CASCADE AEROSPACE AND THE "HERC SOLUTIONS" TEAM WINS MAJOR CANADIAN CONTRACT FOR CC130 HERCULES SUPPORT

Abbotsford, BC – The government of Canada has selected Cascade Aerospace and its “Herc Solutions” partners to provide program management, engineering, maintenance, materiel and information systems support for Canada’s fleet of 32 C-130 Hercules aircraft.    Valued by the government of Canada at up to $423.4 million, the contract has an initial term of six years, including a six-month implementation period, and option years for the remaining life of the fleet. 

The Herc Solutions team consists of:

·        Cascade Aerospace, the prime contractor, a leading Canadian aerospace supplier of engineering, maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification services;

·        Marshall Aerospace, the world’s most experienced provider of C-130 engineering and maintenance support;

·        Derco Aerospace, the world’s leading supplier of C-130 spares and component repair and overhaul; and

·        Standard Aero, Department of National Defense’s C-130 propulsion maintenance, T-56 engine repair and overhaul, and technical publication services provider. 

“Four world-leading companies have joined forces to create one cohesive C-130 engineering and maintenance organization structured for the specific purpose of leveraging their ‘best practices’ to deliver extraordinary value to Canada”, said David Schellenberg, President of Cascade Aerospace.  “We are honored to have the opportunity to serve the Canadian government and the crews who fly the important missions of the Hercules fleet.   We accept this responsibility with full commitment and enthusiasm.”

According to Schellenberg, the contract will involve up to 200 direct and indirect jobs, with most located in Abbotsford.   Herc Solutions operations will base its headquarters at Cascade Aerospace’s state-of-the-art, 250,000 square foot maintenance facility at the Abbotsford International Airport, with additional support offices in Ottawa, Trenton and Winnipeg.   

The selection of the Herc Solutions team is welcome news to the province of British Columbia and the City of Abbotsford.   Gordon Campbell, the Premier of British Columbia congratulated Cascade and noted, “This contract is a significant development for the British Columbia economy.   It will generate hundreds of knowledge-based jobs and will bring new levels of advanced support capabilities to British Columbia’s aerospace industry   We applaud Cascade and the Herc Solutions team on their selection as Canada’s CC130 support services supplier.  It's great to see a B.C. company compete and win."

The six-month implementation process is expected to begin in November 2005, with the first C-130 aircraft expected into Cascade’s Abbotsford facility in Spring 2006.