KF Aerospace
IndustryAerospace
FoundedKelowna, British Columbia, Canada(1970)
ProductsAircraft
Number of employees
1000
SubsidiariesKF Cargo
WebsiteKF Aerospace

KF Aerospace is an approved maintenance organization (AMO) which operates two maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Canada, one at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia and the other at Hamilton International Airport in Ontario. It is the parent company of KF Cargo, which provides cargo aircraft charter and leasing services, and KF Defence Programs, contract operator of the Canadian Forces Contracted Flying Training and Support program.[1] KF Aerospace is Kelowna's largest private employer.[2]

History

KF Defence Programs Headquarters building under construction at Southport Aerospace Centre c. 2007.
KF Defence Programs
Ab Initio pilot training is based on the Grob 120A trainer.

The company was established as Kelowna Flightcraft on March 20, 1970 and the charter subsidiary Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter was established and started operating in June 1974. It is wholly owned by Barry Lapointe Holding.

In 1996, Kelowna Flightcraft was operating Boeing 727-200 jets in scheduled passenger airline service on a contract basis for Greyhound Air, a Canadian-based new startup air carrier.[3]

Flightcraft's extensive history in maintenance work directed to the ubiquitous Boeing 727 "feederliner" series has led to their adaptation as the main type for cargo operations, with Purolator Courier their main client. It was announced on February 19, 2014 that Flightcraft lost their contract with Purolator Courier as another carrier, Cargojet, won the contract.[4]

On March 30, 2005, KF Aerospace was awarded a $1.77 billion contract to lead a team of Canadian companies called KF Defence Programs to provide primary flight training for the Canadian Forces Air Command at Southport at the former CFB Base Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

KF Aerospace also undertakes maintenance and upgrades on the Convair CV-240 family, for which it owns the type certificate. KF Aerospace converts existing Convair CV-580s to the updated CV5800 configuration and provides conversions of the former Canadian Forces CC-109 Cosmopolitan transport fleet into freighters and "fire-fighting" water/chemical bombers.[5]

In September 2020 the organization announced plans to build a $25 million aerospace museum, hangar and conference center in Kelowna.[6] The 50,000 sqft facility was designed by Meiklejohn Architects and built by Sawchuk Developments Co. Completed and opened in 2022, it is shaped like a plane and features a mass timber and steel design.[7][8] The two hangars house legacy aircraft such as a World War II Mosquito fighter-bomber and a Hawker Tempest MKII.[9]

KF Aerospace announced a partnership with Boeing to open two conversion lines for 737-800BCF at its Kelowna facility in 2023. The company adds two hangars at that facility.[10]

KF works with WestJet, WestJet Encore, Swoop, Sunwing, and Air Transat.[11]

Aircraft

KF offers leasing of the following aircraft types:

KF offers maintenance for the following aircraft types:[13]

References

  1. ↑ KF Defence Programs
  2. ↑ "Kelowna Economy: Top Industries, Biggest Employers, & Business Opportunities". www.kelownahomes.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  3. ↑ "Greyhound Air August 1, 1996 Route Map".
  4. ↑ "Cargojet Inc. | Cargojet Awarded PUROLATOR and CANADA POST (Canada Post Group of Companies) Domestic Air Cargo Network Services Contract". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  5. ↑ KF Aerospace Convair
  6. ↑ "Kelowna's KF Aerospace Centre For Excellence a go despite struggling airline industry". INFOnews. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  7. ↑ "Mass Timber Aerospace Project Uses Innovative Truss System | Engineering News-Record". www.enr.com. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  8. ↑ "KF Aerospace opens cocktail napkin dream, Centre for Excellence - Kelowna Capital News". www.kelownacapnews.com. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  9. ↑ SEYMOUR, RON. "Inspiration the aim of KF Aerospace's Centre for Excellence". Daily Courier. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  10. ↑ "KF Aerospace takes on new Boeing contract to turn aircraft into freighters | Globalnews.ca". Global News. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "KF Aerospace Opens Massive New Hangar at YHM". 22 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Leasing".
  13. ↑ "Aircraft Types".
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