SkyTalk August 2012

Page 12

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SKYTALK

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AUGUST

2012

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www.skytalkonline.com

Aviation News Boeing CH-147F Chinook helicopter completes inaugural flight

In Memorium

William Grant Holland

March 3, 1944 – June 24, 2012

William Grant Holland.

William Grant Holland

Boeing received a US$1.15-billion contract from the Canadian government in August 2009 for 15 new CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Under the contract, Boeing will match Canada’s purchase price by executing contracts and investments of equal value with Canadian industry. Photo: courtesy Boeing.

Boeing’s CH-147F medium-to-heavy-lift Chinook helicopter scheduled for use by the Canadian Forces is progressing ahead of schedule after making its inaugural flight on June 24. The flight lasted more than 80 minutes and confirmed the initial airworthiness of the aircraft, including its new electrical system and advanced Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit.

After the Chinook’s third flight on June 25, Boeing also completed the Limited Acceptance Test Procedure to validate aircraft performance and systems. The aircraft will continue to progress through ground and flight test activities in the next few months, along with a second CH-147F. The Canadian H-47 Chinook,

designated CH-147F by the Canadian Forces, provides advanced features that include a newly designed, modernized airframe with a long-range fuel system, upgraded electrical system, and enhanced fully integrated Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and Digital Automatic Flight Control System. The aircraft also has improved survivability features,

including a Directional Infrared Countermeasures system, internal ballistic protection, and crashworthy, armoured pilot and copilot seats. The Canadian government awarded Boeing a contract for 15 Medium-to-Heavy-Lift Helicopters and in-service support in June 2009. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2013.

passed away suddenly from a heart attack on June 24, 2012.

Grant was born in Vancouver

for the many guests travelling

through Airport South to and from its resorts.

Grant also spearheaded

on March 3, 1944 to Marjorie

OBMG’s presence in sports and

William McDougall Holland

season, which further allowed

Grace (Robertson) Holland and and into the fifth generation of three merged West Coast founding families—the Muirs, the Robertsons and the Hollands. After

university,

outdoor shows during the off-

him to develop and nurture

strong relationships with thousands of the company’s guests.

When not at work, Grant

Grant

enjoyed reading and travelling.

sawmill industry. He then worked

Portugal, Scotland, England,

worked in the B.C. Interior’s in areas as diverse as oil and gas, marine haulage and tourism.

Throughout his youth, Grant

Over the past decade, he toured Hawaii, Mexico and Maritime Canada.

The entire industry and the

loved skiing and hiking with his

airport community will miss

a succession of spaniels at home.

and ability to deal with pressure

many friends, as well as raising In 1987, Grant joined the Oak

Bay Marine Group (OBMG) as

the company’s Airport South operations manager. In addi-

Grant’s knowledge, experience, situations, as well as his gift of

spinning a great story if you had a chance to catch him “after work.”

Grant leaves a brother, niec-

tion to managing the company’s

es, nephews, grand nieces and

significant contributor to the BC

There will be no service, by

airport operations, Grant was a

grand nephews.

Sports Fishing community.

request. Donations can be directed

remained the face of OBMG

of BC and Yukon.

For the past 25 years, he

to the Heart and Stroke Foundation

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