Varco: 'Big year' ahead for De Havilland in Alberta

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With the New Year less than six weeks away, 2024 will be a pivotal year for Canada's De Havilland Aircraft and its ambitious plans in Alberta.

The Calgary-based firm announced Thursday that it has acquired Field Aviation's aircraft parts manufacturing operations in the city. The deal adds about 100 people to the local workforce and marks De Havilland's second major acquisition since October.

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But this is only the beginning course.

The company is finalizing agreements to produce the new DHC-515 Firefighter amphibious aircraft in Canada for international customers.

Work on it is expected to start this year. Final aircraft assembly is completed locally, and De Havilland currently has seven facilities.

It is also promoting the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G, the fifth generation of the iconic business jet, which debuted at the Paris Air Show last summer.

Eventually, it is expected to break ground on De Havilland Square, its ambitious new aircraft manufacturing center and airfield being developed west of Strathmore.

“This is a big year for us,” company spokesman Neil Sweeney said Friday from Rome, where de Havilland is finalizing contracts with European customers for 24 new products. updated amphibious water bombers.

“The strengthening of two programs at the same time is an important issue. And it is important for us to have the right people. But in 2024 . . It will be a very important year for us.”

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De Havilland Canada, the private equity firm owned by Westerkirk Capital and owned by billionaire Sherry Bridson, has officially moved its corporate headquarters to Calgary in September 2022 and announced plans to expand operations in southern Alberta in September 2022.

The company previously operated in the city as Viking Air, refurbishing and refurbishing older models of the “Super Scooper” firefighting aircraft, the Canadair CL-215 and CL-415.

That summer, he revealed plans to advance the program for the new DHC-515 firefighter with customers in the European Union.

Currently there are orders from six countries. The contracts will create new jobs at the company's facilities in Calgary and Victoria. The first water bomber is expected to be delivered in 2027.

“We are finalizing contracts with European customers. We expect them to be completed in the second quarter of this year, and at that time we will have 24 new water bombers in production,” Sweeney said in an interview.

“We are now recruiting people and training people for the program.”

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The company should grow significantly in both cities and hire “several hundred people,” he added. Calgary currently employs 750 people.

De Havilland's plans are a key part of a major expansion of Alberta's aviation industry.

Calgary is one of the largest airports in the country and Canada's second largest airline, WestJet. It is also a growing base for post-secondary training programs for the industry.

According to Calgary Economic Development (CED), Alberta has more than 500 companies working in the aerospace and defense industry, contributing $3.3 billion to the province's GDP.

CED Executive Director Brad Parry said Friday that de Havilland's efforts are “further evidence of diversification” in the city.

“The moves that have come with WestJet and some of the other aviation companies, and De Havilland is anchoring that, shows that this is a place where people see an opportunity,” Parry said.

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“We still see this industry as having great potential.”

last season, De Havilland 45 has announced that it will launch its new Twin Otter version, with purchase agreements and letters of intent for the aircraft.

The aircraft will be built in Calgary, with parts and manufacturing done mainly between the city and Victoria.

In October, de Havilland acquired Mid-Canada Mod Center and Avionics Design Services, an Ontario-based avionics installation, repair and modification company.

This week's acquisition of Field Aviation's Calgary operations brings expertise to de Havilland as it looks to expand.

De Havilland officials are also moving forward with extensive plans for a new complex in Wheatland County that includes a new runway, aircraft assembly facility, parts manufacturing and distribution centers, maintenance repair and offices.

The complex, which is planned for 12 to 15 different facilities, is expected to eventually house 1,500 workers, company officials said in 2022.

Amendments were made to Wheatland County's territorial structure plan last year.

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“Now we sit down with our industrial engineers and try to determine which buildings should be built first. . . given that we are ramping up production of both the water bombers and the Twin Otter Classic,” he said.

“I expect we'll break ground in mid-2024.”

Calgary-based industry analyst Rick Erickson said the company's 1,500-acre development in Wheatland County is important and will help. creating high-paying aviation jobs throughout the region.

It will also increase exports from Alberta.

“It's huge,” Erickson said.

“You have a new green airport to build airplanes. If you look around the world, you're talking about dozens, at most, of aircraft manufacturing facilities that have a huge economic impact on the communities where they're located.”

The full construction of the de Havilland site is expected to take at least 10 years to complete.

Additionally, the company plans to add employees as it expands in 2024.

“We're in active growth mode,” Sweeney said.

“And we're trying to hire as many people as we can in Calgary.”

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