A Kelowna based company has been awarded two contracts from the federal government totalling approximately $30 million to maintain a fleet of Royal Canadian Air Force planes.
KF Aerospace will continue to maintain six Buffalo search and rescue aircraft located in Comox for the next three years and four Twin Otter aircraft based in Yellowknife for a period of four years. The company held the previous contracts as well.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, made the announcement in Kelowna Friday morning.
“This is the largest private company in the region, they’ve contributed significantly to the economic success for the region and so part of that is making sure that there’s good well-paying jobs,” she said “so when we award contracts like this, what they do is contribute to the thriving economic success of a community and of a region.”
The work for both contracts includes ongoing life-cycle management, inspection repair, painting and modifications for the planes.
Kelowna-Lake Country MP, Stephen Fuhr said its good news for Kelowna.
“This company, KF Aerospace, is one of the biggest employers in our valley so it gives them stable predictable work for years to come.”
The contracts will maintain about 40 jobs.