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Longview Aviation Capital (Parent Company of BC-based Viking Air) Acquires Dash 8 Program from Bombardier
Friday, November 30, 2018Company Profile | Follow Company
Production to Continue Uninterrupted at Downsview Facility
Includes Trademark to Iconic de Havilland Brand
Sidney, BC, November 30, 2018--(T-Net)--Longview Aviation Capital Corp., parent company to Viking Air Limited, a leading Canadian aircraft manufacturer, announced that it has agreed to acquire, through an affiliate, the entire Dash 8 program including the 100, 200 and 300 series and the in-production Q400 program from Bombardier Inc.
Also included as part of the transaction are rights to the de Havilland name and trademark in an all-Canadian transaction.
Once completed, Longview will become North America's largest commercial turbo-prop aircraft manufacturer.
"The Dash 8 turbo-prop is the perfect complement to our existing portfolio of specialized aircraft including the Twin Otter and the Canadair CL 215 and 415 series of water bombers," said David Curtis, CEO of Longview Aviation Capital Corp. "We see enormous value in the de Havilland Dash 8 program, with these aircraft in demand and in use all around the world."
As part of the agreement, Longview will receive all assets and intellectual property and Type Certificates associated with the Dash 8 program. Upon the closing of the transaction, Longview will also assume responsibility for the worldwide product support business - covering more than 1,000 aircraft either currently in service or slated for production.
Longview will continue to independently operate the program at the original de Havilland manufacturing site located at Downsview, Ontario upon closing of the transaction.
The Downsview site was sold by Bombardier earlier this year but, under the terms of a lease with the new owners and a license from Bombardier, production will remain on-site until at least 2021. As part of the transaction Longview also looks forward to welcoming Bombardier employees currently associated with the production, support and sales of the Dash 8 program.
"We are committed to a business-as-usual approach that will see no interruption to the production, delivery and support of these outstanding aircraft," added Curtis. "With the entire de Havilland product line reunited under the same banner for the first time in decades, we look forward to working with customers, suppliers and employees upon close of the transaction to determine what opportunities lie ahead."
Longview and Bombardier will work closely in the period until the closing of the transaction to ensure a seamless transition for employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders with no interruption in production, delivery and support of the aircraft.
This transaction builds on Longview's established track record of acquiring and successfully operating significant aircraft manufacturing, parts and serving programs including the Twin Otter program and the Canadair CL 215 and 415 waterbomber series.
The transaction is subject to typical closing conditions and the receipt of regulatory approvals. The sale and transaction are expected to close by the second half of 2019.
About Viking Air
Viking is the Canadian-based, global leader in utility aircraft services and manufacturer of the world-renowned Series 400 Twin Otter.
Viking is the Original Type Certificate holder for all out-of-production de Havilland aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7) and the Canadair Aerial Firefighter fleet (CL-215, CL-215T, and CL-415). Viking provides exclusive spare parts manufacturing and product support for these global fleets and continues the proud legacy of producing and supporting these exceptional Canadian aircraft.
Viking brings the collective experience of our employees to support de Havilland Canada and Canadair CL-215 and CL-415 customers around the world. For Viking, accepting the legacy de Havilland and Candair type certificates was 25 years in the making. With it it brings tremendous promise, opportunity and responsibility for both the company, and for the owners and operators of all de Havilland and Canadair CL-215 and CL-415 products.
About Longview Aviation Capital Corp.
Longview Aviation Capital Corp. (LAC) was established in 2016 to manage a portfolio of long-term investments in the Canadian aerospace industry. At present, LAC includes and/or is associated with the assets of Viking Air Ltd., Pacific Sky Aviation Ltd, Longview Aviation Asset Management Inc. and Longview Aviation Services. With the addition of the Dash 8 Q Series, Longview holds the Type Certificates and entire product line of the original deHavilland aircraft company including the Twin Otter program and the DHC-1 through DHC-7 series, as well as the former Canadair CL-215, CL-215T, and CL-415 waterbomber aircraft. Through Pacific Sky, Longview also operates the world's only certified Category "D" Full-Flight Simulator for the Series 400 Twin Otter, complete with seaplane simulation capabilities. Upon completion of the Q Series transaction, Longview will have a workforce of approximately 1,800 full-time employees in manufacturing and service support in locations across Canada including Victoria, Calgary and Toronto.