De Havilland acquires parts maker's Calgary division

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Aircraft giant De Havilland has acquired the Calgary-based manufacturing unit of an aircraft parts company in addition to its expansion into Western Canada, which officially began two years ago.

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De Havilland Aircraft Canada Ltd. company announced Thursday that it has acquired the assets and business of Field Aviation's Calgary-based manufacturing division. Terms of the sale were not made public.

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A Calgary aviation consultant said the acquisition strengthens De Havilland's plans to become a major player in Alberta's economy, calling the move “awesome.”

The sale adds to de Havilland's expansion into Calgary, which began in 2022 when it moved its headquarters to the city, reflecting plans to build its new fire station on 1,500 acres in Wheatland County, about 15 kilometers west of Strathmore. De Havilland spokesman Neil Sweeney said the company will welcome more than 100 employees from Field, mostly parts manufacturers.

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It is also buying one “relatively large facility” in Calgary, Sweeney said.

“They are a highly qualified group of people and we couldn't be more excited to have them come.”

European countries ordered 24 DHL-515 firefighting aircraft from the manufacturer. The company said last summer that several countries had called to order retrofitted planes or new 515s.

“We know that there is a great demand for aircraft in the world. It doesn't matter if it's in Europe or North America, there's a huge demand,” Sweeney said in an interview with Postmedia in August 2023. The Calgary manufacturing facility also builds the DHC-6 Twin Otter and Dash 8-400 aircraft.

Brian Chef, CEO of De Havilland Canada, said in a press release that the acquisition will improve its internal supply chain.

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Field and de Havilland had a working relationship prior to the acquisition, de Havilland said in a press release. Field currently produces parts for De Havilland Canada and several other aerospace manufacturers, but did not specify which companies it works with.

Field Aviation said the sale would allow it to focus on its aircraft modification business, and it said it would continue to operate its Toronto aircraft modification facility. The company has extensive experience in adapting several versions of De Havilland's popular Dash-8 aircraft.

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Field modifications include styling the DHL Dash-8 Series 300 aircraft with a special interior. It has also worked with US Customs and Border Protection to increase surveillance capabilities on its Dash-8 aircraft.

“Field is committed to providing our customers with the highest quality aircraft modification solutions, and we believe we can better achieve that goal by focusing on our core business,” said Brian Love, president of Field Aviation.

“Great move”

Rick Erickson, a Calgary-based aviation consultant, confirms that by moving most of its operations under the De Havilland umbrella, the manufacturer will become a “significant player in Alberta's economy.”

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“It's a very nice move on their part,” he said.

Single companies can't manufacture all their parts, he said, adding that absorbing Field Aviation's Calgary wing would give de Havilland “more power” over its processes.

According to Sweeney, the acquisition will help the manufacturer stabilize a supply chain that has experienced frequent upheaval in the past few years.

“The more capacity we have to manufacture in-house for our customers, the less risk there is of delays or suppliers not being able to supply us with the parts we need.”

— With files from Chris Varcoe, Postmedia

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