Jazz Aviation designated as a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility in Canada

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Jazz Aviation designated as a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility in Canada

Jazz Aviation to perform heavy maintenance services on behalf of Bombardier

HALIFAX, June 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Chorus Aviation Inc. ('Chorus') (TSX: CHR) announced today that its subsidiary, Jazz Aviation LP ('Jazz Aviation'), has signed a five-year agreement with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft to become an Authorized Service Facility (ASF).

Under the terms of the agreement, Jazz Aviation is designated as a Bombardier authorized provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services from its maintenance facility located at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Halifax, NS, on the following regional aircraft types:

• Bombardier CRJ100, CRJ200
• Bombardier CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000
• Bombardier Q100, Q200, Q300
• Bombardier Q400

"As an operator and MRO service provider of Bombardier regional aircraft for more than 30 years, our Jazz Technical Services (JTS) and Maintenance and Engineering teams have the experience and expertise to deliver industry-leading performance, value and turnaround times," said Colin Copp, President, Jazz Aviation. "Building on our long-standing relationship, we are delighted to join Bombardier's customer support network and collaborate on providing valued support to operators of Bombardier aircraft."

"Jazz Aviation operates one of the largest fleets of Q Series and CRJ aircraft in the world and has received numerous Airline Reliability Performance Awards from Bombardier in recognition of its outstanding dispatch reliability. I am delighted that Jazz Aviation's technical division, JTS is now available to support other Q Series and CRJ aircraft operators across Canada," said Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Services and Q400 Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

"Today's announcement strengthens Chorus' unique capabilities to deliver a full suite of aviation services to regional aircraft operators around the world. Our highly skilled teams have over three decades of experience in the diverse and complex nature of regional operations. The Chorus group of companies serves customers on four continents, with one of the world's largest fleets of regional aircraft, including all four Bombardier regional aircraft categories," added Joe Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chorus.

Jazz Aviation has a strong track record as a high-quality maintenance operator. In May 2017, Jazz Aviation was the exclusive North American recipient of Bombardier's 2016 Airline Reliability Performance Awards in three categories: Q400 aircraft program; CRJ100/200 aircraft programs, and CRJ700/900/1000 aircraft programs. Bombardier's reliability awards are bestowed on aircraft operators of Q Series turboprops and CRJ Series regional jets who achieve the highest rate of dispatch reliability. Jazz was previously honoured with top performance in the North American region for the Q400, CRJ100/200, and CRJ700/900/1000 aircraft program categories in 2015; the Q100/200/300, CRJ100/200, and CRJ700/900/1000 aircraft programs in 2014; and the Q400 and CRJ100/200 aircraft programs in 2013.

About Chorus

Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chorus was incorporated on September 27, 2010. Chorus' vision is to deliver regional aviation to the world. Chorus owns Jazz Aviation and Voyageur Aviation – companies that have long histories of safe and solid operations that deliver excellent customer service in the areas of contract flying operations, engineering, fleet management, and maintenance, repair and overhaul. Chorus has been leasing its owned regional aircraft into Jazz's Air Canada Express operation since 2009, and recently established Chorus Aviation Capital to become a leading, global provider of regional aircraft leases and support services. Chorus Class A Variable Voting Shares and Class B Voting Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol 'CHR'. For more information about Chorus and its subsidiaries, see www.chorusaviation.ca.

About Jazz Aviation

Jazz Aviation LP has a strong history in Canadian aviation with its roots going back to the 1930s. Jazz Aviation is owned by Chorus Aviation Inc. As the largest regional carrier in Canada, Jazz Aviation has a proven track record of industry leadership and exceptional customer service, and has leveraged that strength to deliver value to all its stakeholders. Jazz Aviation operates more flights and flies to more Canadian destinations than any other airline, and has a workforce of approximately 4300 professionals, highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

There are three divisions operated by Jazz Aviation LP: Air Canada Express, Jazz Technical Services and Jazz.

Air Canada Express: Under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, using the Air Canada Express brand, Jazz Aviation provides service to and from lower-density markets as well as higher-density markets at off-peak times throughout North America, with a fleet of 117 Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft.

Jazz Technical Services: Established in May 2016 as a separate division, Jazz Technical Services ('JTS') is dedicated to heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of Bombardier aircraft. JTS provides MRO services to third parties while maintaining the dedication and commitment to its primary customer, Air Canada.

Jazz: Under the Jazz brand, the airline offers charters throughout North America with a dedicated fleet of Bombardier aircraft for corporate clients, governments, special interest groups and individuals seeking more convenience. Jazz also has the ability to offer airline operators services such as ground handling, dispatching, flight load planning, training and consulting.

Bombardier, CRJ Series, CRJ100, CRJ200, CRJ700, CRJ900, CRJ1000, Dash 8, Q100, Q200, Q300, Q400 and Q Series are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

 

SOURCE Chorus Aviation Inc.

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MAINTENANCE, REPAIR & OVERHAUL

A First For Jazz Technical Services

Canadian MRO completes first life-extension modifications on Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300.

Chorus Aviation Inc. subsidiary Jazz Technical Services has completed the first Extended Service Program (ESP) life-extension modifications on a Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300, performing the work at its MRO facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Jazz Technical Services (JTS) was formed in 2016 to offer MRO services on Bombardier Dash 8-series, Q-series and CRJ-series aircraft both to parent carrier Jazz Aviation LP, which is holding company Chorus Aviation's biggest asset, and to third-party customers.

“Our relationship with Bombardier goes back many years and we are proud to be the first operator in the world to conduct the Extended Service Program on Dash 8-300s,” says Colin Copp, Jazz Aviation's president. “I commend our maintenance engineers for this significant achievement.”

The MRO company is due to perform the ESP modification program on at least 18 more Dash 8-300s operated by Jazz Aviation LP. Plans call for JTS to perform all the work at its Halifax MRO facility over the next five years.

Chorus Aviation is the launch customer for Bombardier's Dash 8-300 ESP, which is the first such program for the aircraft type.

Bombardier's Dash 8-300 ESP extends the service life of the aircraft by 50 percent, or approximately 15 years, through the replacement of certain structural and systems components, according to Chorus Aviation.

“The Dash 8-300 aircraft ESP, and the Dash 8-100 aircraft ESP, which was available earlier, extend the economic life of these robust and reliable aircraft for years to come ‒ allowing for enhanced operational value for our long-standing customer, Chorus,” says Todd Young, vice president and general manager, customer services and Q400 aircraft program for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

Jazz Aviation operates 26 50-seat Dash 8-300s for the Air Canada Express regional-airline network, as well as two on charter operations under the Jazz operating name. The all-Bombardier operator also flies 16 37-seat Dash 8-100s, 44 74-seat Q400s, 11 50-seat CRJ200s, 16 75-seat CRJ705s and five 76-seat CRJ900s for the Air Canada Express network.

Headquartered in Halifax, Chorus Aviation owns Jazz Aviation and North Bay, Ontario-based Voyageur Aviation. The latter company owns both Voyageur Airways Limited and Voyageur Aerotech Inc.

Voyageur Airways Limited generates 70 percent of its revenues from specialized contract-flying operations. The carrier operates medical, logistical and humanitarian flights in Canada and Africa, serving clients which are primarily government entities and international non-governmental organizations. Voyageur Airways operates 18 aircraft, among them eight Bombardier CRJ200LRs and five Dash 8-300s.

Located in North Bay, Voyageur Aerotech Inc. is certified as a Design Approval Organization by Transport Canada. Specializing in engineering and advanced MRO services, the company has developed supplemental type certificates for modifications and improvements to all models of Bombardier regional aircraft. Voyageur Aerotech Inc. represents 25 percent of Voyageur Aviation’s revenues.

Toronto Stock Exchange-listed Chorus Aviation has been leasing the regional aircraft it owns to Jazz for the carrier's Air Canada Express operation since 2009. More recently, the holding company established Chorus Aviation Capital to become a provider of leased regional aircraft and regional-aviation support services globally.

[deicer]

So does this mean that the thinking has now come back around to the fact that money can be made by keeping maintenance in-house and taking on outside work?