Canadian Plane-Maker Broadens MRO Operations

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has selected Universal Avionics—the Tucson, Arizona-based technology concern specializing in flight management systems (FMS) and cockpit instrument displays for private, business, and commercial aircraft—as its lead supplier of integrated flight decks for the Canadian marque’s CL-215T and CL-415 firefighting aircraft.

Universal Avionics’s flight deck systems will support aerial firefighting operations with NextGen flight display, flight-management, data communication, and connectivity systems.

The described agreement builds upon the reputation for ruggedness well-earned by De Havilland’s CL-215 and CL-415 models, and stands to increase the functionality and effectiveness of the legendary firefighting aircraft family—which will henceforth feature Universal Avionics’ state-of-the-art navigational instruments.

In addition to broadening its affiliation with Universal Avionics, De Havilland has acquired Mid-Canada Mod Centre (MC2) and Avionics Design Services (ADS)—an entity expert in Universal Avionics products and the installation, upgrading, and modification thereof. The acquisition furthers De Havilland’s aspirations to grow its engineering; manufacturing; Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) presence across the whole of Canada.

Currently, MC2/ADS maintains facilities on Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Region of Waterloo Airport (YKF). Furthermore, contingents of the company’s engineering personnel are stationed throughout Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. MC2/ADS’s expertise in avionics upgrade services for both commercial and business aircraft stands to enhance De Havilland’s ability to provide timely, cost-effective solutions to its customers and the over three-thousand aircraft operated thereby. Moreover, MC2 /ADS is a Transport Canada Design Approval Organization authorized to develop Supplemental Type Certificates and Repair Design Approvals. MC2/ADS’s extant leadership team will remain in place; the organization will operate and the company will operate, hereafter, as a De Havilland subsidiary.

Founded in 1928 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, De Havilland is a prominent Canadian aircraft manufacturer. The company’s offerings include the ubiquitous DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-6 Twin Otter, DHC-8 Dash 8, and DHC-515 Firefighter aircraft. De Havilland’s historic Toronto-area aircraft production facilities will presently be relocated to Alberta, where the company is about the business of building De Havilland Field, a multi-faceted manufacturing complex that includes a fully-functional airport. Upon its completion, De Havilland Field will comprise all DHC-515, DHC-6, and Dash 8-400 production.

Universal Avionics is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., an Israel-based defense manufacturer of  aerospace, land, and naval systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions; Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS); advanced electro-optics; electronic warfare suites; SIGnal INTelligence (SIGINT) systems; data links and communications systems; and radios.

FMI: www.dehavilland.com