May 10. Newsletter. Great Slave Helicopters Air Tindi Top Aces Hicks & Lawrence Discovery Mining Services

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Cameron Cannon
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1 May 10 Newsletter Great Slave Helicopters Air Tindi Top Aces Hicks & Lawrence Discovery Mining Services

President s Message I would like to congratulate all of the people who have helped us capture a lot of new business for Discovery Air in the past few months.

2 President s Message I would like to congratulate all of the people who have helped us capture a lot of new business for Discovery Air in the past few months. Business Development is about to become a primary focus at Discovery Air as we work to grow substantially over the next 5 years, and we have a few things to celebrate already. You may have read the press release about Great Slave Helicopters (GSH) one-year Master Service Agreement in support of ongoing oil and gas seismic exploration activity in Peru. This is a very important milestone for Discovery Air as we have been able to tap into a new thriving market in South America. Breaking into a new market is never easy, and this new opportunity wouldn t have been possible without the persistence and vision of a number of people throughout our organization. You will also read about Hicks & Lawrence s contract win with the OMNR. The Hicks team will be representing us at the Dryden Air Show on May 22 and 23rd. This airshow commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the City of Dryden, and looks to have a great line up of performers. We have just released our 2010 Annual Report, and I would like to thank the team who put this report together for their many hours of hard work. The Annual Report outlines our Vision for where Discovery Air is going in the next five years, and I would urge you to take the time to have a look at it. We are about to begin our busy season, and I would urge you all to continue your focus on safe and effective operations, whether you re fighting fires, flying in Maple Flag, operating in Peru, or working with our many other key customers around Canada and the world. Dave Jennings President and CEO Discovery Air Inc. Become a fan on Facebook For those of you catching up with friends on Facebook you may want to become a fan of Discovery Air. All news releases and interesting stories and items for fans get posted there.

Announcements and News Chairman of the Board Gil Bennett and Board member Brian Semkowski have a new understanding of the rigours of flying fighter aircraft.

First Annual Discovery Air Photo (AND VIDEO) Contest Who knew Discovery Air employed so many aspiring photographers? So far the submissions have been astounding, but keep those cameras rolling!

We have also added an additional category for videos!!! Rules and Regulations: 1. Prizes: a.

Third Prize: $100 b. Category: Our people at work (Pictures in this category should have identifiable people in the photo) i. First Prize: $300 ii. Second Prize: $200 iii. Third Prize: $100 c.

3 Announcements and News Chairman of the Board Gil Bennett and Board member Brian Semkowski have a new understanding of the rigours of flying fighter aircraft. They are seen here with Steve Bunt Nierlich and Didier Dids Toussaint, just after completing a flight in Bagotville, QC. First Annual Discovery Air Photo (AND VIDEO) Contest Who knew Discovery Air employed so many aspiring photographers? So far the submissions have been astounding, but keep those cameras rolling! By special request, we have extended the first annual Discovery Air photo contest submission deadline to June 30th, 2010 to accommodate spring flying! We have also added an additional category for videos!!! Rules and Regulations: 1. Prizes: a. Category: Our aircraft/operations at work (Pictures in this category should have a piece of equipment featured aircraft, camp, etc.) i. First Prize: $300 ii. Second Prize: $200 iii. Third Prize: $100 b. Category: Our people at work (Pictures in this category should have identifiable people in the photo) i. First Prize: $300 ii. Second Prize: $200 iii. Third Prize: $100 c. Category: Discovery Air Videos (deadline 31 Jul 2010) i. First Prize: $300 ii. Second Prize: $200 iii. Third Prize: $100 The biggest prize is the bragging rights! Your picture will appear on the homepage of the new Discovery Air Website, on our DA Facebook page and in other promotional material! 2. All photos are submitted with permission to use on the Internet or for Discovery Air print materials. They should be high resolution and in jpg format. 3. All photos must be accompanied by an explanatory paragraph of 100 words or less. The paragraph should state where the photo was taken, who or what is in it and what they were doing. 4. Videos should be 3 minutes or less, and should be ready to publish to the web which means that copyrighted music cannot be used with the video. 5. Submissions can be made by to flightplan@discoveryair.com - if you have difficulty please try sheilavenman@topaces.ca. Deadline 30 Jun 2010 for pictures 31 Jul 2010 for videos

Discovery Air participates in Exercise Sovereign Grizzly Through the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, Discovery Air, Great Slave Helicopters and Air Tindi had a chance to participate in Exercise

Jugjit More-Curran and John Curran represented our group on the ExecuTrek a one-day event geared to highlight the training and rigors that Canadian Forces Reserves undertake when on Exercise.

Commanding Officer of 41 CBG, Lieutenant-Colonel Lyle Herod said this was the first large-scale exercise in the North for the Reserves since 1952.

4 Discovery Air participates in Exercise Sovereign Grizzly Through the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, Discovery Air, Great Slave Helicopters and Air Tindi had a chance to participate in Exercise Sovereign Grizzly with members of the 41 Canadian Brigade Group (41 CBG) in Yellowknife on May 5. Jugjit More-Curran and John Curran represented our group on the ExecuTrek a one-day event geared to highlight the training and rigors that Canadian Forces Reserves undertake when on Exercise. While most of the 164 Reserves taking part in the Exercise made the trip North from Alberta, several from Manitoba and Yellowknife s own reserve company also participated. Commanding Officer of 41 CBG, Lieutenant-Colonel Lyle Herod said this was the first large-scale exercise in the North for the Reserves since As part of the experience, participants got to learn how to load and fire the C-7 general service rifle, observe all parts of the Exercise from communications capabilities to infantry training in the field, tour an actual brigade s field headquarters, and inspect the gear and vehicles that keep Canada s Reserves moving. The highlight on the event was getting a chance to interact with the soldiers, two-thirds of whom have done overseas deployments with the Forces. Most of these people are just 22 to 26 years old but they have already proven they have tremendous leadership and team building skills, said Jugjit More- Curran, Discovery Air Human Resources Manager Northern Services. It was an honour to spend a day in the field with such a dedicated group of Canadians. As a way of thanking the community for playing host to the Exercise, Military Engineers built a new section of boardwalk along Yellowknife s Frame Lake Trail for all to enjoy. NWT Business of the Year Award Our Joint Venture Partner, Dehcho Regional Helicopters Ltd. was selected as the 2010 Business of the Year Award winner by the NWT Chamber of Commerce. Dehcho Regional Helicopters brings together First Nation partners from Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake and Fort Simpson as well as our own industry powerhouse Great Slave Helicopters in a joint-venture that is 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned. The NWT Chamber of Commerce said Dehcho Regional Helicopters was an ideal selection to receive the Award because it provides a shining example of what can be accomplished when Aboriginal partners join forces with established industry leaders to learn from each other and achieve common goals. Caption for picture: Joanne Deneron, president of Dehcho Regional Helicopters, is congratulated by Great Slave Helicopters president Jeff Denomme. Did you know??? Did you know that every spring Air Tindi hosts their Annual Ice Golf Tournament on the ice of the east bay? All staff and spouses are welcomed to celebrate spring and say goodbye to winter with some golf, refreshments and Peter s famous chili. AIR TINDI

Hicks & Lawrence sign new contract with OMNR: On March 15, 2010 we were pleased to announce that its Hicks & Lawrence has signed a new five year contract with the Ontario Ministry of Natural

Tom Ball, the OMNR s Provincial Aerial Operations Coordinator, commented that Hicks & Lawrence was successful in obtaining a 5 year contract to provide Forest Fire Birddog, Aerial Fire Detection and

5 Hicks & Lawrence sign new contract with OMNR: On March 15, 2010 we were pleased to announce that its Hicks & Lawrence has signed a new five year contract with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) to provide twenty aircraft in support of the OMNR s forest fire management and air transport/utility requirements. Tom Ball, the OMNR s Provincial Aerial Operations Coordinator, commented that Hicks & Lawrence was successful in obtaining a 5 year contract to provide Forest Fire Birddog, Aerial Fire Detection and Transport Services. They have been able to adapt to changing operational standards over the years and the serviceability of their aircraft continues to meet the high standards established by both Hicks & Lawrence and the Crown. Contract Extension with Diavik Diamond Mines Tli Cho Air, a joint-venture partnership between Air Tindi Ltd. and the Tlicho Investment Corporation, has been granted a one-year contract extension by Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (DDMI). This contract uses three Dash 7 aircraft for passenger and cargo service between the mine and Yellowknife. AIR TINDI

Did you know??? Did you know that Discovery Air is looking for innovative ideas? Do you have an idea that will make our business better? solve a customer s problem? make operations more efficient?

com Havgun Helicopters names new Directors: President Merven Gruben, left, Vice President Kurt Wainman and Secretary Treasurer Jeff Denomme, President of Great Slave Helicopters, sign-off on their

6 Did you know??? Did you know that Discovery Air is looking for innovative ideas? Do you have an idea that will make our business better? solve a customer s problem? make operations more efficient? Send us your ideas. We re looking for your great ideas and offering prizes for the best ideas. Maybe you ll win a ride in an Alpha Jet! Send your ideas to ideas@discoveryair.com Havgun Helicopters names new Directors: President Merven Gruben, left, Vice President Kurt Wainman and Secretary Treasurer Jeff Denomme, President of Great Slave Helicopters, sign-off on their new appointments to the Board of Directors of Havgun Helicopters. Acting as the witness for the official ceremony in Tuktoyaktuk was Russell Newmark of E. Gruben s Transport. New Peruvian Operations Great Slave Helicopters (GSH) has signed a one-year Master Service Agreement in support of ongoing oil and gas seismic exploration activity with South American Exploration LLC s Peruvian operations. The agreement is now underway, and will use five medium and intermediate Bell 212 and AS 350 helicopters in north-eastern Peru for a minimum of six months with more work expected to immediately follow. Total gross revenue related to the first project alone is expected to surpass US$5.4 million. As part of the Agreement, GSH has partnered with local helicopter operator Helisafe SAC. While this initial agreement relates specifically to Peru, our team is focused on growing our reach further into other lucrative South American markets where our proven expertise supporting mineral, oil and gas explorers in remote operating environments for more than a quartercentury is very much in demand, said Jeff Denomme, President GSH. Photo Credit: Aird Holmin, At Station #7, on the East side of the northern pass in the Andes, while en route to Iquitos, approx. 450mi. NE of Lima.

Spring in the North : Soon we will be off the ice and onto floats; the floats may be on as early as end-may. Airstrip made on the ice. Photo by Jon Glover.

The contract provides for the delivery of airborne training services to British Army Forward Air Controllers using Top Aces jets and pilots.

An excerpt from the article (for the full article visit the April/May 2010 edition of up here): Darcy Milkowski Since he was a kid watching floatplanes take off and land near his grandparents farm on

So, six years after he got his pilot s license, he moved to the North to fly a Beaver and Twin Otter with Yellowknife s Air Tindi.

7 Spring in the North : Soon we will be off the ice and onto floats; the floats may be on as early as end-may. Airstrip made on the ice. Photo by Jon Glover. Top Aces BATUS Contract extended to 2011: Top Aces contract with the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) has been extended for an additional one year period. The contract provides for the delivery of airborne training services to British Army Forward Air Controllers using Top Aces jets and pilots. Darcy Milkowski An article from up here magazine s April/ May edition, 10 Northern Jobs You Wish Were Yours by Katherine Sandiford, features Air Tindi s bush pilot Darcy Milkowski. An excerpt from the article (for the full article visit the April/May 2010 edition of up here): Darcy Milkowski Since he was a kid watching floatplanes take off and land near his grandparents farm on Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Darcy Milkowski knew he wanted to be a bush pilot. So, six years after he got his pilot s license, he moved to the North to fly a Beaver and Twin Otter with Yellowknife s Air Tindi. These are the true bush planes, the workhouses of the North, Milkowski says. You can go anywhere. Just pick a spot in the middle of the tundra and you can land there, on skis, on floats or on tires. It s amazing. Because of their size, landing gear, and federal regulation, bush planes must fly low, affording a birds-eye view of remote Northern landscape. I m regularly looking at scenery tourists will pay thousands to see, Milkowski says of the stunning rock and mountain formations that appear below the plans, plus the countless caribou, moose, wolf and other wildlife he sports from above. I ve flown from one side of the North to the other - let me tell you, it s all incredible. The best perk: If he s ahead of schedule, he ll drop down onto some nameless sparkling green lake to cast a line and bring home some fresh trout for supper. Air Tindi s Flight Crew: Monica Koetzle, training Captain on the Cessna Caravans (on the right) doing Krista Waymouth line indoctrination on the Cessna Caravan.

Sparring Partners to the Forces An article from Wings Magazine, Sparring Partners to the Forces by James Careless, delves into what it is that Top Aces does by interviewing Garry Venman, VP Business

com/ content/view/4038/): Sparring Partners to the Forces No matter how advanced the simulator, nothing trains fighter pilots better than going up against aggressor aircraft.

8 Sparring Partners to the Forces An article from Wings Magazine, Sparring Partners to the Forces by James Careless, delves into what it is that Top Aces does by interviewing Garry Venman, VP Business Development, Govt Svcs. An excerpt from the article (for the full article visit the Wings Magazine website at content/view/4038/): Sparring Partners to the Forces No matter how advanced the simulator, nothing trains fighter pilots better than going up against aggressor aircraft. These are actual jet fighters flown by experienced pilots unarmed for safety, but carrying electronic countermeasures which challenge the trainees in the air, forcing them to put their ground-based training to the test. Most militaries operate their own aggressor squadrons as part of their training regimes. But in Canada, our aggressor squadron is a privately-owned venture run by three former CF-18 fighter jocks. Known as Top Aces (now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery Air), this company has its own fleet of 16 ex-military Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jets, supplemented by four twin-jet Westwind 1124s for carrying electronic warfare equipment and towing target arrays. We serve as the Canadian Forces aerial sparring partner, says Garry Venman, Top Aces VP of Business Development. We give their CF-18 pilots the kind of aggressor aircraft training they need, at no capital cost to the Canadian government and the requirement to only pay for the training they use. Discovery Air and Hicks & Lawrence are sponsoring the 2010 Dryden Airshowon May 22nd and May 23rd. If you are in the area, plan to attend - you won t want to miss it. Night Vision Goggle Capability!! A huge milestone was reached at Top Aces in early May. The engineering and operations team successfully integrated the Night Vision Goggle system into the cockpit and flew the first NVG sortie. This new capability means that Top Aces is the only civilian operator of fast jet aircraft in Canada that is NVG qualified! Congratulations to the team excellent work!

9 Discovery Air Inc. PO Box Bristol Avenue Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P2 Get in Touch: Comments and contributions to Flight Plan are welcomed and appreciated. We are specifically looking for your stories, pictures and announcements to feature in future editions of Flight Plan! Please contact Sheila Venman at: (613) or (613) or to

Sept 09. Newsletter. Great Slave Helicopters Air Tindi Top Aces Hicks & Lawrence Discovery Mining Service

Sept 09. Newsletter. Great Slave Helicopters Air Tindi Top Aces Hicks & Lawrence Discovery Mining Service Sept 09 Newsletter Great Slave Helicopters Air Tindi Top Aces Hicks & Lawrence Discovery Mining Service President s Message Welcome to the first edition of Flightplan. As the summer draws to a close I