- 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 of $109.95. Featured on one side are images of a Sopwith Camel, a Supermarine Spitfire and an F-35 Lightning II, representing fighters of the First World War, the Second World War and Canada’s future fighter aircraft. The opposite side features a portrait of King Charles III.
The coin is available for purchase directly from the Royal Canadian Mint.
- Nolinor Aviation of Quebec has announced substantial salary increases for its pilots, ranging from 25 to 40 percent. New Boeing 737 captains will start at $175,000 per year, progressing up to a top salary of $250,000.“At Nolinor, we are proud of the exceptional skills and dedication of our pilots,” said company president Marco Prud’Homme. “Their ability to operate in extreme conditions, be it on gravel runways or frozen lakes, demands recognition commensurate with their expertise.”
- Florida’s general aviation extravaganza Sun ‘n Fun is underway once again. One of the announcements that caught our attention was one by Piper Aircraft, who announced that they will be developing an STC to equip their PA-44 Seminole piston twin with 180-hp, four-cylinder DeltaHawk diesel engines that use lower-priced jet fuel. With lower operating and maintenance costs compared to their avgas-burning brethren, DeltaHawk diesel-equipped Seminoles could prove very attractive, especially to flight schools. Environmental advantages include the ability to use cleaner-burning Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the discontinuation of 100LL (leaded) avgas as a fuel.
- Nav Canada announced their most recent quarterly financial results on Thursday (Apr. 12). For the three months ending on Feb. 29, the air navigation service provider reported air traffic levels up by 8.3 percent compared to the same period in the last fiscal year. Revenue was reported only slightly improved from the previous year, up by only 1.3 percent to $393 million. Free cash flow this quarter was a negative $28 million compared to the equivalent quarter last year of a positive $34 million. Nav Canada says this is primarily due to higher compensation costs.
- Transport Canada announced it has withdrawn proposals to redefine ultralight aircraft in response to feedback it received from numerous organizations and individuals. Many of the protests were centred on a proposal to reclassify ultralight aircraft currently bearing registration marks beginning with C-F and C-G with only C-I. TC says it will conduct further policy work so that the general aviation community would be less impacted by future proposed changes.