Canada’s First Control Tower Celebrates Anniversary
It was in 1939 that the first air traffic control tower was built in Canada, and Nav Canada is celebrating its 85th anniversary at the Saint-Hubert airport. Within a year of its opening, the tower’s […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Another small recreational aircraft manufacturer is experiencing financial hardship. Progressive Aerodyne (PA) of Florida, which builds both the SeaRey kits and the factory-built versions, has halted production and is searching for a buyer. “The doors […]
Canada Unveils New Defence Strategy
While much of the country was focussed on the total solar eclipse sweeping across central and eastern Canada last Monday (Apr. 8), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by Defence Minister Bill Blair and Finance Minister […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
The Royal Canadian Mint this week unveiled a coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The 99.99 percent pure silver coin has a nominal value of $20 and a retail price […]
Air Canada Sends Heavy Maintenance to Chinese Company
“It’s a head scratcher, for sure.” Global News reported the comment by former CSIS senior analyst Phil Gurski upon hearing about a five-year contract Air Canada signed last September with aircraft maintenance company HAECO Hong […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Icon Aircraft of Vacaville, California filed this week for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code, meaning it can continue to operate with protection from debtors while it seeks to reorganize. The company […]
Last Flying Martin Mars Finds Retirement Home
Thanks in part to a grant of $250,000 from the British Columbia provincial government, the last Martin Mars flying boat to see commercial service will be transferred from current owners The Coulson Group to the […]
Bombardier’s Global 7500 Sets More Records
One of the few product lines Bombardier retained after its divesture of various aircraft divisions a few years ago was Global Express series of business jets. One of its latest iterations is the Global 7500 […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
As we reported two weeks ago, the RCAF has retired its fleet of CT-155 Hawk training jets. Several of the aircraft were recently spotted at the Collingwood Regional Airport (CNY3) in Ontario and will reportedly […]
Fewer Student Visas May Aggravate Pilot Shortage
The federal government’s recent announcement that it will reduce the number of visas issued to international student, partly at least as a means of addressing the housing shortage, may aggravate the pilot shortage in Canada, […]
New RPAS Regulations Taking Enjoyment Out of RC Model Flying
CARs Part 9, which regulates Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), a category that includes drones and was implemented in 2019, is pushing some radio-controlled (RC) model airplane operators to abandon their hobby, according to one […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
The Greek parliament this week approved the purchase of seven De Havilland DHC-515 water bombers. They will replace older versions of what is known in Europe simply as “Canadairs”, a reference to the design’s original […]
CF-18 Service Life Extension Contract Awarded
Arcfield Canada Corp. of Calgary has been awarded a $211.6-million contract by the Department of National Defence to provide ongoing avionics support for the RCAF’s fleet of 89 CF-18s. Sub-contractors include Raytheon Canada, L3 Harris, […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Beta Technologies of Vermont announced last week a partnership with Signature Aviation that will see electric aircraft chargers installed at two more Signature FBOs on the U.S. East Coast. One has already been installed at […]
Canada’s Victory Flight Announces 2024 Schedule
By Dave Hadfield Victory Flight is a unique display formation of iconic Second World War-era fighter aircraft consisting of a Hawker Hurricane XII, a Spitfire IX and a P-51D Mustang. Whether displaying in a tight […]
Some of This Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Conair of Abbotsford, British Columbia announced this week that its six flight training devices (FTDs) have been certified by Transport Canada to Level 4 standards, meaning they can be used to train pilots and the […]
Bearhawk Aircraft Changes Hands
Bearhawk Aircraft has been sold by its founder Mark Goldberg to Virgil Irwin, one of its clients and builders. The missionary pilot plans to base an expanded builder-assist program in Fairview, Oklahoma. Bearhawk offers five […]
Canadian Company to Collaborate on New Amphibious Water Bomber
Hynaero, a French company based in Bordeaux, announced this week that it has contracted Montreal-based Altitude Aerospace to assist with the design and engineering of their Fregate-F100 amphibious water bomber, a clean-sheet design that […]
Ukraine Fighter Pilots Training in Canada
ITTC (International Tactical Training Centre) has been training a pair of Ukrainian Air Force instructors at their London, Ontario-based training centre since last October. The training is done in collaboration of the Ukraine’s Ivan Kozhedub […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Bell Textron has appointed Chinook Helicopters of Abbotsford, British Columbia as an authorized dealership of its Canadian-manufactured Bell 505 Jet Ranger helicopter. “As a premier rotorcraft and fixed-wing training academy in British Columbia, Canada, Chinook […]
Canada, Alexander Graham Bell and the Silver Dart
Today (Friday, February 23) marks the 115th anniversary of the first powered heavier-than-air flight in Canada. It took place near Baddeck Bay, Nova Scotia in 1909. The aircraft was the Silver Dart, whose project leader […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Federal defence minister Bill Blair announced on Monday (Feb. 19) that the government will donate over 800 SkyRanger R70 drones to Ukraine to use in its defence against Russian aggression, now in its third year. […]
ATC Union Head Calls for Audit Report Release
The president of the Canadian Air Traffic Controllers Association (CATCA) is calling for the release of an audit report issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that reportedly rated Canada’s oversight of aviation safety […]
TSB Urges Helicopter Safety Measures Be Implemented
In conjunction with the release of an accident investigation report on the fatal crash in 2021 of an Airbus AS350 helicopter in Nunavut, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) issued four recommendations to Transport Canada (TC) […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Mirabel, Quebec-based airline Nolinor has announced that it is reintroducing a Boeing 737-200 to its operating fleet in response to demand in Canada’s northern regions for large aircraft capable of landing on gravel runways. “The […]
France Honours Canadian D-Day Pilot
A former RCAF pilot who flew Lancaster bombers during the Second World War was presented with the insignia of the Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour on Wednesday (Feb. 7) by France’s ambassador to […]
De Havilland Expands Manufacturing Capacity
De Havilland Canada (DHC) announced on Thursday (Feb. 8) that it has acquired the Calgary-based aircraft parts manufacturing assets and ongoing business of Field Aviation Company Inc. This comes on the heels of DHC’s 2023 […]
Some of this Week’s Other Highlights in Brief
Metropolitan Montreal Airport, until last week known as the Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (CYHU), has announced funding of $90 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, a federal Crown corporation. The loan is to Toronto’s Porter Aviation […]
Helicopter Industry Assn Critical of Current Transport Canada Regulations
In the wake of a fatal helicopter crash in Northern British Columbia that claimed the lives of two Italian tourists as well as their guide (from New Zealand) and their pilot (from Kelowna) on January […]
Some Ultralight Pilots May be Grounded
Transport Canada (TC) has issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment to the CARs (NPA 2024-001) that would change the definition of “ultra-light aeroplanes”. According to TC, the proposed change would “increase clarity and improve enforceability,” […]