The provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador has approved the disbursement of CAD100,000 Canadian dollars (USD78,916) to Exploits Valley Air Services (8K, Gander) (EVAS Air) to assist with its business export growth plans.

The funding forms part of the provincial government’s Business Development Support (BDS) programme. It will help the company gain global exposure in terms of implementing export marketing initiatives, the authority said in a statement.

EVAS Air has developed the EVAS 1900D Medi-Maxx air ambulance by modifying a Beech 1900D. It has signed a contract with Latitude Air Ambulance - an international aeromedical solutions provider based in eastern and western Canada - for the retrofit of more air ambulances. The EVAS 1900D Medi-Maxx can be used for neonatal and bariatric patients and includes a power lift system.

“EVAS Air has invested approximately CAD6 million (USD4.7 million) into the Medi-Maxx program in Newfoundland and Labrador,” explained EVAS Air president and Chief Executive Officer Patrick White. “The US market has [shown] significant interest in our Newfoundland and Labrador developed products,” he added.

EVAS Air has been providing a variety of aviation services for 20 years out of Gander, Newfoundland, including corporate air charters, air cargo, and air ambulance transfers.

It also functioned as an Air Canada Express carrier from 2004 to 2020, operating scheduled flights on behalf of Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) throughout Newfoundland and Labrador with a Beech 1900D.