST TO COAST SURVEY FOCUSING ON USAGE AND CLIENT PREFERENCES

T

he 2026 Top Fixed Base Operator in Canada survey conducted by Wings ran for four months in an opening voting system. A total of 1,872 votes were cast. In addition to naming their favourite Fixed Base Operator (FBO) in Canada, which also determines market leaders across five regions of the country, participants in the annual survey were asked to provide their insight into the business and private aviation sector.

Skyservice Business Aviation’s facility in Richmond, B.C., at Vancouver International Airport, YVR, was named as the Top Fixed Base Operator in Canada based 20 WINGS | Fall 2026

on survey results, after the company’s facilities at Toronto Pearson International earned the top position in 2025. Skyservice’s location at Calgary International, YYC, came in second place across all of Canada. Third place in the country went to Chartright Air Group’s FBO at Waterloo International, YKF. Integrity Flight Support based at Pitt Meadows Regional, YPK, was named this year’s Rising Star, earning the largest number of new votes year over year.

Five of Skyservice’s facilities in Canada placed within the top three positions across three regions in this year’s survey, also including Skyservice Montréal

at YUL, Skyservice Ottawa at YOW and Skyservice Toronto at YYZ. The company continued its growth into 2026 with key investments such as, in June 2026, its Vancouver facility being designated as a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility (ASF). The move expands Skyservice’s ASF network alongside established locations in Toronto and Montréal.

Skyservice in January 2026 added aircraft detailing services to its Toronto Pearson location, marking the first time the offering from Skyservice is available in Canada. The detailing service is already established at Fontainebleau Aviation, a Skyservice company, and operates WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

IMAGE: WINGS MAGAZINE

BY JON ROBINSON

at its Miami and Fort Lauderdale FBOs. In April 2026, Skyservice took delivery of the first Canadian-registered Gulfstream G500, following several years of regulatory review, marking the aircraft’s formal entry into service in Canada following Transport Canada’s type certificate validation of a few select serial numbers in February 2026.

Chartright Air Group, number three in Canada this year based on survey results, also had a busy past year with its role in helping to launch the world’s first Bombardier Global 8000 business jet, which in December 2025 officially entered into service under the operational custody of Chartright, marking what the company described as a defining milestone for Canadian aviation.

“Managing this best-in-class aircraft on behalf of our client reflects the depth of our trusted operational expertise and the strength of our longstanding relationship with Bombardier,” said Chartright’s COO Ben Boehm. Chartright in May 2025 announced a new partnership with Bombardier to support the final production and quality assurance for Bombardier Global aircraft. As part of this collaboration, Bombardier has taken residency in Chartright’s recently

expanded hangar and FBO at YKF. Chartright’s FBO location at Lake Simcoe Regional, YLS, which opened in 2022, placed fourth in the Ontario region in the FBO survey, after the YLS facility was named as Canada’s Rising Star FBO in 2023. In March 2026, Chartright introduced ChartrightGO to provide mobile, Transport Canada–licenced maintenance directly to Global, Challenger, Learjet and Citation aircraft in the Southeastern United States, leveraging technicians licenced by both Transport Canada and the FAA. In January of 2026, Chartright introduced an expansion of its JetClub membership program with a Heavy Jet category, adding to existing Light, Midsize and SuperMid categories. The new Heavy Jet fleet features Challenger 604, Challenger 605 and Challenger 650 aircraft.

When survey participants were asked for what type of travel do you most often use an FBO (allowing respondents to select more than one category), Business Aviation represented the majority of 2026 survey responses at 45.3 per cent, followed by Aircrew at 34.0 per cent, Personal at 24.8 per cent, Government at 10.7 per cent, and Maintenance/Technician at 7.8 per cent.

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When asked where do you travel when using private or business aviation, again allowing participants to choose more than one category, Domestic dominated at 76.1 per cent, which increased from 67.7 per cent in 2025. Transborder travel in the U.S. came in at 45.1 per cent, up from 31.2 per cent in 2025, and International reached 15.1 per cent in 2026, a decrease from 19.6 per cent in 2025.

Respondents were asked how they would invest to improve aircraft performance and use. Based on 686 total responses, Cabin Comfort was first at 42.6 per cent, up slightly from 41.3 per cent in 2025. Speed received the second most responses in 2026 at 33.7 per cent, up from 25.8 per cent in 2025; followed

by Communications at 23.8 per cent, up from 21.1 per cent in 2025, Maintenance at 19.7 per cent (28.1 per cent in 2025), and Sustainable Aviation Fuel at 19.4 per cent (34.2 per cent in 2025).

When asked into which area they would prefer their FBO to invest, based on 685 responses, Facility Overall came in first at 49.8 per cent, followed by Customer Service at 21.8 per cent, Maintenance at 19.7 per cent, Transborder Access at 11.2 per cent and International Access at 10.7 per cent. | W

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SPONSORED CONTENT

TURNKEY SUPPORT IN CANADIAN BUSINESS AVIATION

Levaero Aviation is a full-service Canadian business aviation company with nearly 30 years of experience supporting aircraft owners and operators. Through its exclusive relationship with Pilatus, aircraft sales and acquisitions across a range of makes and models, comprehensive maintenance capabilities and customer first approach, Levaero has grown into a trusted aviation partner with expertise spanning the aircraft ownership journey.

The company’s roots date back to 1997, when it was founded in Thunder Bay, Ont., as the V. Kelner Pilatus Centre before rebranding as Levaero Aviation in 2015.

Founder Frank Kelner recognized that Pilatus aircraft were particularly well suited to the Canadian operating environment, geography and climate. He relocated to Thunder Bay to establish the company, employing Robert Arnone, who is now President and CEO, and Steve Davey, who is now Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Maintenance.

“At the time, there was an established market for Pilatus aircraft in Canada, but no dealership,” said Arnone. “We sought out that opportunity and, hence, here we are today celebrating a milestone of 29 years of business in Thunder Bay. It was the 22 WINGS | Fall 2026

Levaero developed and built a 12,000-square-foot hangar at the Collingwood Regional Airport to support its growing MRO demand.

evolution of the product that stands out.

Year in and year out, the aircraft changed and the different models were introduced and added to the constant improvement of the Pilatus fleet.”

Pilatus aircraft are well suited to the Canadian geography, climate and business needs. Since its introduction to Canada, the Pilatus PC-12 fleet has grown to approximately 130 aircraft.

Levaero’s strategic partnership with Pilatus compliments Levaero’s growing capability to sell and service various aircraft makes and models. As the exclusive Canadian authorized Pilatus Sales and Service centre, Levaero has gained the knowledge created by 29 years of servicing the Canadian Pilatus market.

Under Levaero’s long-standing leadership, the culture at Levaero has a unique blend of key themes, including: customer-first decision-making; attention to detail; accessibility of leadership; longterm employee and customer relationships; and deep institutional aviation knowledge.

The development of Levaero’s culture has evolved over the past 29 years under the leadership of Arnone and Davey, as well as Stan Kuliavas, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Shaun Appell, Vice President of Customer Support, and

Lisa Chalifoux, Controller. The entire team provides a unique blend of management style, driven by the common goal of developing a working environment that benefits their team and customers alike.

A core competency at Levaero is its Interiors department, which specializes in aircraft interior refurbishment, cabin upgrades and custom interior modifications for business and private aircraft across Canada. From new seating and upholstery to carpeting and cabin modernization, Levaero’s experienced team delivers certified solutions that enhance comfort, appearance and long-term value while minimizing aircraft downtime. Whether refreshing an existing cabin or completing a full interior transformation, Levaero helps owners create interiors that look exceptional and perform for years to come. Levaero’s interior design team helps owners select the right blend of finishings to create an interior matching their dreams and vision.

Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) is another core piece of Levaero’s full-service aviation offering. With nearly three decades of experience, Levaero combines skilled people, proven processes and advanced technology to provide comprehensive maintenance support across a wide range of aircraft makes and models.

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PHOTOS: LEVAERO AVIATION

Levaero aligns customer needs with three decades of unrivalled experience. By Phil Lightstone

PHOTOS: LEVAERO AVIATION

Levaero leaders Steve Davey, Stan Kuliavas, Ray Kuliavas and Robert Arnone in March 2025 at the Pilatus PC-12 PRO launch event in Switzerland.

Interiors is a core competency of Leavero, specializing in refurbishment, cabin upgrades and custom modifications for business and private aircraft across Canada.

The team is focused not only on supporting safe, reliable day-to-day operations, but also on protecting aircraft performance, longevity and value over the long term.

Levaero’s Thunder Bay location serves as corporate headquarters while also providing maintenance activities. With the increasing maintenance workload, a new hangar was required. In 2025, Levaero developed and built a 12,000-square-foot hangar at the Collingwood Regional Airport to support its growing MRO demand. As an innovator, Levaero understands the needs of aircraft, people and businesses operating in Canada. The geography, climate and dispersed operating environment across Canada create unique aircraft and maintenance requirements, which Levaero understands through decades of experience.

Focusing on innovation and safeguarding its customers’ best interests, Levaero developed and implemented approved Life Extension Programs that allow qualifying Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to operate beyond the original 20,000-hour life limitation. Canadian PC-12 operators have historically accumulated some of the highest aircraft utilization, placing Canadian aircraft among the first to approach the original 20,000-hour limit.

Levaero understood customers needed a way to protect their investments and maximize the long-term value of their PC-12s.

The company developed Life Extension Program One (LEP1), an approved Transport Canada, EASA and FAA program extending the PC-12 life limit to 25,000 hours. Levaero’s Life Extension Program Two (LEP2) further extends the PC-12 life limit from 25,000 hours, following LEP1, to 50,000 hours. To date, Levaero has implemented LEP1 and LEP2 on 37 aircraft.

With more than six months required to implement LEP1, the new maintenance hangar in Collingwood provides strategic capacity to support Levaero’s continued growth across its broader maintenance operations. With more than 2,000 PC-12s delivered since 1994, LEP1 and LEP2 provide an important pathway for operators to protect the useful life, operational capability and longterm value of the global PC-12 fleet.

Levaero is an International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) accredited dealer serving a global customer base with a full-service turnkey solution for business aviation needs. Levaero’s sales team serves customers across Canada and internationally, with its sales office located in Mississauga. Its sales staff bring a deep understanding of the fit of Pilatus aircraft (and other makes and models) into a variety of industries.

The Pilatus PC-12 PRO delivers a stunning interior and features a range of pilot operational conveniences with the Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE) powered by Garmin 3000 PRIME, including 14-inch high-resolution touchscreens and avionics, plus many more advanced aircraft systems. Pilatus’s PC-24 Super Versatile Jet redefines the versatility of a turboprop with the comfort and performance of a medium-sized jet aircraft. The versatility of the jet is enhanced with short-field performance allowing for take-offs and landings on runways close to 3,000 feet.

With almost 30 years of operations, Levaero has captured perspectives across multiple market cycles, with a proven ability to advise buyers and sellers under everchanging market conditions. Corporations and private owners look to Levaero’s sales professionals to advise them to the correct new or used aircraft aligning to their long-term needs. In July 2026, Levaero published the 2026 edition of its State of the Canadian Aircraft Market report. It reviews a variety of jet and turboprop aircraft, as well as transactions into, within and out of Canada.

With more than 75 years of combined aviation expertise on the Levaero team and insights born from real transactions and live market activity, the State of the Canadian Aircraft Market report provides clear signals on demand, pricing and timing. It decodes shifts in buyer and seller behaviours and helps readers understand what is changing.

“The current market sharpens the picture. Inventory sits at its thinnest in years, and the most desirable aircraft are trading quickly, often before they are ever publicly listed, tilting conditions firmly toward sellers,” says Stan Kuliavas. “The cross-border tariff turbulence that unsettled buyers through 2025 and into 2026 brought uncertainty to an essential trading relationship. At Levaero Aviation, our role is to translate this landscape into clear strategy.”

Approaching 30 years in business, Levaero brings together deep Canadian aviation experience, integrated aircraft sales and maintenance capabilities, and long-standing customer relationships built on a customer-first approach. This commitment supports both immediate and long-term customer needs, helping maintain aircraft availability, reduce downtime where possible, maximize utilization and protect the long-term value of their aircraft. Backed by an experienced team and nearly three decades serving Canadian business aviation, Levaero continues to deliver the sales, service and support its customers need throughout the aircraft ownership journey.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

Fall 2026 | WINGS 23

Rocket Lab’s Electron prepares for launch in June 2026 from Launch Complex 1 with a Pioneer spacecraft.

Rocket Lab at the end of June 2026 moved to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Iridium common stock for $54 per share, which represented an enterprise value for Iridium of approximately US$8 billion.

AVIATION MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS MAJOR PRIMES ARE ACQUIRING SUBSYSTEM MAKERS TO SECURE THEIR FUTURE

PHOTO: PERIMETER

M

ergers and acquisitions, often inspired by venture capitalists and company founders, are essential elements of powering new paradigms in the aviation and aerospace sector. Along with Initial Public Offerings, M&As allow for the flow of resources into ideas and efficiencies that create industry-sustaining products and services, which are sometimes even disruptive. Even the earliest examples of aviation genius from the likes of the Wright Brothers, Clyde Cessna, William Piper, Glenn Curtiss, Lloyd Stearman, Clarence and William Tylor, Alexander Graham Bell and Walter Beech underwent business trial by due diligence.

At a microeconomic level, mergers and acquisitions have goals of creating a synergistic result where two plus two equals 57, which generates wealth. This notion of leveraging the best of each company, while optimizing the newco, is fundamental to the underlying power of capitalism. A company like Chorus Aviation, for example, has been very active in the M&A space over the past few years.

From a Canadian perspective, Chorus is a 24 WINGS | Fall 2026

great example of an investment organization combining assets for grow and also organically creating new companies, such as Cygnet Aviation Academy. Chorus’ six-month financial results dated June 3, 2026 include: Operating revenue at $674 million; operating expenses at $631 million; and net income at $20 million. Recently, Chorus also purchased parts distributor Kadex Aero Supply.

On May 14, 2026, Iridium Communications announced its acquisition of Aireon LLC. Iridium is an existing equity holder of Aireon LLC. Iridium acquired the remaining 61 per cent of equity of Aireon at a purchase price of approximately $366.7 million from the other equity holders including: NAV Canada; AirNav Ireland; ENAV (Italy); NATS (United Kingdom); and Naviair (Denmark).

The purchase price will be paid 50 per cent at closing and 50 per cent on the one-year anniversary. Iridium will also assume Aireon’s outstanding debt, expected to be approximately $155 million at closing. Iridium expects to finance the purchase with its current liquidity including borrowing under their revolving credit facility and future cash from operations.

With the transaction closing on July 6, 2026,

Iridium expects the net leverage to increase to approximately four times Operational Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (OEBITDA) during Q3 2026, with their net leverage planning to return to current levels over the next 12 months from the transaction. Aireon has roughly 156 employees and Iridium has approximately 975 employees.

Matt Desch, Iridium CEO said: “Iridium and Aireon are fully aligned in our mission to advance the future of aviation safety. What began as a bold vision more than a decade ago has become a foundational capability for global air traffic management, delivering real-time surveillance and operational intelligence on a truly global scale. Together, we will continue investing in the technologies and innovations that we believe will make aviation safer, more efficient, and more resilient for decades to come.”

On June 29, 2026, Rocket Lab announced its planned acquisition of Iridium at a valuation of US$8 billion representing a 24 per cent premium. Rocket Lab funded the planned acquisition in part with a US$3.6 billion bridge loan funded from Deutsche Bank and Wells WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: ROCKET LAB

BY PHIL LIGHTSTONE

Fargo in addition to Rocket Lab’s cash on hand. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, however regulatory and Iridium shareholders approvals are required.

On April 22, 2025, Boeing announced the sale of its Digital Aviation Solutions group (consisting of Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData and OzRunways) to a private equity firm, Thoma Bravo, focused on growing software and technology companies. The transaction closed on November 3, 2025, reported at US$10.55 billion and is a cash transaction.

Kelly Ortberg, Boeing President and CEO, noted: “This transaction is an important component of our strategy to focus on core businesses, supplement the balance sheet and prioritize the investment grade credit rating.” The divestiture impacted some 3,900 employees associated with Boeing’s DAS business unit. Boeing said it is cooperating with buyer Thoma Bravo to effect as seamless a transition as possible with employees and customers in mind, including all contractual obligations. Brad Surak, who previously led Boeing’s Digital Aviation Solutions business unit, leads Jeppesen ForeFlight as CEO. Surak explains: “Backed by 90 years of Jeppesen’s gold-standard data and ForeFlight’s relentless spirit of exploration, this combination is building the most unified, intuitive platform in aviation. As we return to independence alongside a leader in software private equity investing, we’re enabled to move faster, think bigger, and innovate. AI is the north-star for our multi-year roadmap of integrated solutions as we look to build on our proven heritage and move to new horizons. We have an unmatched history of pioneering – from inventing aviation charts to transforming aeronautical data into digitized pilot support systems – and we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible.

Jeppesen ForeFlight is bringing AI to aviation, from the flight deck to the operations control center driving increased operational efficiency and bolstering safety.”

Removing these four digital companies from Boeing, allows Jeppesen Foreflight’s organization to prioritize new directions and innovations to the organization. As an example, the group recently launched their Aviation Insurance Group. Insurance, also a highly regulated industry, typically utilizing an insurance company, brokerage and sales agent model to place aircraft insurance.

ForeFlight’s new Aviation Insurance Group takes a brokerage approach, while leveraging its existing customer base. One key task of quoting insurance is a Pilot Experience Report. Most of the data pertaining to pilot experience is maintained in ForeFlight Logbook. Further, an insurance tab has been added to the Web and App versions of ForeFlight, making access to its insurance products and process even simpler. The new product was WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

15 key mergers in Canadian aviation over the past decade EXCHANGE INCOME CORPORATION – PROVINCIAL AIRLINES GROUP Deal completed: 2015 (outside of 10-year window, but foundational to later deals). Financials: ~C$246 million, combination of cash and stock.

AIRBUS – BOMBARDIER C SERIES (AIRBUS A220) Deal completed: July 2018. Financials: Airbus took a 50.01 per cent stake for no upfront cash; Bombardier and Quebec government retained the rest, later reduced further. Airbus took full control in 2020.

AIR CANADA – AEROPLAN Deal completed: January 2018. Financials: $450 million cash (plus ~C$47M in pre-closing adjustments), plus assumption of ~C$1.9 billion in Aeroplan Miles liability.

BOMBARDIER Q400/DASH 8 PROGRAM – LONGVIEW AVIATION (DE HAVILLAND CANADA) Deal completed: June 2019. Financials: ~$300 million gross proceeds (~$250 million net after liabilities/fees).

BOMBARDIER BUSINESS AIRCRAFT TRAINING – CAE Deal completed: 2019. Financials: Enterprise value of approximately US$645 million.

FIRST AIR – CANADIAN NORTH (MERGER) Deal completed: July 2019. Financials: Not publicly disclosed (Indigenous-owned combination, not a cash sale).

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES – BOMBARDIER CRJ SERIES PROGRAM Deal completed: June 2020. Financials: ~US$550 million cash, plus MHI assumption of ~US$200 million in liabilities; Bombardier’s RASPRO interest (~US$170 to $180M) also transferred.

THE CARLYLE GROUP – STANDARDAERO (FROM VERITAS CAPITAL) Deal completed: April 2019. Financials: Reported as ~US$5 billion including debt (not officially disclosed).

ONEX – WESTJET AIRLINES Deal completed: December 2019. Financials: ~C$5 billion total enterprise value (~C$31 per share, ~C$1.9B equity value plus assumed debt).

CAE – L3HARRIS MILITARY TRAINING BUSINESS Deal completed: 2021. Financials: US$1.05 billion cash (~13.5x adjusted EBITDA).

WESTJET GROUP – SUNWING AIRLINES & SUNWING VACATIONS Deal completed: 2023 (May); announced March 2022. Financials: Undisclosed (privately held WestJet does not report purchase price).

CHORUS AVIATION – FALKO REGIONAL AIRCRAFT Deal completed: May 2022; announced Feb 2022. Financials: ~US$855 million total consideration (US$445M cash + ~US$410M assumed debt).

HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS – CHORUS AVIATION’S FALKO/REGIONAL LEASING DIVISION Deal completed: 2024 (deal announced July 2024). Financials: ~$814 million (total transaction value including related assets reported near $1.9 billion).

EXCHANGE INCOME CORPORATION – CANADIAN NORTH (BRADLEY AIR SERVICES) Deal completed: 2025 (July); announced February 2025. Financials: C$205 million ($10M in EIC shares + $195M cash from credit facility).

AIRSPRINT – ONEX PARTNERS & TRIWEST CAPITAL PARTNERS Deal announced: June 2026; expected to close Q3 2026. Financials: Not disclosed. | W Fall 2026 | WINGS 25

showcased at AirVenture 2026 with members of the Jeppesen ForeFlight Aviation Insurance Group on hand to discuss with aircraft owners and ForeFlight subscribers.

This is a great example how the organization launched a new service with the goal increasing revenue with complimentary services while improving their customer’s experiences navigating the aircraft insurance process.

Another great example of M&A leading private equity to IPO activities is the AIRO Group Holdings Inc., which purchased Aspen Avionics (founded in 2004), Jaunt Air Mobility, Sky-Watch (drone brand) and Coastal Defense. AIRO is a next-generation aerospace and defense platform driving innovation across defense and commercial markets.

Headquartered in McLean, VA, with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Denmark, AIRO combines a global reach with deep technical expertise. Through a vertically integrated model, AIRO delivers solutions centered on their drone platforms, leveraging advanced avionics, integrated training capabilities and embedded autonomy across systems. AIRO has invested financial holdings into building product development, people and physical plants (390,000 square feet in Rebild Municipality, Denmark). Captain Joe Burns, CEO of AIRO, reports: “This investment is a deliberate step in scaling AIRO as

a globally integrated defense platform.” The transaction is expected to close sometime in 2027.

On April 14, 2026, Globalstar announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by Amazon. Globalstar, a global satellite telecommunications provider delivers a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network and hardware, including SPOT. SPOT provides an end-toend subscription-based SOS solution utilized across a variety of industries and consumers.

Globalstar stockholders can receive either US$90 per Globalstar share (cash) or 0.3210 shares of Amazon stock (both are subject to adjustment). The US$90 per share will be adjusted downward if the 20-day Volume Weighted Average Price of Amazon stock as of two days before transaction closing exceeds US$290.39. The acquisition was approved

by Globalstar’s Board of Directors, Strategic Review Committee and Special Committee and as such, no separate stockholder vote is required (as the transaction was approved by the stockholders with a majority of the voting power). The acquisition enables Amazon Leo to add direct to device (D2D) services to its LEO satellite network and extend cellular coverage to customers beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial networks. Panos Panay, Senior Vice President of Devices & Services, Amazon, explained: “There are billions of customers out there living, travelling, and

operating in places beyond the reach of existing networks, and we started Amazon Leo to help bridge that divide. By combining Globalstar’s proven expertise and strong foundation with Amazon’s customer-obsession and innovation, customers can expect faster, more reliable service in more places – keeping them connected to the people and things that matter most. We’re excited to support Apple users through the Leo D2D system and look forward to working with mobile network partners to help extend coverage to every corner of the planet.”

As with the tech verticals, aviation and aerospace sectors have launched new companies which start small and become massive multi marketplace organizations. Garmin comes to mind. But other startups such as Avidyne are building avionics solutions with their unique approach to the technology while successfully competing against established players. These organizations provide advanced technical aviation solutions, interesting workplaces and investment opportunities. Public companies allow investors to buy and sell shares instantly (think on-line brokerages like Questrade) and reap both short-term and long-term gains (assuming that the market does not readjust or crash).

An aviator investor’s profitability could create an emotional bond to the transaction, which can be priceless. | W

NOW AIRCRAFT ENGINEERS HIRING FULLTIME/TOURING/SEASONAL APPLICANT MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING:

ANNUAL COMPENSATION $160-$200K

depending on type ratings and experience

$10K

signing bonus upon hire

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PACKAGE

• • • •

A valid M1 or M2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License Held an ACA at a recognized AMO facility A valid driver’s license ICAO Certification would be an asset

JOB DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Conduct maintenance on aircraft or aircraft components in accordance with the applicable standards of airworthiness • Troubleshoot faulty systems to determine a course of rectification • Track and plan maintenance activities, and coordinate with Dispatch • Maintain aircraft records using computerized tracking system • Supervise junior engineers and apprentices, as required • Ensure all paperwork for assigned tasks is complete and accurate before submitting • Ensure all maintenance alerts and memos are read, understood and complied with • Carry out the applicable elementary servicing release of an aircraft as authorized to do so by their individual Shop Certification Authority (SCA) • Engineers will take responsibility for an additional duties as they are assigned.

Qwest Helicopters is a certified AMO. All required scheduled maintenance is carried out at our hangar in Fort Nelson.

Ratings in the following aircraft type would be an asset: B206, B205, AS350 and AS365 helicopter.

90 Bell Rd. Fort Nelson Airport Fort Nelson, BC 250-774-5302 office@qwestheli.com

qwesthelicopters.com

SUBMIT RESUMES COMPLETE WITH REFERENCES TO office@qwestheli.com

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2026-08-12 12:32 PM

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

The ultimate resource of operators, services and technologies helping to lead wildfire suppression

The Aerial Firefighting Directory features key suppliers of aircraft, equipment and services, as well as a range of rotary- and fixed-wing operators involved in wildfire suppression in Canada and around the world

Conair Group holds the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet to support agencies for wildfire response. The B.C. based company also converts and exports a range of aircraft, including its newest airtanker, the Dash 8-400AT, which started operations in 2020 with more than 28 now operating around the world.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

Fall 2026 | WINGS 27

FIRESWIFT Advanced Aerial Firefighting

FIRESWIFT integrates advanced, precision drop capabilities with sophisticated surveillance and communication technologies.

Detect | Target | Attack

28 WINGS | Fall 2026

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

AIRCRAFT, ENGINES & PLATFORMS

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS CANADA Fort Erie, ON, airbuscanada.ca

For more than 40 years, Airbus Helicopters has maintained a strong and growing presence in Canada and is a leader in the country’s civil and parapublic helicopter market. Based in Fort Erie, Ontario, and supported by the Niagara Distribution Centre in Niagara Falls, Airbus Helicopters in Canada employs more than 330 people across Canada and supports a national fleet of more than 850 helicopters flown by 230 operators. Since 1984, the Fort Erie facility has developed significant domestic capabilities in aircraft completion and customisation, engineering, repair and overhaul, composite manufacturing and in-service support, supporting operators conducting some of the most demanding missions across the country.

Aerial firefighting is among the critical public service missions supported by Airbus Helicopters in Canada and around the world. Airbus offers a broad range of rotorcraft and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that can support wildfire response from active fire suppression and the transport of firefighters and equipment to evacuation, reconnaissance, mapping and situational awareness. Spanning light single-engine to heavy multi-mission helicopters, the Airbus range provides operators with flexibility to respond to different missions, environments and stages of a wildfire response. Uncrewed systems can further extend these capabilities by providing aerial observation and intelligence, including in environments where sending a crewed aircraft may carry greater risk. Airbus’ HTeaming technology takes this integration a step further, enabling crews to control uncrewed systems directly from the helicopter cockpit and use them for forward observation while remaining focused on the primary mission. Together, these crewed and uncrewed capabilities provide operators and first responders with greater flexibility, information and situational awareness when responding to increasingly complex wildfire environments.

BELL TEXTRON CANADA Mirabel, QC, bellflight.com/ca

COVER PHOTOS: CONAIR GROUP (TOP), GUSTAV KLOT PHOTOGRAPHY

For more than 75 years, Bell has pushed the boundaries of public safety aviation, introducing the world’s first fire helicopter and the first dedicated public safety helicopter and partnering with collaborators worldwide. Today, as a Textron subsidiary, Bell is a global leader in commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft, serving customers in more than 120 countries. Celebrating 40 years of operations in Canada, Bell Textron Canada has, since 1986, been a driving force in Canadian aerospace. With more than 1,500 employees and more than 1,000 aircraft delivered across the country, the company continues to anchor Bell’s innovation and presence in Canada.

CONAIR GROUP Abbotsford, BC, conair.ca

A global leader in emergency response aircraft production and operations, Conair manufactures, owns, and operates the world’s largest fleet of fixed-wing aircraft specializing in aerial firefighting (see page 48 for operations information). Conair is a trusted manufacturer of emergency response aircraft, creating 16 different aircraft types and converting more than 200 individual aircraft for service around the world.

The company is currently modifying Dash 8-400 commercial aircraft into specialized emergency response airtankers and the Daher TBM 960 into an Air Attack Multi-Mission platform. The Dash 8-400AT is is a land-based airtanker, dropping retardant or water from a 10,000-litre tank. It operates from shorter runways, typically located in rural regions, closer to where wildfires may occur. The Dash 8-400MRE is Conair’s multi-role variant to perform critical airborne missions. With a customizable platform, the Dash 8-400MRE features added capabilities to transport crews, evacuate citizens, ship WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

equipment and supplies, or medevac patients. The company now has 28 Dash 8-400 aircraft modified for aerial firefighting support operating around the world

DAHER/KODIAK Sandpoint, Idaho, kodiak.aero

Daher’s workhorse Kodiak aircraft family is operated in multi-mission applications that range from wildfire suppression and natural resources monitoring to public safety and humanitarian missions. Produced in the Kodiak 100 version and its longer-fuselage Kodiak 900 variant, these high-wing aircraft are well tailored for fire suppression duties, bringing together the advantages of long loiter times, high stability at slow flight speeds, the ability to take off and land from short/unimproved fields, and substantial useful load capacities to deploy equipment and supplies.

DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT OF CANADA Calgary, AB, dehavilland.com

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited is a cornerstone of Canadian aerospace innovation, designing, building and supporting aircraft in Canada for the global market. Every aircraft the company produces creates high-value jobs, strengthens its national aerospace industry, and contributes to a resilient and growing economy.

With a fleet of more than 5,000 aircraft delivered to operators worldwide, De Havilland Canada has earned a global reputation for rugged, reliable performance and exceptional customer support. Its aircraft connect people and places – from the most remote communities to the busiest regional hubs – carrying millions of passengers and critical cargo every year. Built to operate in the toughest environments, De Havilland Canada aircraft are trusted for a range of missions, including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, surveillance and more. The company’s near-century-long legacy is driven by a passionate Canadian workforce dedicated to shaping the future of regional and missionized aviation.

PORTAGE AIRCRAFT SPECIALTIES Portage la Prairie, MB, portageaircraft.ca

Portage Aircraft Specialities is a Canadian retail dealership for Air Tractor. It also provides maintenance and repair services through its 8,400-square-foot maintenance facility, providing a range of Air Tractor parts. Portage Aircraft Maintenance is a Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization. Its services include: 100, 200, 300-hour and annual inspections, structural repairs, avionic upgrades and installations, compressor washes, overhauls, hot section and detailed borescope inspections, engine installations, propeller balancing and overhauls, A/C recharging, and instrument recertifications.

KEPPLAIR EVOLUTION Toulouse, France, kepplair-evolution.com

Founded in Toulouse, France, in 2012, Kepplair Evolution specializes in aerial firefighting technologies, building on more than 15 years of scientific research into fluid mechanics and aerial delivery performance. This expertise has led to the development of the KEPPLAIR 72, a next-generation multi-role mid-size airtanker based on the proven ATR 72 platform, combining a widely operated and supported aircraft with innovative firefighting technology. At its core is the proprietary KEDS or Kepplair Evolution Delivery System. Developed with fluid mechanics experts and Trotter Controls, KEDS is engineered to deliver up to 7,500 litres (1,981 gallons) of water or fire retardant with optimized ground coverage.

Designed around real-world operational requirements and costeffectiveness, the KEPPLAIR 72 combines ground effectiveness, rapid turnaround, high availability and operational flexibility. The aircraft can land, refill and take off in less than 10 minutes and operate from short, unpaved airstrips, enabling faster rotations from bases closer Fall 2026 | WINGS 29

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

to wildfire areas. Beyond wildfire response, its Large Cargo Door and modular cabin enable rapid reconfiguration for cargo, Medevac and troop transport missions, supporting year-round aircraft utilization and a sustainable operating model. Recognizing that the KEPPLAIR 72 must be capable of integrating into an operational system, Kepplair Evolution has also developed a range of related services to provide a comprehensive operational solution for agencies responsible for fighting wildfires, such as pilot training for firefighting, training for maintenance and technical assistance for the integration.

METREA Washington, DC, metrea.aero

Metrea provides effects-as-a-service to national security partners across multiple domains and more than a dozen mission areas. The enterprise addresses complex national security challenges by combining commercial technology, operational expertise and innovative business models to deliver mission-focused outcomes.

Metrea’s approach starts with identifying difficult operational challenges and anticipating customer requirements before they become urgent. By bringing operators and engineers together, the enterprise rapidly translates operational insight into practical capability. This design-build-operate model accelerates innovation and enables Metrea to deliver integrated solutions that evolve alongside customer needs.

Through its Aero group, Metrea delivers agile, ready-to-deploy capabilities across critical air domain mission sets, including airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), special mission aviation, air-to-air refuelling, advanced tactical rotary-wing training and executive transport. Its flexible service model provides capability when and where it is needed, helping customers achieve operational advantage without the cost and complexity of traditional ownership approaches.

POSITIVE AVIATION Blagnac, France, positive-aviation.com

Positive Aviation’s mission is to design, develop, certify and integrate STCs to modify an ATR 72 into the FF72 family of aircraft. The FF72 platform is a new generation of heavy water scooper and tanker firefighting aircraft, scheduled to be available by 2028. The FF72Scooper is being designed with an 8-tonne scooping capacity, while the FF72-Tanker is being designed to carry 10 tonnes. The aircraft being developed in Europe by a consortium of engineering and industrial interests targeting a production rate of 12 aircraft per year by 2030.

PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA Longueuil, QC, prattwhitney.com

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. Since 1925, our engineers have pioneered the development of revolutionary aircraft propulsion technologies, and today we support more than 90,000 in-service engines through our global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT Stratford, CT, lockheedmartin.com

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The S-70i Firehawk helicopter features a 1,000-gallon belly water tank, extended landing gear, 600-pound rescue hoist, and NVG compatible digital cockpit. The Firehawk can carry up to 13 firefighters and their gear, drop 1,000 gallons of water with precision, and perform at a dash speed of up to 140 knots.

BUILT TO LAST. EASY TO USE. Boeing Distribution your global partner for integrated supply chain solutions • Parts, chemicals and services, tailored to your needs • Through a global network and localized support Plug-and-play replacement for existing legacy radios

• Supporting production and aftermarket

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To learn more visit Boeingdistribution.com

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TM

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DART AEROSPACE Montreal, QC, dartaerospace.com

Since 1975, DART Aerospace has grown to become an industry leader in helicopter mission equipment, parts and accessories, serving more than 120 countries and supporting more than 5,000 aircraft worldwide. Over the years, DART has evolved into a global force in helicopter equipment with 2,500 STC-certified products, a robust aftermarket support network, and a team of passionate experts dedicated to customers’ missions, whether in emergency medical services, firefighting, utility, law enforcement, defense, completion centers, MRO facilities, or all major rotorcraft OEMs. DART’s key products include aerial firefighting systems, flotation systems, landing gear, interior and exterior accessories, fuel cells, cargo expansion, cable cutters, environmental control systems, and ground support equipment. DART is proud to offer the highest value, quality, and durability available through its Global Centers of Excellence. They have been designing, manufacturing, installing, testing, inspecting, repairing, and certifying products for 50 years. The seven facilities are located around the world, including Canada, U.S., Mexico and the UK.

DELTA WILDFIRE RESPONSE Kamloops, BC, deltawildfire.com

Delta Wildfire Response assists provincial emergency response agencies and first nations communities to mitigate the threat of wildfires by moving big water. Delta Wildfire has an experienced Rapid Response team to use its pumping and hose systems to bring serious water volume to wildland crews or structure protection units. Delta Wildfire also has first-ever, night-time operation compatible, engineered Helicopter Dipping Tanks which are based on the pilot qualifications

from HAC. Its heli-dipping tanks are designed to increase pilot safety during bucketing operations by moving the water source closer to wildland fires.

HELITEK FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT Lake MacDonald, Australia, helitak.com.au

Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment is a leading manufacturer of aerial firefighting equipment, supplying expandable belly tanks for helicopters, buckets and associated systems to operators worldwide. Designed for reliability and performance in demanding conditions, Helitak systems are used across a wide range of aerial firefighting operations/ In late 2025, Helitak received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) for the installation of the Helitak FT4250 Fire Tank. This milestone certification marked a significant expansion of Helitak’s operational footprint into the Canadian aerial firefighting market, reinforcing its position as a global leader in innovative helicopter-based firefighting solutions.

The FT4250, a high-capacity belly-mounted fire suppression tank, is engineered specifically for the Airbus AS332 Super Puma platforms.

Known for its lightweight carbon fiber design and rapid fill/drop capabilities, the FT4250 enables firefighting operators to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining optimal aircraft performance and safety. Helitak Firefighting equipment now has STC issued under the FAA, EASA and TCCA for the FT4250 tank system.

KAWAK AVIATION Bend, OR, kawakaviation.com

Kawak Aviation engineers and produces aerial firefighting products focusing on tanking systems, related pumps and hydraulics. Its tank systems, refill pumps and hydraulic power solutions are leveraged by a range of platforms like Bell, Kaman and Firehawks.

U030 Flexrotor.

12+ hours of unblinking overwatch.

airbus.com

Airbus.

Made to matter

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS & TANKS

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

PLATINUM TANK Chambly, QC, platinumtank.com

Platinum Tank Group is a specialist in the design and manufacture of aluminum tanker trailers for the transport of liquid products, bulk products and aircraft refuellers. Overall, Platinum Tank Group (PTG) and its related companies manufacture approximately 1,200 units per year and employ more than 300 people on a regular basis. Since 1984, Columbia Remtec, a PTG company, has continued to improve aluminum tanker trailers for the transport of both refined petroleum and crude oil as well as specialty equipment designed for back-country aircraft refueling mainly serving the Western Canadian market.

Since 1994, Almac, a PTG company based in Lanoraie, Que., has been manufacturing mainly aluminum truck mounted tankers for metered petroleum product delivery, specialty petroleum semi-trailers and aircraft refueling equipment along with municipal tankers such street flushers and firefighting equipment. Since 1979, PTG company Remtec has focused on serving Eastern markets.

VALLFIREST Barcelona, Spain, vallfirest.com

Vallfirest, a global leader in wildland firefighting equipment, in July 2025 acquired Aerial Fire Control, an Australian-based company best known for its Water Hog aerial firefighting bucket. It is designed for helicopters of all sizes, featuring rugged materials and equipped with a variable-flow multi-drop valve as standard.

WIPAIRE St. Paul, MN, wipaire.com

For more than 60 years, Wipaire has been engineering and manufacturing a full line of aircraft floats for all sizes of aircraft. It has engineered more than 100 STC modifications, in addition to maintenance,

avionics installation and repair, custom interior design and installation, and exterior paint refinishing. Wipaire provides the Fire Boss water scooping system that is installed exclusively on the Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft. This system combines airframe modifications, aircraft performance enhancers, and a pair of Wipline 10000 series amphibious water-scooping floats that enable the AT-802 to scoop up to 800 gallons in about 15 seconds.

DRONES & RPAS CANDRONE Vancouver, BC, candrone.com

Candrone is a Canadian RPAS solutions provider serving wildfire, forestry and public safety operations across Canada, operating its own contracted flight services team. Candrone's service team is contracted by government agencies to detect and map wildland fires. Core wildfire work includes infrared hotspot detection following containment – locating hidden heat in root systems, burned stumps and subsurface fuel that can drive reignition – along with active-incident detection, perimeter mapping, and situational awareness supporting ground and air operations. Deliverables are built around the containment sign-off decision: a hotspot map identifying and locating hidden heat sources, delivered in time to inform the next operational shift.

Flight operations by Candrone are conducted by pilots holding Level 1 Complex RPAS Pilot Certificates under Transport Canada’s CARs Part IX, operating under BVLOS authorization and Special Flight Operations Certificates where the flight profile requires. Every flight includes NAV CANADA/NAV Drone coordination and shift-level NOTAM verification. Candrone also supplies enterprise RPAS platforms, thermal and multispectral sensors, LiDAR systems, mapping software,

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DRONE AMPLIFIED Lincoln, NE, droneamplified.com

Drone Amplified develops fire management technologies built around drone based solutions. Its flagship system, IGNIS, is an aerial ignition payload designed for prescribed burns and wildfire operations. With hundreds of units deployed, IGNIS has become a trusted tool for agencies across North America. Drone Amplified specializes in full system integration, combining software, electronics, and mechanical design tailored for field operations. It actively support customers across the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe.

FIRESWARM SOLUTIONS Squamish, BC, fireswarmsolutions.com

FireSwarm Solutions bridges the gap in wildfire defense with an automated aerial suppression platform, combining ultra-heavy-lift technology and advanced automation to deliver fast, efficient protection for communities, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure. Its autonomous drone swarms feature 350- to 400-kg payload capacity, with the ability to operate at night or in heavy smoke to enable continuous 24/7 protection for high-risk areas, catching fires at their incipient stages before they escalate into disasters.

FireSwarm technology has been recognized as an XPRIZE Wildfire qualified team and awarded funding from the BC Centre for Innovation & Clean Energy. Its mission is to prevent and suppress wildfires with unprecedented speed and precision. Beyond wildfire response, its heavy-lift platform supports critical tasks like filling pumpkin tanks, transporting equipment, wetting down at-risk areas, and accessing hard-to-reach locations where roads fall short.

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WATER STRIDER Calgary, AB, waterstriderinc.com

Water Strider develops UAV systems for wildfire and defence applications. The company’s M3 HH heavy-lift UAV is being engineered to deliver more than 500,000 litres of suppressant per day per system. It allows for reaching remote ignitions fast, dropping with precision, and flying when crewed aircraft stand down. The Air Defence (Falcon-M2 Sentinel Network) is being developed as a persistent aerial defense system utilizing a networked grid of interceptor sentinels. It features an 800 km design range and autonomous unit-to-unit coordination

VOLATUS AEROSPACE Mirabel, QC, volatusaerospace.com

Volatus Aerospace is a Canadian integrated aerospace company providing unmanned aerial systems, aerial intelligence services, autonomy software, and advanced training solutions supporting civil infrastructure, public safety and defence markets. Through its combination of manufacturing, operations, and technology development, Volatus is advancing the adoption of autonomous systems while supporting sovereign aerospace capability development in Canada and allied markets. The Company operates a global platform supporting drone operations, pilot training, equipment sales, and data services while continuing to expand its capabilities in autonomy, remote operations, and next-generation aerial technologies.

In June 2026, Volatus opened a 53,000-square-foot facility in Mirabel, Que., establishing domestic manufacturing base. Other highlights from the company in 2026 include the introduction of its proprietary V-Cortex AI flight controller and autonomy operating system at CANSEC, and entering partnerships with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, with Concordia University’s Volt-Age research program, and with Singular Aircraft to introduce a heavy-lift autonomous aircraft for Canadian wildfire response.

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

and equipment rentals. Candrone Academy provides RPAS licensing, certification and operational training for agency and community crews.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

COMMS, FLIGHT TRACKING & DATA AIR TRAIL Edmonton, AB, airtrail.co

Air Trail aims to help aviation operators of all sizes and missions with the costs of regulatory compliance through automation. Its software can be used by air crew, mechanics and managers of fixed- and rotarywing operators. Its technology captures details of flights and maintenance, including actual times, recency information, trends, defect details, crew and AME sign-offs, and more. Crew members can log their duty time and Air Trail will take care of the rest, including proactive duty limit alerts. It also provides weight limit data, compliance tracking, and can generate air bills that include hours flown, fuel fills, distances and more.

AIRSUITE Thunder Bay, ON, air-suite.com

Cirro by Airsuite is a complete air and ground operations and Safety Management System (SMS) built for mixed-fleet operators. The Cirro system is modular by design, meaning you can select the tools you need, such as SMS, Flight Duty Times tracking, flight following, passenger/fire crew manifests, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Ground Management, and more. Cirro works across all device types, platforms and offline in remote environments, always providing full operational oversight and audit ready. With Cirro, integrate with other software you trust, including popular maintenance, satellite and ADSB tracking, and aviation training tools all within one system.

AEM Kelowna, BC, aem-corp.com

aircraft communication and loudspeaker systems, mission radios, AS350/H125 avionics consoles, caution panels, and airframe crack detection sensors. AEM offers technical product support and repair services, and is a Transport Canada approved manufacturer, holds EASA Part 145 Maintenance approval, and is ISO9001/AS9100D registered and certified under Canada's Controlled Goods Program. AEM is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS Canada Corp, part of the Structural Monitoring Systems plc companies.

GUARDIAN MOBILITY Ottawa, ON, guardianmobility.com

Since 2002, Guardian Mobility has provided aviation operators with flight tracking, communications, and connectivity solutions for mission-critical operations. Guardian delivers end-to-end solutions, including hardware, airtime, software, and support to operators worldwide. For aerial firefighting, Guardian Mobility helps connect aircraft, ground assets, and operational teams with Automated Flight Following (AFF), Additional Telemetry Unit (ATU) capabilities, satellite communications, and real-time tracking. These solutions enhance situational awareness and operational coordination, including visibility into aircraft location and water-drop activity.

Guardian’s G6, powered by Iridium Certus 100, brings IP-based satellite connectivity to the aircraft, supporting voice, messaging, Pushto-Talk, tracking, and data applications beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. The platform also enables interoperability with third-party applications such as ATAK, helping crews and command teams share critical information across the operation. From AFF and ATU to satellite voice, messaging, and IP connectivity, Guardian Mobility provides an integrated communications platform built for demanding aerial firefighting missions.

AEM is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of

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Patterson Distributors developed the Eye in the Sky as an aircraft cockpit video, audio, and flight data recording system. Manufactured in New Zealand, this aviation certified flight data monitoring tool is designed to increase safety and keep fleets running to optimum effciency. Installed in your aircraft, the Eye in the Sky automatically captures high-definition video of the cockpit view and instrument panel along with intercom, radio and ambient audio, GPS and accelerometer data. The data can be used to investigate in-flight occurrences, solve intermittent engineering faults, debrief pilot training as well as to find definitive answers in the event of an accident.

SKYPLAN SERVICES Calgary, AB, skyplan.com

Skyplan is a global provider of flight operation and trip-support services. With the launch of the latest iteration of its flight-planning software, Aurora, a flight department has immediate access to Web-based global flight planning, weather services, up-link, Air Traffic Control (ATC) filings, and integrated runway analysis. Users can leverage the company’s Trip Support and Fixed Based Operations team to access Skyplan’s global service network for contract fuel, overflight and landing clearances, ground handling, concierge services, custom arrangement facilities, and private jet charters.

SKYTRAC SYSTEMS Kelowna, BC, skytrac.ca

For more than 35 years, SKYTRAC has been trusted by leading aerial firefighting operators to provide mission critical capabilities to ensure their mission's success. With 40 years of experience in aviation, SKYTRAC is trusted by over 800 customers as a leading provider of LEO satellite and cellular communication services for all aerospace sectors.

Working with operators, organizations, and OEMs, SKYTRAC enables capabilities such as regulatory required automated flight following (AFF), air tanker information systems (ATIS), operational load monitoring (OLM), telemetry, voice, and text communications, low-latency video streaming, real-time HUMS, and more over Iridium Certus and cellular networks.

TABULA Mosgiel, New Zealand, tabula.live

Tabula provides job management, guidance and tracking solutions across agriculture, horticulture, aviation and vector control – helping to connect complex operations, reduce admin and keep teams safe both in the field and in the air. Founded in New Zealand in 2006 as TracMap, Tabula now works with more than 3,500 customers in 16 countries, logging a combined total of more than 60,000 jobs per month, covering 2.7 million hectares. The growing Tabula team serves customers from bases in New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and the UK. In June 2026, as an example of its work with operators, Tabula with Transall Tankers to integrate live fireground intelligence capability into the Transall C-160 aerial firefighting platform, supporting the development of a more advanced and connected bushfire response capability for Australia and selected international markets. The integration of Tabula’s FireVision platform will combine live fireground mapping, thermal imaging, aerial asset tracking and operational intelligence with the heavy-lift capability of the C-160 aircraft platform.

FireVision by Tabula is an aerial firefighting intelligence and operational coordination platform built on Tabula’s proven AirVision technology. Designed to support aerial firefighting contractors, pilots, and incident management teams, FireVision delivers integrated mapping, live aerial asset tracking, fireground visibility, terrain awareness, drop zone prediction, and connected operational intelligence in near real time.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

PATTERSON DISTRIBUTORS Wellington, New Zealand, eyeinthesky.co.nz

Extending the Reach of Those Who Protect Us.

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RAPID RESPONSE

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SAFER CREWS

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TRACPLUS Dunedin, New Zealand, tracplus.com

TracPlus is a tracking and communications provider of real-time tracking, event reporting and messaging. TracPlus enables multiple asset types to be tracked and integrated into one cohesive system, meaning contractors can use their own tracking systems but send their data to TracPlus when working alongside others.

VELLOX GROUP Adelaide, Australia, velloxgroup.com

Vellox Group is a fully unified software platform integrating the capabilities of five historically independent, market-leading businesses: Spidertracks, Air Maestro, Flight Vector, Complete Flight and ADSoftware. Its industry-leading platform provides a comprehensive suite of solutions, equipping decision-makers with the insights, innovation, and agility needed to adapt to evolving market demands and maintain excellence at every stage of operations. Leading air – and increasingly ground – operators trust Vellox Group to ensure efficiency, compliance, safety, and operational excellence. Powered by a global team of industry experts and cutting-edge AI, Vellox Group’s integrated operations, fleet, dispatch, safety and maintenance systems provide unmatched effectiveness and control.

IMAGING & DETECTION

does: turn raw aerial imagery into intelligence crews can actually use. The platform processes thermal and RGB imagery from drones, helicopters, or fixed-wing aircraft into geo-referenced hotspot maps in minutes. Nova surfaces heat that is invisible through smoke, darkness, or canopy, and lets crews filter by temperature, size, and distance to perimeter so resources go exactly where they are needed. Maps and live video stream directly to command and crews in the field, and export straight into the GIS tools they already run, including Avenza, SAR Topo, and TAK. Nova now supports more than 200 agencies and operators across North America and Australia.

OFIL AIRBORNE Vienna, Austria, ofil-airborne.com

OFIL Airborne is a European manufacturer of aerial inspection gimbal systems, providing wildfire detection and mapping, as well as inspections for powerlines, oil and gas, and other utility sectors, for customers around the world. OFIL supplies advanced, zoomable ultra-high-definition (SXGA) LWIR thermal imaging for unmatched hotspot detection and mapping across varied terrain and lighting conditions. MWIR, SWIR and solar-blind UV sensor options are also available. OFIL's gimbals come in various sizes, from larger systems with the highest-performance optics, to smaller lighter gimbals designed for fixed-wing, small helicopters, or even very large drones.

OVERWATCH IMAGING Hood River, OR, overwatchimaging.com

NOVA Victoria, B.C., mapnova.com

Nova is founded by two former British Columbia wildland firefighters who spent years working active fire lines with nothing but what they could see with their own eyes. That experience shaped what Nova

Overwatch Imaging is a global leader in airborne wildfire intelligence technologies. The venture-backed small business was founded in 2016. It develops AI-driven automation software and multispectral smart sensor payloads that serve a wide range of time-critical missions around the world, from wildfire intelligence and natural disaster

DRONE LIVE 1

BUILT FOR THE FRONT LINE A Mid-Size Air Tanker designed to support Cost Effective Firefighting Operations

Equipped with the KEPPLAIR EVOLUTION DELIVERY SYSTEM (KEDS®) A next-generation system developed to maximize the operational effectiveness of every drop of 7,500 liters / 1,981 gal on the ground

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aircraft (such as airtankers), flight characteristics assessments, ferry tank installations, powerplant conversions, and data acquisition systems.

TRAKKA SYSTEMS Bradenton, FL, trakkasystems.com

AV-BASE Systems/WinAir holds more than 35 years of experience in developing and servicing aviation management software. Companies rely on WinAir to track and manage aircraft maintenance and inventory control. WinAir has hundreds of installations at aviation-specific organizations worldwide from airlines to heli-ops, law enforcement agencies, oil industry suppliers, MROs, CAMOs, medical evacuation response teams and more. The company’s technology is available as Operators, Heliops and MRO Packages.

Trakka Systems for more than two decades been a pioneer in providing Critical Vision Technologies for airborne, land and maritime missions. Trakka provides a total solution for fire detection and mapping that equips air operators with the necessary tools to navigate through smoke, haze, and darkness. TrakkaCam’s radiometric airborne camera measures temperature and UV discharge levels, while its shortwave infrared sensors are designed to see through haze and dense smoke.

The TrakkaBeam high-intensity searchlight provides lighting in compromised environments; and its TrakkaMaps mapping software offers a range of views, including 3D, street, satellite and augmented reality.

MRO, MODIFICATIONS & ENGINEERING AMTECH AERONAUTICAL Medicine Hat, AB, amtech-group.com

Formed in 1991, Amtech is a multi-disciplinary company providing services and speciality products in aeronautical/certification engineering. Amtech has worked with a range of certification authorities and is delegated by Transport Canada to approve major modifications on all categories of fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft under Design Approval Organization (DAO) delegation. Amtech has extensive experience in structural modifications and repairs, interior systems, avionics and electrical system modifications, float installations, special mission

AV-BASE SYSTEMS/WINAIR Kitchener, ON, winair.ca

CASCADE AEROSPACE Abbottsford, BC, cascadeaerospace.com

Cascade Aerospace, an operating unit of IMP Aerospace & Defence, supports a range of airframe platforms and operational needs. This includes supporting military, government and commercial aircraft.

Cascade is well-known for its aerospace engineering services for custom product design, manufacturing, and certification..

CONSOLIDATED TURBINE SPECIALISTS Langley, BC, ctsturbines.com

Consolidated Turbine Specialists (CTS) is headquartered in Bristow, Oklahoma, as an independent MRO facility specializing in PT6 repair and overhaul. It is certified by the FAA, EASA, DOT and DBCA on Pratt & Whitney PT6T and PT6A series engines. Its Canadian division, located in Langley, B.C., is certified by Transport Canada and EASA. CTS offers a range of PT6 services: Full engine overhaul and repair, worldwide 24/7 field service, hot section inspection, fuel nozzle

Global Reach, Local Impact A tactical team of aerial firefighting aircraft for fast and effective operations.

Innovating for a sustainable future. conair.ca

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

response to counter narcotics, border security, tactical intelligence, and maritime search, rescue and environmental monitoring. Wildfire intelligence is a core market segment for Overwatch Imaging, which develops complete, multispectral sensor payloads that collect and process high-resolution image data.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

overhaul/exchange, accessory overhaul/ repair, component overhaul/ repair, reduce engines to spares, AOG support, upgrade modification, and part sales.

to include military aircrew training, aircraft leasing and air cargo operations. Today, more than 1,200 employees across Canada support customers at home and around the world.

FREEDOM AERO SERVICE McClellan, California, freedomaeroservice.com

S.A.F.E. STRUCTURE DESIGNS Las Vegas, NV, safestructuredesigns.com

Founded in 2008, Freedom Aero Service specializes in the repair and overhaul of aircraft components, specifically electrical and electronic accessories. The company also provides sales of these aviation products to civil and government organizations. The company’s MRO business is focused on business jets and helicopters. Freedom Aero recently introduced a new Repair Station location in Hamilton, Ohio, which puts Freedom in a better geographical position to serve the Upper Midwest and East Coast regions, providing increased repair capabilities, as well as a range of popular avionics products for exchange and outright sale.

Freedom Aero now services more than 400 part numbers.

KF AEROSPACE Kelowna, BC, kfaero.ca

For more than 56 years, KF Aerospace has delivered trusted aviation solutions from its home base in Kelowna. As Canada’s largest commercial MRO provider, the company provides comprehensive maintenance, engineering, modifications, component repair and supply chain support for commercial, military and specialty aircraft. With extensive experience supporting complex and mission-critical fleets, KF Aerospace provides operators with the expertise and capabilities needed to keep aircraft performing at their best.

From heavy maintenance and structural modifications to engineering solutions and ongoing technical support, the company works alongside customers to meet demanding operational requirements and maximize fleet readiness. Since 1970, KF Aerospace has grown

Safe Structure Designs (S.A.F.E.) is a global leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of ergonomic safety equipment for the aerial firefighting industry. The company’s design process is completely free of cost. It is focused on providing the best solution for each client’s unique circumstances.

STANDARDAERO Scottsdale, AZ, standardaero.com

StandardAero is one of the world’s largest independent providers of services including engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, and interior completions. StandardAero serves a diverse array of customers in the airline, business and general aviation, military, helicopter, and energy markets.

VIH AEROSPACE North Saanic, BC, vihaerospace.com

VIH Aerospace provides value-enhanced helicopter Manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MMRO) services that aim to meet or exceed Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications. Led by Original Equipment Manufacturer-approved Technician Managers, VIH Aerospace provides services for a range helicopter manufacturers. In March 2026, VIH Aerospace received official approval as a Sikorsky-authorized Customer Support Center (CSC) for the S-92A helicopter. It can perform MRO services on S-92A aircraft

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VOYAGEUR AVIATION North Bay, ON, voyav.com

With over 50 years of experience, Voyageur supports aircraft and fleet operations domestically and around the world. It specializes in the modification and operation of Special Mission aircraft that serve a variety of government and defence clients. Under Transport Canada Design Approval Organization (DAO) authority, Voyageur designs, flight tests and certifies structural and avionic modifications. Its modifications have supported air ambulance, aerial fireighting, atmospheric research, geophysical analysis, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), emergency medical evacuation for humanitarian relief, and airbourne courier services.

Voyageur’s 200,000-square-foot MRO facilities are supported by a large parts and logistics operation, component R&O, and shops for

accessories, composites, structures and avionics manufacturing and servicing. Voyageur is currently expanding into Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems platforms.

PARTS & DISTRIBUTION CANADIAN AIR PARTS Delta, BC, canadianairparts.com

Canadian Air Parts has been supporting the helicopter industry for more than 30 years, providing reliable parts, component services, and technical support to aerial firefighting operators throughout Canada, the United States, and internationally. Based in Delta, Canadian Air Parts (CAP) maintains more than $10 million in inventory across 10,000-plus line items, specializing in Bell (204, 205, 206, 212, 412), Airbus (AS350/H125, AS355, AS332), and Sikorsky (S61, S76) platforms.

CAP’s capabilities include outright sales, exchange, rental programs, consignment inventory management, and flat-rate component programs, helping operators minimize downtime during critical wildfire operations. CAP is the Canadian distributor for Kawak Aviation Technologies’ Cascade Fire Buckets supporting operators with aerial firefighting equipment.

CAP also provides in-house calibration services for DSS MicroVib, Chadwick Helmuth, Vibrex, and Strobex rotor track and balance equipment, along with System X Ceramic Protection, which protects aircraft paint and exterior surfaces from UV exposure, soot, ash, dirt, and other contaminants encountered during demanding firefighting operations, making post-mission cleaning easier while helping preserve the aircraft's appearance and finish.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

from its headquarters near Victoria International Airport. VIHA is now one of eight S-92A CSCs worldwide, and the first located Canada.

Other Sikorsky-authorized CSCs are in the United States, Asia and Europe. The company is also supported by its helicopter operation called VIH Helicopters.

VIH Aerospace’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer team members undergo a rigorous recurrent in-house training program that follows Occupational Health and Safety programs and procedures. The operation also holds skilled Component Technicians and Sheet Metal Technicians who are experienced in the repair and overhaul of a range of helicopter components and structures. VIH Aerospace’s Avionics team is trained to repair and maintain complex and sophisticated avionics systems, including Night Vision, FLIR, communications and radar and navigation systems for legacy helicopters, and performing system upgrades and modifications to meet changing operational environments.

OFIL AIRBORNE Aerial Inspection Systems

Now with NOVA fire and hotspot mapping, trusted by 17 State and 9 Provincial agencies.

FAST AFFORDABLE EASY TEL: 1 604 889 2169

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KADEX AERO SUPPLY Peterborough, ON, kadexaero.com

Founded in 1994 and acquired by Chorus Aviation in 2026, Kadex provides PMA and OEM replacement parts, as well as repair and overhaul services for commercial, business aviation, general aviation, rotorcraft, government and defence operators. With facilities in Peterborough and Calgary, Kadex represents more than 70 manufacturers.

MMKL GROUP Saskatoon, SK, mmklgroup.com

MMKL Group specializes in providing distribution channels for emergency management supply chains, focusing on wildfire suppression equipment and solutions. It supplies a range of fireline hand tools such as Pulaskis, McLeods, shovels, axes, and rakes, essential for creating firebreaks and controlling ground fires. MMKL Group provides a line of wildland fire helmets, Nomex clothing for flame resistance, and durable wildland boots for heat protection and terrain support.

TEMPEST AVIATION GROUP Kelowna, BC, tempest.aero

Tempest has been providing global helicopter parts support since 2001. It provides refurbished parts and component sales with OEM certifications, as well as global rotorcraft sales and fleet divestments to help manage and optimize assets.

CANADIAN OPERATORS ABERDEEN HELICOPTERS Prince George, BC, aberdeenheli.com

encompass fire suppression, forestry, mountain climbing support, back-country hiking, skiing excursions, fishing trips, wilderness photography flights, mining exploration, and powerline maintenance.

ADVANTAGE HELICOPTERS Vernon, BC, advantageheli.com

Founded in 1994, Advantage Helicopters is an owner-operator-driven company holding Bell aircraft that are fire-suppression ready. The company primarily offers helicopter charter services and also holds Aircraft Maintenance Organization status.

AIRBORNE ENERGY SOLUTIONS Whitecourt, AB, airborneenergysolutions.com

Airborne Energy Solutions (AES) provides a range of helicopter services, in addition to leveraging fixed-wing assets for oil, gas, forestry and mining industries in Western Canada and the Arctic. In 2024, AES worked closely with Transport Canada to bring in CH-47 Chinook helicopters – with its partner Billings Flying Service – for wildfire suppression. AES in 2023 added a UH60A Black Hawk to its fleet, which also includes Astar, Bell, Robinson and Eurocopter aircraft.

AIRSPAN HELICOPTERS Sechelt, BC, airspanhelicopters.com

As a Transport Canada-approved maintenance facility, Airspan maintains a fleet of approximately six helicopters and offers a range of services, focusing on forestry and including aerial firefighting support.

ALPINE HELICOPTERS Kelowna, BC, alpinehelicopters.com

Aberdeen Helicopters is a versatile multimission provider. Its services

Operating since 1961, Alpine provides aerial firefighting and related services, as well as services like heli-skiing, heli-hiking, mountain

ENGINE SUPPORT YOU CAN COUNT ON — WHEN IT MATTERS MOST Wildfire season demands adaptable, dependable performance. With over 60 years of turboprop expertise, StandardAero delivers trusted MRO solutions for your Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, PW100 and PW150A engines.

FLEXIBLE. RELIABLE. PROFESSIONAL. JUST LIKE YOU.

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Terrace. B.C.; along with bases in Edmonton and Calgary, Atla. Its fleet includes Bell 212, AS350 B3, B2, BA and Bell 206 aircraft, providing passenger transport, aerial ignition, water bucketing and stand-by medevac during wildfire season.

ARROW HELICOPTERS Revelstoke, BC, arrowhelicopters.com

BLACK TUSK HELICOPTERS Brackendale, BC, blacktuskhelicopter.com

ASCENT HELICOPTERS Parksville, BC, ascenthelicopters.ca

CANADIAN HELICOPTERS Les Cedres, QC, canadianhelicopters.com

AURORA HELICOPTERS Vernon, BC, auroraheli.com

COLDSTREAM HELICOPTERS Kelowna, BC, coldstreamhelicopters.com

Established in 2005, Arrow Helicopters specializes in providing Vertical Reference Training for both high- and low-time pilots. The Class D approved company is known for SAR services, fire suppression, as well as mountain missions like avalanche control.

Ascent Helicopters, a Class D approved operator, offers fire suppression and serves various sectors including utilities, construction, film and television, heli-skiing, air ambulance, and natural resources. Ascent holds a second base in Fernie, B.C.

Aurora Helicopters specializes in fire suppression and pre-suppression services. These services include transporting firefighting personnel and equipment to predetermined locations, conducting aerial smoke patrols to detect forest fires in high hazard areas, and engaging in suppression activities like water-bucket drops.

BAILEY HELICOPTERS Fort St. John, BC, baileyhelicopters.com

Founded in 1989, Bailey Helicopters offers services across multiple industries with bases in Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Prince George,

Black Tusk Helicopters provides fire suppression and other services for various provincial agencies. Equipped with Bambi Buckets and automated flight systems, its fleet supports firefighting efforts in B.C. and Alberta with specialized features like foam-injection systems.

With roots tracing back to 1947, Canadian Helicopters specializes in personnel and cargo transport, fire suppression, seismic surveys, and more. With flight training and maintenance operations, the company operates in eight Canadian provinces and territories.

Coldstream Helicopters specializes in emergency services driven by heavy-lift aircraft, such as fire suppression, mountain rescue, disaster support, evacuation services and longlining, as well as powerline construction and construction work. With bases in B.C., Alberta and Manitoba, the company is equipped for various helicopter operations and missions.

CONAIR GROUP Abbotsford, BC, conair.ca

A global leader in emergency response aircraft production and

WILDFIRES WON’T WAIT. It’s time for a national waterbomber fleet.

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

rescue, seismic and mining support. With a fleet of approximately 40 helicopters, including Bell 212HP BLR, Bell 407, Bell 206L1/3, and AS350B3e types, Alpine holds a base in Golden, B.C., as well as Calgary, Canmore, High Level and Grimshaw, Alta.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

operations, Conair manufactures, owns, and operates the world’s largest fleet of fixed-wing aircraft specializing in aerial firefighting.

Operating across Canada, the U.S., Europe, Australia and beyond, the organization provides a comprehensive range of aircraft, crew, maintenance, and training to support government agencies fighting wildfires.

With a strong focus on safety, Conair offers pilots access to a Training + Tactics Centre, which includes specialized aerial firefighting simulators designed to enhance successful missions in real-world operations. Conair hold a versatile fleet of 80 aircraft, including bird dogs, land-based airtankers, and amphibious aircraft, such as the CL415 and AT802 Fire Boss. The latest addition to Conair's fleet is the Dash 8-400 airtanker, with a 10,000-litre capacity to drop water or retardant over diverse terrains.

CONTOUR HELICOPTERS Fort Langley, BC, contourhelicopters.com

Founded in 2019, Contour currently operates a fleet of Airbus and Bell aircraft in wildfire suppression roles, in addition to its pioneering role with the UH60A+ Black Hawk. Contour is approved for NVG operations and is working to develop a NVG wildfire program with B.C. and Alberta’s wildfire agencies. The helicopter operation also has base locations in Burns Lake, B.C. and Edmonton, Atla.

COULSON AVIATION Port Alberni, BC, coulsonaviation.com

For more than 60 years, Coulson Aviation has protected the world from forest fires. The company provides aerial support with a diverse fleet of day and night assets, and is the only aerial firefighting companies operating both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Its approach includes designing, maintaining, and operating various aircraft, supported by comprehensive training programs.

Coulson Aviation is the first aviation company to receive Transport Canada Approved Training Organization (ATO) approval for aircraft structures training. Its program allows students to earn their Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Structures (AME-S) license at no cost, with guaranteed full-time positions upon completion. As a leading supplier to governments worldwide, Coulson focuses on sustainable, in-production aircraft. Partnering with OEMs and utilizing the latest technology, the company delivers all-hazard response capabilities.

CUSTOM HELICOPTERS St. Andrews, MB, customheli.com

Founded 48 years ago, Custom Helicopters operates a versatile fleet of 45 helicopters, supporting a variety of industries, including powerline maintenance and construction, mining exploration, 24/7 medevac services, and fire suppression. The company’s fleet includes Airbus AS332L2s, which are utilized for fire suppression activities in both Canada and South America. Custom Helicopters is the launch customer for United Rotorcraft and Dart Aerospace’s Noval Super Puma Fire Attack System.

DELTA HELICOPTERS Sturgeon County, AB, deltahelicopters.com

Delta Helicopters, in addition to its Edmonton head office, operates from five other base locations. With over 45 years of experience working with the forestry industry across Canada, Delta provides comprehensive fire suppression support.

EAST WEST HELICOPTERS Salmon Arm, BC, eastwesthelicopters.com

Established in 1997 with a focus on logging operations, East West Helicopters holds extensive experience in longline operations and

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Scan to book a hotspot detection consultation. www.candrone.com 1-888-461-5742

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ECLIPSE HELICOPTERS Penticton, BC, eclipseheli.com

With bases in Penticton and Cranbrook, B.C., Eclipse provides a range of services including aerial firefighting, as well as SAR and holds U.S.based operating experience.

EDMONTON REGIONAL HELICOPTERS Edmonton, AB, erhelicopters.com

As a privately held operator, Edmonton Regional is based at Edmonton International Airport (CYEG). The company provides forestry services throughout central Alberta, extending west to the Rocky Mountains.

FOREST HELICOPTERS Kenora, ON, foresthelicopters.com

Established in 1997 and focusing on AS350 helicopters, Forest Helicopters supports all aspects of fire suppression. Its pilots hold extensive experience beyond baseline requirements, including knowledge of fire behaviour, logistical support, and tactical applications like aerial ignition.

FOREST PROTECTION Lincoln, NB, fpltd.ca

Forest Protection Limited (FPL), established in 1952, delivers specialized aviation services for wildfire suppression and forest management across Atlantic Canada. FPL delivers rapid aerial firefighting with a modern fleet built to reach fires fast, deliver water, foam or retardant

to help protect what matters most. With portable reload bases, mobile maintenance units and pre-positioning capabilities, FPL can establish operational readiness quickly and independently. FPL has built a reputation for operational excellence, safety, and reliability, delivering specialized aviation services that protect communities, natural resources and critical infrastructure. Today, that legacy continues through a modern fleet and highly skilled professionals protecting what matters most.

In May 13, the Government of Nova Scotia announced a partnership with Forest Protection of New Brunswick in the acquisition of four fixed-wing water bombers and a co-ordination plane to provide more protection for Nova Scotians. The contract for four Air Tractor AT-802 water bombers and one Cessna Caravan Bird Dog was scheduled to run until September 30 but can be extended as needed as the wildfire risk season in Nova Scotia runs from March 15 to October 15. The home base for the planes is the Debert air tanker base in Colchester County. The Air Tractor AT-802 fixed-wing water bomber is described by the province as an agile aircraft that is a good fit for Nova Scotia’s terrain.

FRONTLINE HELICOPTERS Williams Lake, BC, frontlinehelicopters.ca

Frontline Helicopters, situated just south of Williams Lake, is a key provider of wildfire suppression and associated services, including air taxi, infrared scanning, mapping, wildlife capture, and surveying.

GREAT SLAVE HELICOPTERS Yellowknife, NWT, gsheli.com

Great Slave Helicopters operates a diverse fleet of over 30 single- and twin-engine helicopters, with over 20 per cent being aboriginally owned through partnerships with various operators. Operating across

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aerial firefighting. The company specializes in precision lift work and operates a self-contained service facility, including its own tanker for helicopter refueling.

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

Northern Canada, this group manages approximately 15 bases, offering forestry services, including wildfire suppression.

GRIZZLY HELICOPTERS Campbell River, BC, grizzlyhelicopters.com

Established in 2008, Grizzly Helicopters employs ASTAR350 B2 helicopters from bases in Campbell River and Port McNeill. The company specializes in providing firefighting services in the region, along with applications like, medevac, powerline patrols, and wildlife management.

HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES Ottawa, ON, htsc.ca

Founded in 1976, Helicopter Transport Services (HTSC) is now one of North America’s largest privately held helicopter operators. HTSC holds a fleet of more than 60 helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft, providing mining, forestry, wildfire support, utility, construction, national defence, and emergency medical services. HTSC’s permanent pilot staff averages more than 7,000 hours of helicopter flying experience. Its operations span across Canada, the United States and South America.

HIGH TERRAIN HELICOPTERS Nelson, BC, highterrainhelicopters.com

Serving the Kootenays since 1992, High Terrain operates Bell and Airbus helicopters out of Nelson, Nakusp, and Kaslo. The company’s capabilities include longline slinging, water bucketing, bird dogging, and crew transport, among others.

HORIZON HELICOPTERS Whitehorse, YT, horizonhelicopters.ca

Based at Whitehorse Airport with a satellite base in Dawson City,

Horizon Helicopters has provided wildfire support in Alberta, B.C., and the Yukon since its founding. Its fleet primarily comprises AS350 helicopters.

MAG AEROSPACE CANADA Dryden, ON, magaero.ca

MAG Aerospace Canada is a leading provider of specialized aviation services supporting wildfire management, airborne surveillance, charter operations, aircraft maintenance, flight training, and missioncritical aviation programs across Canada. Founded in 1950 as Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., and headquartered in Dryden, Ontario, the company brings more than 75 years of operational experience serving government, defence, public safety and commercial clients. With operating locations across Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, MAG Canada supports customers and interagency requirements nationwide while remaining focused on its mission of helping make communities safer through specialized aviation solutions.

MAG Canada is recognized for its expertise in aerial wildfire detection, air attack (bird dog) operations, airborne imagery and surveillance, and specialized aviation services that provide real-time situational awareness to government agencies and emergency response organizations. The company operates one of Canada's most experienced wildfire aviation programs, combining highly skilled flight crews, mission operators, maintenance professionals, and program managers to support critical public safety missions. Through advanced communications, proven operational processes, and mission-focused execution, MAG Canada delivers safe, reliable, and effective aviation solutions across some of Canada's most challenging operating environments.

Recent contract awards have further strengthened MAG Canada’s position as a trusted aviation partner. The company was awarded the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF)

The world’s most trusted solutions for safe, efficient and compliant air and ground operations. velloxgroup.com

SMS Fleet Management Dispatch & Planning Operational Management Maintenance

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SEQUOIA HELICOPTERS Abbotsford, BC, sequoiahelicopters.com

MUSTANG HELICOPTERS Blackfalds, AB, mustanghelicopters.com

Sierra provides a range of services throughout Vancouver’s lower mainland and beyond, including fire suppression and other forestry missions like LiDAR imaging, logging, tree planting and wildlife surveying.

Established in 2001, Mustang holds a fleet of approximately 30 helicopters, including intermediates, mediums, and twin-engine Cat A & Class 1 capabilities. Mustang supports a range of wildfire suppression initiatives, including initial attack, crew transport, water bucketing, belly tanks, aerial ignition, and moving precious cargo such as seedlings or suppression equipment.

PANORAMA HELICOPTERS Alma, QC, helicopterespanorama.com

Founded in 2000, Panorama Helicopters specializes in a variety of aerial firefighting services. These include fire detection, logistics such as personnel and equipment transportation, water bucketing, IR imaging, and related services like medevac.

PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT Fort McMurray, AB, phoenixheliflight.com

Phoenix Heli-Flight provides a range of light and intermediate helicopter aerial firefighting services. Its offerings encompass initial attack, sustained action, and heli-torching on fires of all sizes.

RANGE HELICOPTERS Drayton Valley, AB, rangeheli.ca

Range Helicopters specializes in fire suppression services. These include crew and camp moves, infrared scanning, water bucketing, GPS mapping, and drip torching.

RIDGE ROTORS Blue Ridge, AB, ridgerotors.com

Ridge Rotors primarily serves northern B.C. and Alberta's forestry sectors. Its services encompass timber cruising, VRI surveys, pest extermination, fire suppression, emergency evacuation, and SAR. Ridge Rotors holds additional bases in Whitecourt, Alta., and Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd, B.C.

SELKIRK MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS Revelstoke, BC, smheli.com

Founded in 1991, Selkirk provides services to heli-skiing operations, SAR support, avalanche snow safety, and firefighting. The company holds expertise in areas like drip torch and Class D certification.

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Founded in 2004, Sequoia collaborates with provincial agencies across Canada for wildfire suppression. It utilizes Bambi Buckets with foam kits and possesses extensive longline experience. Sequoia holds Alberta bases in Slave Lake, Lac La Biche, and Whitecourt.

SIERRA HELICOPTERS Pitt Meadows, BC, sierrahelicopters.com

SILVER KING HELICOPTERS Smithers, BC, silverkingheli.com

Silver King Helicopters offers a range of services to the forestry and mining sectors. Its expertise includes fire suppression through collaboration with initial attack crews and water bucketing.

SKY HELICOPTERS Pitt Meadows, BC, skyhelicopters.ca

Established in 2011, SKY Helicopters holds relationships with provincial agencies to assist in wildfire management and forestry work.

Its offerings include year-round wildfire suppression and thermal imaging services for detecting hot spots.

organizations across Canada. Headquartered in Kamloops, with operations throughout Canada, the company supports wildfire agencies under both long-term and call-whenneeded contracts. Summit specializes in aerial wildfire suppression, providing water bucketing, initial attack, crew transport, equipment deployment, reconnaissance, and logistical support.

With decades of experience, Summit has supported wildfire programs in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, contributing thousands of operational flight hours. Operating a versatile fleet of utility-configured helicopters, including the Bell 407, Bell 412, EC135, and AS350B3, Summit is equipped to support demanding firefighting missions in remote and challenging environments. Its experienced pilots and maintenance personnel bring specialized expertise in mountain flying, external load operations, confined-area work, hover exits, Class D and low-visibility conditions.

Supported by advanced flight operations technology and a robust Safety Management System, Summit Helicopters remains a trusted partner in protecting communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from wildfire threats..

TAIGA AIR SERVICES Winnipeg, MB, taigaheli.com

Founded in 1996, Skyline Helicopters, which also has a base in Terrace, B.C. Skyline specializes in longline mountain operations and holds a strong operational focus on oil and gas, forestry, and heli-skiing.

Founded in 1992, Taiga specializes in providing thermal scanning for fire suppression, environmental and biometric analysis, powerline and pipeline integrity, and infrastructure management and maintenance. Its services include detecting and mapping hot spots, hotlines, and risk areas for resource deployment crewed by experienced and accredited technicians.

SLAVE LAKE HELICOPTERS Slave Lake, AB, slheli.com

TRANSWEST HELICOPTERS Oliver, BC, transwesthelicopters.com

SKYLINE HELICOPTERS Kelowna, BC, skylinehelicopters.ca

With roots dating back to 1998, Slave Lake Helicopters specializes in providing services to the forestry sector. This includes fire suppression and related services like LiDAR imaging and crew transport.

STAR HELICOPTERS Cold Lake, AB, starhelicopters.com

Star Helicopters has been involved with the forestry industry since 1982, carrying out operations including crew transportation, longline bucketing and drip-torch services.

SUMMIT HELICOPTERS Kamloops, BC, summithelicopters.ca

As part of the Summit Aviation Group and the Ledcor Group of Companies, Summit Helicopters combines operational expertise with an industry-leading safety culture providing aerial firefighting services to government agencies and emergency management

Established in 1965, Transwest in early 2025 was acquired by Australia’s McDermott Aviation. The company primarily operates within Western Canada. In addition to specializing in wildfire suppression and utility missions, Transwest provides MRO, part sales and support, with an emphasis on Bell medium and legacy helicopters.

VALHALLA HELICOPTERS Kelowna, BC, valhallahelicopters.com

Valhalla Helicopters holds over 20 years of experience supporting ground forces in fire suppression. The company utilizes SEI water buckets that are Aqualaunch/Powerfill foam equipped.

VALLEY HELICOPTERS Hope, BC, valleyhelicopters.ca

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AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

Birddog & Detection Contract, reinforcing its leadership role in Ontario's wildfire aviation sector. MAG Canada was also awarded the Saskatchewan Detection Contract, expanding its operational footprint and wildfire detection capabilities in Western Canada. These programs build on decades of experience supporting wildfire agencies through detection, air attack coordination, mission management, and aviation support services.

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING DIRECTORY 2027

providing firefighting services for over 35 years. Its pilots are trained in fire suppression techniques, including water bucketing, aerial ignition, and crew transport.

VIH AVIATION GROUP North Saanich, BC, vih.com

Keeping Your Fleet

VIH Helicopters is the air operation within one of Canada’s most diversified aviation companies, VIH Aviation, which has been providing services since 1955. VIH operates a large fleet of Sikorsky and Bell helicopter types, providing a range of missions like wildfire suppression with optional gel capability, passenger transportation, initial attack, and precision heavy-lift operations. VIH also provides SAR, offshore and onshore aerial construction, executive charter, forestry, air ambulance, exploration and tourism services.

Mission-Ready Supporting the aircraft that protect our communities.

• Engineering • Maintenance • Modifications • Logistics • Component Repair

WILDCAT HELICOPTERS Kelowna, BC, wildcathelicopters.com

Wildcat Helicopters maintains a fleet of Bell 412 and 212 mission-modified aircraft. It specializes in a range of emergency services, including fire suppression, extended search and rescue, and medical missions.

Let’s talk fleet readiness.

sales@kfaero.ca

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WHITE SADDLE AIR SERVICES Bluff Lake, BC, whitesaddleair.com

As a family-operated company with over 48 years of experience, White Saddle Air Services focuses on fire suppression. They underlined this commitment by acquiring Canada’s first commercial Bell 407 GXi in 2019 and have since acquired a second Bell GXi.

YELLOWHEAD HELICOPTERS Prince George, BC, yhl.ca

Yellowhead Helicopters holds a fleet of more than 40 helicopters. It offers a range of fire suppression and forest restoration services.

With 12 bases located in B.C. and Alberta, Yellowhead holds a fleet of AS350 B2s and B3s, Bell 212s and Bell 206s and BK117s (the five most recently added models). Its helicopters are equipped with firefighting capabilities such as water buckets and longline equipment. It offers a range of environmental restoration services including aerial seeding and fertilizing, tree planting, cone harvesting, drip torching, infrared scanning, GPS mapping, telemetry, crew and camp moves, heli-logging. With its recent addition of five twin-engine helicopters, Yellowhead provides Class D fixed-line insertion and extraction.

ZIMMER AIR SERVICES Bluff Lake, BC, whitesaddleair.com

Established in 1975, Zimmer Air has focused on serving the forestry sector since inception.

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VIH

HELICOPTERS

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B U I LT I N C A N A D A .

PROVEN EVERYWHERE. READY TO SERVE. For decades, these Hercules aircraft have served Canada with strength, speed, and reliability.

Today, we’re investing in their future, bringing new capability, new purpose, and new opportunities to keep protecting what matters most.

S T R O N G E R T O D A Y. R E A D Y F O R W H A T ’ S N E X T.

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WWW.COULSONAVIATION.COM

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

The RCAF is not simply replacing old aircraft with new ones. It is attempting to transform itself into a digitally connected aerospace force in which aircraft, satellites, sensors, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, weapons, communications and people operate as an integrated network.

From planning to execution

SkyAlyne is acquiring 19 CT-153 Junos from Airbus, based on the H135 helicopter platform, for the RCAF and its new training program, FAcT, with deliveries underway in mid-2026.

MODERNIZING THE RCAF DEFENDING CANADA IN AN AGE OF SPEED, DATA AND AUTONOMOUS WARFARE

BY BRIAN MCNAIR

PHOTO: SKYALYNE, AIRBUS

F

or generations, Canada’s greatest defence asset was its geography.

Three oceans, enormous distances and a vast Arctic frontier gave Canada something every military planner values: time. An adversary approaching North America had to cross thousands of kilometres before reaching Canadian territory, providing warning and allowing decisions to be made. That advantage is rapidly disappearing.

At this year’s Aerospace Defence and Security Expo, organized by the Aerospace Industries of Canada Association, RCAF WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

Commander Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet addressed the rapid changes that the RCAF are responding to, in order to modernize the force and maintain Canadian sovereignty. Long-range missiles, advanced sensors, satellites, autonomous systems and an increasingly accessible Arctic are compressing the time available to Canadian decision-makers. Russia’s war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and accelerating technological change are demonstrating how quickly the character of warfare is evolving.

For the Royal Canadian Air Force, the implications are profound.

The RCAF is undergoing one of its most significant modernization efforts in generations.

Current government figures identify major acquisitions including 88 F-35 fighters, up to 16 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, 11 MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft systems and nine CC-330 Husky tanker/transport aircraft. Together with other projects, approximately 140 new or upgraded aircraft have been identified since 2022. These are not isolated acquisitions. They are pieces of a much larger system.

Canada’s acquisition of the F-35A Lightning II is perhaps the most visible element of RCAF modernization. But the aircraft should not be viewed in isolation. The F-35’s value comes not simply from its speed, stealth and weapons, but from its ability to collect, process and share information.

In a future operation, an F-35 could receive information from ground-based radar, satellites, another aircraft or an uncrewed system.

It can contribute its own sensor information to the network and potentially pass targeting information to another platform.

The fighter becomes more than an aircraft.

It becomes a sensor, intelligence collector, communications node and weapons platform within a much larger system. That represents a fundamental change in how air forces think about combat capability.

The question is no longer simply how many fighters Canada possesses. The question is whether those fighters are connected to enough sensors, weapons, communications, infrastructure and decision-making systems to exploit their full potential.

The Arctic changes everything Nowhere is this transformation more important than in Canada’s Arctic. The sheer size of Canada’s northern territory makes permanent physical coverage impossible. Canada cannot put aircraft, soldiers and sensors everywhere.

Instead, it needs a network capable of providing persistent awareness across enormous distances.

The old advantage of geography is therefore being replaced by another requirement: information advantage. Canada must know what is happening in the North before a potential threat reaches Canadian territory. That means radar, satellites, aircraft, communications and increasingly autonomous systems working together.

Canada’s NORAD modernization program Fall 2026 | WINGS 49

includes major investments in northern surveillance, infrastructure, command and control, communications and weapons.

The government has identified $38.6 billion over 20 years for NORAD modernization, with additional investments supporting the broader continental defence system.

upon intangible resources: data, software, algorithms, networks and computing power.

That creates a new vulnerability.

A modern aircraft can be perfectly maintained and fully armed but still lose much of its effectiveness if its communications or information networks are compromised.

Cybersecurity, therefore, becomes part of air defence. So does resilient communications.

So does the ability to continue operating when portions of the network are damaged or unavailable.

Canada’s current defence planning explicitly emphasizes strengthening the digital backbone of the Canadian Armed Forces and developing intelligence-driven approaches to continental defence. The future RCAF will, therefore, need to operate not only in the physical aerospace domain but also in the digital one.

Learning before the radar arrives

NORAD becomes a network The familiar image of NORAD – radar detecting an approaching aircraft followed by fighters scrambling to intercept it – is being replaced by something considerably more sophisticated. Canada’s modernization plans include advanced command-and-control systems, enhanced satellite communications, new air-to-air weapons and upgraded northern operating locations.

The NORAD Cloud-Based Command and Control initiative is specifically intended to use cloud computing and machine learning to support faster decisions. The transformation is also expanding into airborne early warning and control.

In May 2026, Canada selected Saab as its preferred supplier for discussions concerning an AEW&C capability. The proposed capability would provide airborne command, control and surveillance, including longrange detection and tracking in the Arctic, while strengthening Canada’s contribution to NORAD. This is an important development.

It means Canada is building another layer between the raw information produced by sensors and the decision to employ a fighter or weapon.

The rise of the uncrewed force Perhaps the most interesting long-term change is the growing importance of uncrewed and autonomous systems. Canada’s 50 WINGS | Fall 2026

More than new aircraft Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, RCAF Commander, discussed the challenges and opportunities in reshaping the country’s air force during AIAC’s Aerospace Defence and Security Expo in Abbotsford, which ran under the theme of Aligning Industry and Government.

planned MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft capability is one part of that transformation.

But the longer-term implications go well beyond one aircraft type.

Uncrewed systems offer something Canada desperately needs in the Arctic: persistence. A relatively small number of expensive fighter aircraft cannot provide continuous surveillance over a territory the size of Canada’s North.

A family of uncrewed systems could potentially provides a much broader presence.

Some could carry sophisticated sensors. Others could act as communications relays. Some could conduct electronic warfare. Others could provide surveillance or reconnaissance.

Future systems may operate in groups, share information automatically and perform portions of their missions with limited human intervention. This does not necessarily mean replacing pilots. Instead, it means expanding what a relatively small air force can accomplish.

The RCAF could eventually operate a combination of highly capable crewed aircraft and much larger numbers of less expensive uncrewed platforms. That would fundamentally change the economics of air power.

Data becomes a military resource Data is becoming as decisive as fuel, munitions and airframes. For much of aviation history, air forces were built around physical resources: aircraft, fuel, weapons, bases and people.

Increasingly, military power also depends

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon provides another example of why the RCAF’s modernization should not be viewed as a collection of aircraft purchases. The P-8 will provide long-range maritime surveillance, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capability. But its real value will come from its ability to operate as part of the wider information network.

The same applies to the CC-330 Husky.

The tanker is not simply replacing an aging transport aircraft. It provides air-to-air refueling and strategic airlift, allowing other aircraft to remain airborne longer and extending the reach of the force. Canada’s current program calls for nine CC-330 aircraft.

Each aircraft therefore contributes to the larger system. The fighter provides combat power. The P-8 provides surveillance and maritime awareness. The tanker extends the force’s reach. The remotely piloted aircraft provide persistence. The radar provides detection. The command network connects everything.

Defence industry becomes a network There is another important theme running through the transformation: economic security and national security are becoming inseparable.

Canada cannot assume that international supply chains will always function during a major geopolitical crisis. If a critical component, software system, maintenance capability or technological expertise exists only outside Canada, then Canada’s ability to operate its military forces could ultimately depend upon another country’s priorities. That is why strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base is so important.

The objective is not simply to create jobs.

It is to ensure that Canada retains enough industrial capacity, technological expertise, intellectual property, skilled people and WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: BRIAN MCNAIR

One of the most revealing examples of this new approach is Canada’s Arctic and Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar program. The RCAF is not simply waiting for the radar system to arrive before thinking about the people required to operate it. Personnel are being positioned ahead of time so they can gain experience with the systems before the acquisition is complete. It is a relatively small detail, but strategically it says a great deal.

The RCAF is recognizing that people and technology have to arrive together. A radar is not an operational capability simply because it has been installed. The military needs trained operators, maintainers, commanders, communications specialists and procedures that allow the information produced by the radar to flow into the larger defence network.

The objective is persistent awareness of Canada’s northern approaches – and the ability to turn that awareness into action.

resilient supply chains to sustain critical military capabilities during a crisis.

The RCAF has approximately $143 billion in programmed investment, with roughly 60 per cent remaining in Canada, 20 per cent going to Europe and other partners, and 20 per cent to the United States.

The Canadian share includes not only production but infrastructure and in-service support. That creates opportunities throughout the aerospace and technology sector. The strategic objective, however, is bigger than economic benefit. It is about sovereign capacity.

Managing the turbulence There is an unavoidable tension in all of this. The RCAF has to maintain today’s force while creating tomorrow’s. It must introduce new aircraft without losing existing capability. It must train people while changing the systems they are trained to operate.

It must modernize command structures while continuing to respond to current threats. And it must do all of this while technology and geopolitics continue to change. The answer is not simply to move faster. It is to move faster intelligently.

The RCAF of 2035 Taken together, these developments point

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM WG_ATAC_half_Summer26_CSA.indd 1

toward a very different Royal Canadian Air Force. Its most important capability may no longer be any single aircraft. Instead, the future RCAF will resemble a layered network.

At the first level are the sensors: radar, satellites, aircraft, drones and other surveillance systems. Next comes information: communications, data fusion, computing and artificial intelligence. Then comes decision-making: commanders and operators using that information to determine what action is required.

Finally come the effects: F-35s, P-8s, tankers, remotely piloted aircraft, autonomous systems and weapons. Holding the entire system together is the fifth layer: Canadian people, infrastructure and industry.

That last element may be the most overlooked – and perhaps the most important.

An advanced fighter is useless if it cannot be maintained. A drone is useless if it cannot communicate. A sensor is useless if nobody can interpret its data.

A weapon is useless if the logistics system cannot sustain it. And an exquisite aerospace system is vulnerable if Canada cannot maintain the industrial capacity required to keep it operating during a prolonged crisis.

The RCAF’s transformation, therefore, goes considerably beyond the arrival of the F-35. It is about moving from an aircraftcentric force to a networked aerospace force.

It is about seeing farther into the Arctic,

reducing time between detecting a threat and responding to it.

It is about integrating crewed and uncrewed aircraft. It is about using artificial intelligence to manage enormous quantities of information and treating data as a strategic resource. It is about making Canada’s defence industry part of the country’s nationalsecurity architecture. And ultimately, it is about preserving Canadian sovereignty in a world where geography alone can no longer guarantee security.

The challenge is enormous. But so is the opportunity.

The aircraft will be the most visible evidence of the transformation: F-35s, P-8s, CC-330s and remotely piloted aircraft. But beneath them will be something far more consequential – a Canadian aerospace defence system built around sensors, information, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, people and industry.

As noted by Lieutenant-General SpeiserBlanchet, during her speech at the Aerospace Defence and Security Expo 2026, which ran under the theme of Aligning industry and government, the RCAF is attempting to construct something considerably larger than a new fleet of aircraft, they are building an integrated Canadian aerospace defence system capable of detecting first, deciding first and acting first. | W

Fall 2026 | WINGS 51 2026-05-14 7:22 AM

THE POWER OF COMING TOGETHER: Why Industry Gatherings Continue to Matter In an era defined by virtual meetings, digital communications, and increasingly busy schedules, it is fair to ask whether conferences and trade shows remain as important as they once were.

For the aviation industry, the answer is a resounding yes.

Our industry is built on connections and relationships.

Aircraft connect communities, businesses, and people across vast distances every day. It should come as no surprise that the strength of our industry also depends on bringing people together.

Canada’s aviation sector faces no shortage of challenges and opportunities. Workforce development, emerging technologies, environmental objectives, operational resilience, safety, security, accessibility, and evolving regulatory requirements all demand thoughtful discussion and collaboration. No single organization, company, or stakeholder group can address these issues alone.

Progress and development in aviation happens when people come together.

The global and domestic aviation industry relies on conferences and trade shows to create an environment where conversations that might otherwise take months can occur in a matter of hours. They bring together operators, flight training units, maintenance professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, airports, government representatives, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore solutions.

Trade shows remain one of the most effective forums for showcasing products, services, technologies, and capabilities that support the aviation sector. They create opportunities for businesses to meet customers, develop partnerships, explore new markets, and drive investment. For many companies, the conversations that begin during an industry event lead directly to future business opportunities and long-term growth.

At the same time, the value of these gatherings extends beyond commercial activity. Aviation is a highly interconnected industry, and some of the most productive discussions occur between passionate aviation stakeholders who are not there to sell a product or service. Bringing

diverse perspectives together helps foster understanding, strengthen cooperation, and address issues that affect the entire sector. The result is a stronger aviation community that is better equipped to respond to shared challenges and seize new opportunities.

Beyond business development, conferences also serve as catalysts for professional development and innovation. They provide opportunities to learn about emerging technologies, evolving operational practices, and changing industry trends, while helping to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals for successful careers in the sector. As many areas of our industry continue to focus on workforce development, these interactions help strengthen the talent pipeline that will support aviation’s future.

Perhaps most importantly, industry gatherings provide an opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on the bigger picture. They encourage dialogue across sectors, promote a better understanding of emerging issues, and help build the partnerships needed to move our industry forward.

As an association, ATAC has always believed in the value and importance of bringing the aviation community and regulators together. The conversations that occur during conferences and trade shows often influence decisions, initiatives, and partnerships long after the event has ended.

New business opportunities are created, professional networks are strengthened, and fresh ideas emerge that can help shape the future of Canadian aviation.

The aviation community is strongest when it is connected, and ATAC can help establish those networks.

As we look ahead to the opportunities and challenges that will shape the future of our sector, the importance of gathering, learning, collaborating, and doing business remains as relevant as ever.

Aviation is about moving people and goods; the future of our industry will continue to be shaped by the people who come together to build it.

This November in Vancouver, many of those conversations will continue at ATAC’s 92nd Canadian Aviation Conference and Tradeshow, where stakeholders from across Canada’s aviation community will once again come together to share ideas, explore opportunities, and help shape the future of our industry.

The ATAC team looks forward to meeting you in person.

Julie Mailhot President and Chief Executive Officer

52 WINGS | Fall 2026

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FINAL

By Mike Mueller|

Canada’s aerospace advantage Turning momentum into long-term growth

54 WINGS | Fall 2026

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Efficient export permitting, internationally ternationally recognized aircraft certificaState of Canada’s Aerospace Industry Report – 6XPPHU

respected certification systems and predict- tion system is a key part of that advantage, able regulatory processes are all strategic providing manufacturers with the credibility enablers of growth and competitiveness. This and regulatory certainty needed to compete is why the Defence Industrial Strategy, while around the world. Preserving that leadership essential, cannot be the whole story. Defence will require sustained investment in the peois one pillar of Canada’s world-class aerospace ple, expertise and resources needed to keep sector, along with commercial aviation, space, pace with industry demand while maintainmaintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), ing Canada’s reputation for safety and reguadvanced manufacturing and the supply latory excellence. That’s why Canada needs chains connecting them all. Each faces its own a dedicated Aerospace Industrial Strategy to challenges and opportunities. Civil aviation complement the Defence Industrial Stratmanufacturers need clarity on SAF adoption egy – one that aligns civil, defence and space and decarbonization pathways. Space compa- priorities, provides long-term policy certainty nies need a policy environment that matches and positions Canadian companies to invest, the pace of a fast-moving global industry. innovate and compete globally. Government Suppliers across the ecosystem need a work- has demonstrated that it can build a strateforce strategy to compete for scarce talent. gic framework for defence. The same ambiCanada is also one of the few countries with tion should now be applied across Canada’s a capability across the complete aerospace broader aerospace sector. ecosystem, spanning aircraft manufacturing, Government and industry are already propulsion systems, flight simulation, main- aligned around a shared objective: building tenance, advanced technologies and space. a stronger aerospace and defence industrial Our companies compete at the highest levels base while deepening partnerships with trustinternationally, and Canadian innovations ed allies around the world. The Defence Incontribute to some of the world’s most ad- dustrial Strategy provides one roadmap. The vanced aerospace and defence programs. next step is an Aerospace Industrial Strategy Maintaining that competitive advantage to translate today’s momentum into investrequires more than innovation alone. It ment, exports and economic growth. | W depends on Canada’s ability to certify new technologies, manufacture them efficiently Mike Mueller is President and CEO of the and deliver them to global markets without Aerospace Industries Association.

WINGSMAGAZINE.COM

IMAGE: AIAC/ISED STATE OF CANADA’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY REPORT

T

he release of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy earlier this year marked an important turning point for Canada’s aerospace and defence industries. For the first time in many years, Canada has a longterm vision and political leadership that recognizes aerospace as a strategic sovereign capability – essential to our security, our economic prosperity and our international partnerships. Just as importantly, the strategy recognizes that delivering capability requires closer collaboration between government and industry. Commitments to procurement reform and the creation of the Defence Investment Agency signal a real willingness to modernize how Canada develops, acquires and sustains critical capabilities.

Canada’s aerospace industry is already a major engine of the economy. The latest State of Canada’s Aerospace Industry report shows a sector that contributes more than $33 billion to Canada’s GDP, supports more than 218,000 jobs, invests over $1.8 billion annually in research and development, and exports the majority of what it produces to customers in more than 170 countries.

The question today is no longer whether Canada can compete. It’s whether we can turn the momentum we’ve built into longterm growth and prosperity. That momentum was on full display this summer at the Farnborough International Airshow, where Canada fielded one of its largest delegations in recent years. Four federal ministers took part alongside industry leaders, researchers and innovators. Throughout the week, several announcements reinforced Canada’s growing role on the international stage, including Canada’s participation as an observer in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the release of Canada’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Blueprint. These developments, alongside countless conversations between governments, global OEMs and Canadian companies, made one thing clear: Canadian capability and expertise are in demand.

With roughly 70 to 80 per cent of Canada’s aerospace production tied to exports, global competitiveness depends on connecting to international markets. As global demand for aerospace and defence capabilities continues to grow, Canada must ensure our companies

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