Aerial Logistics
Adapting to a changing environment
2023 was a milestone year for the aviation segment’s role in Québec’s mining industry. Beyond its salutary mission of assisting operators during the wildfires that impacted the province, numerous projects advancing from exploration to operational stages meant that aviators had their planes full. Heading into 2025, the segment shows no signs of slowdown.
From gold to lithium, the hasty development towards project construction has heightened the necessity for reliable transportation solutions, particularly for the movement of personnel, supplies, and equipment to remote sites. Given the region's vast and often inhospitable geography, the lack of road networks, and the permafrost that makes constructing traditional paved roads impractical, aviation provides critical logistical support that ensures the continuity and efficiency of mining activities, and in that sense, the Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) model continues to be a cornerstone of the mining sector in Québec. Looking ahead, new risks associated with climate change mean operators and aviators will have to adapt their modus operandi and their offerings.
Enhancing connectivity
Québec's mining regions are predominantly located in remote, sparsely populated areas that lack the infrastructure for conventional transport. Roads are either non-existent or impassable for much of the year due to weather conditions. In this context, aviation offers a viable and often critical means of access.
With more projects reaching operational status in the North, James Bay, and Nunavut, the demand for efficient transportation networks keeps growing. Aviation services bridge the gap between these isolated locations and the central hubs, facilitating a seamless flow of resources. This connectivity is crucial not only for operational efficiency but also for ensuring the well-being of workers who depend on regular supplies of fresh food and other essentials. Growing mining activity meant expansion opportunities for Mirabel-based Nolinor, which opened a new sub-base in Edmonton and brought back a Boeing 737-200 to its fleet to meet demand. Its president Marco Prud’Homme commented: “There's been a noticeable shift as more projects move into the operational stage, necessitating the transportation of workers, food, and additional cargo.”
“Aviation has always been important for mining and will remain important for the industry moving forward, as many people working on remote mine sites do not live there and require air transport to get to and from the site.”
Vincent Gagnon, President, Chrono Aviation
An outlook on FIFO
Perhaps more than in any other North American jurisdiction, the Fly-In-Fly-Out model is a fundamental aspect of the mining industry in Québec. The system, which involves flying workers in for their shifts and flying them out during their off-time, has proven particularly beneficial for maintaining a stable and skilled workforce, as it allows workers to reside in more developed areas while still being employed in remote mining sites. Admittedly, the model has its limits when it comes to local socio-economic development, with for instance communities in Nunavik seeing workers flying overhead to the Raglan Mine and back south.
But in 2023 and 2024, the reliance on the FIFO model has grown in tandem with the increase in operational mining projects. Indeed, projects like Nesmaska Lithium in James Bay, Ashram, or Strange Lake in Northern Québec eyeing commercial production in the coming years, suggest that FIFO activity with workers coming from Montréal, Sherbrook, or Bécancourt will only increase. For miners, the ability to quickly and efficiently move large numbers of personnel is essential for meeting the demanding schedules of mining operations. Aviation companies have had to scale up their services to accommodate this surge, offering more frequent flights and larger capacity aircraft to handle the increased demand. Laval-based OCTANT Aviation’s president, Nathalie Tousignant, explained: “The "fly-in/fly-out" flights play a crucial role in the mining sector’s operations and are expected to remain essential for the foreseeable future.”
A changing climate
In January, four Rio Tinto workers and two airline crew members died in a plane crash near Forth Smith, in Canada’s Northwestern territories. The passengers were headed to the Australian giant’s Diavik diamond mine, and the incident further highlighted the importance of safety standards. Particularly in Québec, the harsh and unpredictable weather conditions necessitate reliable transport solutions. And with the impacts of climate change being felt across the world, providing robust services will be vital in the province. As summed up by Nathalie Tousignant: “The North is facing greater accessibility challenges due to adverse weather conditions attributed to climate change.”
Indeed, a 2023 study by the World Weather Attribution initiative stated that climate change made weather conditions that powered record-setting wildfires in Québec twice as likely. Similarly, aviation experts have reported that climate change has affected the accessibility of northern sites by creating more challenging weather conditions for flights. These challenges include more frequent and severe storms, unpredictable weather patterns, and the melting of permafrost, which can affect the stability of runways and other critical infrastructure. Aviation companies must continuously adapt to these changing conditions to ensure the safety and reliability of their services.
Article header image courtesy of Nolinor Aviation