First Air (Carp) is considering the ATR42-500 from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional and the DHC-8-400 from Bombardier Aerospace as part of its fleet renewal and consolidation plans the airline's President and CEO, Brock Friesen, has said. In a statement, Friesen said once a choice had been made, up to ten of these aircraft could be ordered partly to expand and partly to replace older generation ATRs.
“First Air has been impaired for years by maintaining a variety of aircraft. In a fleet of just over 20, we currently need to train personnel and stockpile parts for a total of six aircraft types,” he said adding that first new aircraft could arrive before the end of the year.
The Canadian High Arctic specialist currently operates six different types of aircraft ranging from ATR42s and 72s, to the B737-200, the B737-400, the B767-200(F), and the ARJ85.
“A lean, efficient, and modern fleet combined with our excellence in northern operations will ensure that we maintain our service levels and achieve our cost-cutting targets,” Friesen added.
The carrier is also considering adding more B737-400 jets to its current fleet of three (one B737-400 and two B737-400(M)s) to help cope with the impending retirement of its five B737-200s, set to go in 2017-2018.
Earlier this year, VP Bert van der Stege told ch-aviation that despite its age, the ARJ85 had been brought in as it is one of the few aircraft - aside from the B737-200 - to allow usage of gravel kits, a critical component required when serving some of Canada's more remote northern settlements.
Management will present its refleeting proposal at its next Board Meeting. Once approved, the multi-million dollar project should come online this year and run until the end of 2016.
