General aviation is a lifeline for the many remote and far-flung communities of a country like Canada and all over the nation aviation companies are stepping up to ensure vital supplies and personnel are where they need to be in the coronavirus crisis. As competition reaches a fever pitch for masks, gowns and other medical supplies, the federal government has opted to hire only Canadian air cargo companies to transport precious supplies from China. There have been reports that other countries have hijacked shipments on the ramp in China and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that in addition to using only Canadian carriers, the government has rented its own warehouses in China to ensure the goods flow smoothly.
All over the country, smaller airports have turned into storage sites for idled airliners. While places like Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto have full ramps of airliners, even small facilities like Muskoka have airliners on the tarmac. Kitchener-Waterloo has dozens of Sun Wing 737s on the premises. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Helijet is offering free flights to healthcare workers who need to travel for work between Vancouver Island and Vancouver. “Their efforts are unprecedented right now and we’re proud to help where we can,” said CEO Danny Sitnam.