Kelowna's KF Aerospace has been awarded two military contracts with a combined worth of over $30M.
The two large maintenance contracts will help maintain approximately 40 high-value middle-class jobs in the Okanagan region.
“This is great news for KF Aerospace, for the people of Kelowna and for the Canadian economy. These contracts are providing good-paying jobs for hard working, skilled Canadians here and across the country,” Member of Parliament Stephen Fuhr said in a news release.
The first is a $21.8-million contract to help maintain the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-115 Buffalo search and rescue aircraft for a period of three years, and includes the option to extend the contract for an additional year.
Canada has six Buffalos based in Comox, B.C., and these crafts are part of search and rescue services on the West Coast.
Check out KelownaNow's video of Buffalo Ice Pilots training at YLW.
The second contract, valued at $9.6-million, will help maintain the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-138 Twin Otter aircraft for a period of four years and also includes the possibility of four one-year extensions.
Canada’s four Twin Otter aircraft are based in Yellowknife, NWT.
"We've had the contract since 2009 and we competed in an open bid to renew it and we're very pleased to now be maintaining these airplanes right through to what we hope is the end of the serviceable life of the aircraft," said KF Aerospace President Tracy Medve.
The planes are used for transport by the Canadian Armed Forces’ northern operations and occasionally in search and rescue missions.
