Chorus Aviation's subsidiary Voyageur Aviation has been awarded a three-year contract to upgrade and modify Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) fleet of three Dash 8-100 and one Dash 7 aircraft with new surveillance equipment.

Since 1991, the red aircraft of NASP have played an integral role in keeping the country safe by helping prevent pollution in Canadian waters, protecting the marine environment and endangered marine life, and ensuring a safe and efficient transportation industry along Canada's massive and varied coastlines.

The contract involves the entire NASP fleet and includes the installation of surveillance equipment provisions for an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor, infrared and ultraviolet (IR/UV) scanner for pollution monitoring, observation windows, mission crew seats and other modifications to existing system installations. Additionally, one Dash 8-100 aircraft will receive Voyageur's long-range fuel system installation to enable missions requiring significant range and endurance.

“This contract demonstrates Voyageur's unique engineering capabilities to support customers requiring innovative special mission solutions,” says Voyageur president Scott Tapson. “We are excited to expand our relationship with Transport Canada and look forward to working together on this project.”

All work for this contract will be completed at Voyageur's 200,000 sq ft maintenance and engineering facility located at its company headquarters in North Bay, Ontario.