While so much of sa国际传媒鈥檚 economic news these days is about plans and proposals with little visible progress, Viking Air is signing deals and getting things done.
It鈥檚 the kind of solid business that contributes to the economy while we await castle-in-the-air projects that are vulnerable to world price fluctuations and global politics.
Viking and its associated company, Pacific Sky Aviation, are assembling a Twin Otter flight-simulation facility that will be the first of its kind in the world.
It will begin operation in 2016 a building to be built next to Viking Air at Victoria International Airport. The simulator will provide training for both wheeled Twin Otters and seaplanes.
The development of the training facility was sparked by an increasing demand for Viking鈥檚 Twin Otter aircraft. Company officials were at the Farnborough International Airshow in England this week, where they signed an agreement to sell five Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft to the company鈥檚 first U.K. customer, Montrose Global LLP. Viking also announced delivery of two Twin Otters to Air Seychelles.
Each aircraft has a base price of about $7 million, which benefits the Greater Victoria economy. Viking Air has about 600 employees, the majority of whom work in the plant at Victoria鈥檚 airport, the rest at the final assembly plant in Calgary.
The sturdy and reliable Twin Otter is known worldwide for its ability to operate in difficult terrain.
The original de Havilland Twin Otter was built until 1988, and more than 600 of the 800 built are still flying. Viking Air, which had developed a solid reputation servicing Twin Otters, acquired the rights to build the aircraft in 2006 and began building its new version of the Twin Otter in 2009.
Acquiring the right to build the planes has proved to be a good decision. Viking has sold and delivered aircraft to 24 countries, including Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Peru, Turkey, Japan, the U.S. and Vietnam.
Configurations include wheeled landing gear, amphibious floats and wheel-ski combinations. The planes are used for military purposes, search and rescue, medical evacuation and commuting out of smaller airports and remote areas.
The Twin Otter program鈥檚 success should remind us that the economy of Greater Victoria can be built in a variety of ways.
We don鈥檛 need to rely only on tourism, government employment and call centres. The future holds more than vague promises of a liquefied natural gas boom.
Industry is a vital part of a healthy economy, and Viking is setting an example of what a locally based industry can be. In addition to developing a solid reputation with its clientele, the company actively supports local training and trades programs, and has an excellent reputation as an employer.
Natural resources have always been important to sa国际传媒, and always will be, but minerals are finite; forests and fisheries are too easily depleted.
The best resources are skilled workers, astute business minds and innovative entrepreneurs who believe in what they do.
