Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. has signed a long-term structural maintenance visit contract with WestJet. The contract is for an initial three-year period, followed by an optional two-year extension in 2015.
As a result of this contract, the Kelowna-based operation will service about 24 WestJet aircraft per year, bringing nearly 100,000 hours of maintenance work to Kelowna Flightcraft annually.
The work is scheduled as ‘nose to tail,’ meaning the aircraft will leave as the next aircraft arrives to replace it in maintenance.
“Long-term maintenance contracts such as this are difficult to acquire, so this is a significant, exciting, and important part of our growth and stability in the maintenance segment of our business,” said Barry Lapointe, Flightcraft president and CEO.
“We are committed to meeting key turn times and quality of work to support WestJet operations. With the dedication of our staff, we know we will be able to achieve this.”
“With this new arrangement in place, we look forward to working with Kelowna Flightcraft,” added Russ White, WestJet vice-president, technical operations. “This organization fosters a culture of passionate employees, something shared by WestJetters across our network. We value their commitment to safety and high quality standards as a core value.”
Kelowna Flightcraft operates or leases over 70 aircraft; is Canada’s largest cargo operator; is a leading aircraft maintenance, modification and manufacturing organization; is a transport Canada Design Approval organization (engineering); owns the type certificate for the Convair airplane; and is a Transport Canada Approved Training Organization delivering training to a wide range of aviation companies.
