YELLOWKNIFE, Jan. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Summit Air announces the purchase of a second AVRO RJ85 jet to meet market demand for remote destination crew movements and ACMI (aircraft, crew maintenance and insurance) contracts.
"Interest has been very strong in the unique capabilities and low operating costs that the AVRO RJ85 jet brings to the market, especially in the mining and energy sectors," said Paul McElligott, President of Ledcor Resources and Transportation, Summit Air's parent company. "As a result, we are acquiring a second jet to accommodate our recently signed long-term contracts in Alberta and the Northwest Territories."
Summit Air is part of the Ledcor Group of Companies and operates a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest and Yukon Territories.
"We see an exciting future for the AVRO RJ85 aircraft in Canada's north as the next generation commercial jet, replacing the aging Boeing 737-200," said Rob Mauracher, President, Summit Air. "We have made significant enhancements to an already excellent platform by installing a 90 seat leather interior with LED cabin lighting, adding an upgraded FMS with WAAS/LPV capability and an airframe gravel protection kit, and completing gravel runway operations certification allowing operations without a payload penalty onto gravel strips."
The AVRO RJ85 is a 100 seat high performance, short-haul passenger jet, offering modern, efficient operations on flights up to 1500 nautical miles (2,800 kilometers). Rugged and versatile, its high wing design is capable of operations on both paved and gravel runways and is equipped with self-contained boarding air stair and auxiliary power unit to provide independence at remote airfields.
"In partnership with the Det'on Cho Logistics, our AVRO RJ85 operations will service the Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine from Edmonton," said Rob Mauracher. "We have also inked a partnership agreement with First Air, flying commercial passenger services for them under a long term ACMI contract from Edmonton and Yellowknife."
Summit Air's second AVRO RJ85 is scheduled to be delivered in late April 2015.
Summit's AVRO RJ85 is a UK-built aircraft equipped with auto throttle, EFIS flight deck, WAAS/LPV capable and is the only next generation jet certified in Canada for operations onto gravel runways. With a long-range cruising speed of 720 km/hr (450 mph), and a maximum operating speed of 763 km/hr (475 mph), the Avro has a 43,000 kg (97,000 lbs.) maximum takeoff weight.
The aircraft is powered by four Honeywell LF507-1F high bypass FADEC engines capable of 7000 lbs of thrust each. The engines feature low noise levels and low emissions, making it one of the quietest and greenest aircraft in its class.
About Summit
Owned and operated by The Ledcor Group of Companies, The Summit Aviation Group operates a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft based in Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, British Columbia and Alberta. Summit specializes in developing tailor-made aviation solutions for government, mining, exploration, oil & gas, crew movements, environmental surveys, business travel, arctic operations, and medevac.
SOURCE Summit Aviation
Image with caption: "AVRO RJ85 lands on a gravel runway (CNW Group/Summit Aviation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150119_C7460_PHOTO_EN_10343.jpg
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