WESTLOCK – Landa Aviation has set up shop at the Westlock Regional Airport with a grand opening July 24 and hope to put down permanent roots.
The family-owned-and-operated air charter company from Hay River, North West Territories, officially opened July 1 in Hanger 28 and specializes in aircraft servicing, repair and maintenance.
Eventually they hope to mimic their Hay River operation where they offer executive passenger travel, freight services, wildlife and environmental surveys, “185 float work” and “185 ski work” for winter contract.
The Westlock location will operated by Darcy and Kim King, who have been busy since the end of June preparing the hangar to “get up and running.” Darcy noted he and his wife may be looking to retire in the near future and are preparing to pass the reigns to their three children, including son Tyler, who currently runs the Hay River location, daughter Sharla, who is expected to help with some administration work in Westlock and son Brent, who is the new chief engineer here.
Several of the company’s planes will be repaired and undergo maintenance here.
“Between all of us, what we thought would work for us is if we were here, then we’ll run some of our planes down here and do the maintenance on them and take them back,” said Darcy King, noting the Hay River operation will continue with Westlock as a second location. “So, we’ll do our own maintenance on our planes and then we’ll do whatever else comes along to help the people out around here. We’re hoping to get enough business to get it to start supporting itself.”
For now, they’ll have three employees but hope to hire more once the business is well established.
“As things recover and people get going, we’ll staff up accordingly,” he said.
Kim said they have received a warm welcome from both residents and businesses in the area and are excited about the new opportunity.
“From my understanding, private pilots are having to take their aircraft even beyond Edmonton to get their plane repaired,” she said, noting they hope to service area farmers with planes and members of the regional flying clubs. “Anyone with a private aircraft, it could be commercial as well.”
Kim said Hangar 28 is currently being leased for the next year with “the intent to purchase, as long as the business is viable,” and noted they will focus their repair and maintenance work on piston and turbine engine planes and will be capable of working on two to three planes at a time.
Westlock County reeve Christine Wiese joined Landa Aviation owners and other officials for the grand opening and said they welcome the addition.
“We want to support them with the growth of their business and the growth of the community. This is an area that we do want to see growth in,” said Wiese. “I think that’ll help with so much (for) the existing businesses plus encourage new business and new residents to move in.”
Westlock County and the Town of Westlock received $1.7 million in Community Airport Program (CAP) funding via the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors to help pay for more than $2.2 million worth of proposed work in 2023 and 2024 at airport that includes new lights and a fresh asphalt overlay for the runway.
“Council’s priority has been to align improvements of county infrastructure and lowering our taxes to be available to grow our business sector,” she added.
Town Coun. Curtis Snell said the new business will provide a positive economic boost to the region.
“Our council definitely sees the value and the potential in the airport out here and we have for many years,” said Snell. “We’re really happy with the work that’s been going on out here to upgrade things and (with) new businesses out here. Hopefully it’ll bring others in because we’re in a good location and I think there’s potential to do some great things out here in the future.”
