Critical Flights
Unlocking Ontario’s remote north
As Ontario’s Ring of Fire heats up, flights will be essential to accessing the region, especially considering the Northern Road Link project still has a long way to go before it breaks ground. For Air Bravo, whose main base is in Thunder Bay, the Ring of Fire presents an opportunity: “As the mining industry expands to northern regions like the Ring of Fire we foresee a growing demand for our services. The only way to access many regions of the north is by air. Aviation will continue to be a big part of operations in the north,” said Rick Horwath, president and chief pilot, Air Bravo Corp.
In Ontario’s north, flexibility is key, given the lack of infrastructure and the harsh geography. “The Ring of Fire is exciting. We have a flexible capacity model and strong relationships with other carriers, which we can leverage to bring in other aircraft to support our local mining clients there,” said Jeffrey Stout, president and chief operating officer of North Star Air.
Perimeter Aviation is leveraging its ownership by the Exchange Income Corporation, which grants the firm access to the services of its sister companies to extend its services north. Joey Petrisor, president and CEO, explained: “For exceedingly remote sites, we will deliver cargo and personnel as far as the runway will take us, and Custom Helicopters will complete the journey.”
Many of Ontario’s airlines fly altered aircraft to cater to the mining sector. ”We performed the ‘Large Cargo Door’ modification on one of our ATR72s, increasing the cargo door size to 117”x71”. This has been a game changer for mining and construction clients, enabling us to carry oversized cargo into remote locations,” said Stout.
In Perimeter Aviation’s fleet, the Dash-8-300’s back bulkhead was moved forward to accommodate more cargo. “Now it is a combination aircraft that provides a unique lift to our mining customers,” commented Petrisor.
Although Ontario’s airlines have been able to overcome the challenge of scant infrastructure in northern regions, there are still limitations as the region poses hurdles to scaling up operations. “Everyone wants economies of scale, but the infrastructure in the North must support it. If it does not, we will only be able to land a Twin Otter, rather than a Dash-8,” emphasized Petrisor.
To help, Transport Canada issued Advisory Circular (AC) No. 300-021 in June 2022, which formalized guidance and standards for the construction, maintenance, and repair of Thin Bituminous Surface (TBS) Runways.
TBS runways are asphalt pavements with a thickness of 50 to 100 millimeters, primarily used in smaller airports due to cost-effectiveness and expedited construction timelines. The document outlines acceptable methods that comply with regulations to ensure safety and standardization across Canadian aerodromes.
TBS runways not only provide a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional asphalt runways but also prove less expensive and challenging to construct in less accessible regions.
They can be laid over compacted gravel bases, making them suitable for areas where materials like asphalt are hard to come by. “Thin Bituminous runways will also improve runways which enhances aviation safety by easing operational strain,” added Horwath.
Good connectivity and infrastructure will be invaluable for Ontario’s miners and explorers as demand for critical minerals pushes them into the most isolated and unreachable corners of the Heartland Province.
"A growing demand for employee transportation is arising due to Canada's tightening labor force and restrictions from major airlines."
Jeffrey Stout, President and COO, North Star Air
Article header image courtesy of Air Bravo