NEW AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE DEAL WITHWESTJET A MILESTONE FOR KELOWNA FLIGHTCRAFT
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fter more than 40 years of growth and expansion, Kelowna Flightcraft reached another milestone in its colourful history in June with the signing of a three-year maintenance contract with Calgary-based WestJet. Often referred to as “Canada’s preferred airline,” WestJet chose Flightcraft as its preferred provider of long-term aircraft structural maintenance over several firms that bid on the contract from throughout North America. The contract is for an initial three year period, followed by an optional two-year extension in 2015.
The bid process was intensive and began with the issuing of a Request for Proposals (RFP) by WestJet in May, 2011. “Long-term maintenance contracts such as this are difficult to acquire, so this is a significant, exciting and important part of our growth and stability in the maintenance segment of our business,” said Barry Lapointe, Flightcraft President and CEO. The contract is also good news for the regional economy. Approximately 25 new positions for skilled maintenance workers have been created at Flightcraft as a result of the contract, positions filled mostly by Okanagan residents.
With its close proximity to Kelowna International Airport, Flightcraft has been doing ad hoc maintenance work on WestJet planes for several years although major scheduled maintenance was being done elsewhere. “We have a reputation for reliability and providing a high quality of work and outstanding customer service - we felt those were key factors in securing this contract,” says Grant Stevens, Flightcraft’s Human Resources Director.
WestJet’s Robert Palmer, Manager, Public Relations, concurs. “Not only did Flightcraft present a competitive bid, in the course of our due diligence they came highly recommended by their other customers. Flightcraft’s location
18 | YLW CONNECTION
BY TRACEY FREDRICKSON
in a centre where we are already flying in and out means there is no additional cost to us to bring a plane in for maintenance. Kelowna is a good place to ‘swap tails.’”
Flightcraft anticipates visits from approximately 24 WestJet aircraft per year as a result of the contract, resulting in nearly 100,000 hours of maintenance work. The work is scheduled as ‘nose to tail,’ meaning that when an aircraft arrives at Flightcraft for maintenance, a second aircraft will be immediately available to replace it so that there is minimal or no disruption to flight scheduling. The maintenance visits may range from 1,000 to several thousand hours depending on the age of each plane, and other factors.
A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY
Kelowna Flightcraft was started in the 1970s by Lapointe and his business partner Jim Rogers. The team identified a niche market opportunity in the Okanagan for an aircraft maintenance company. Initially the company performed inspection checks, maintenance and other tasks on various small aircraft throughout the Okanagan from the back of a truck. Over the years it has expanded to commercial courier and charter service. Today Kelowna Flightcraft is Canada’s leading
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