Flying Colours has completed two complex special-mission projects over the last quarter.
Having undergone interior completions work at Flying Colours’ headquarters in Peterborough, Canada, a fifth Saab GlobalEye platform was delivered from Bombardier’s Toronto manufacturing site in August 2021. As a Bombardier special-mission completion partner for Saab’s GlobalEye programme, a dedicated Flying Colours team is responsible for the design, manufacturing, installation and completion of the highly specified interior, which is based on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 type. Each monument shipset is individually produced to leverage the Global airframe as Flying Colours supports Saab through the introduction of a practical, functional interior for the mission system operators.
“We have had extensive experience working on the Global family in both VIP and special-mission formats and are proud to have delivered these aircraft in partnership with Bombardier to Saab,” said Sean Gillespie, executive vice president for Flying Colours. “Saab’s GlobalEye project specifically showcases the high levels of technical expertise delivered by our experience, knowledge and the exceptional talent within our team.”
In addition, the fourth in a series of six Q400MR multipurpose aircraft has been re-delivered to aerial firefighting specialist partner Conair. Flying Colours is responsible for the engineering, fabrication, installation, certification and completion of four different cabin interiors to support passenger, cargo, combi-transport and medevac special missions. On completion of the interiors, a fifth firefighting capability is equipped by Conair. The ability to easily change the aircraft purpose within a quick timeframe, maximises operational efficiency and costs, in a diverse range of operating environments. The final two aircraft are anticipated to be completed in 2022.
“Medevac, VIP/combi configurations and surveillance, are just some of the special missions mods we’ve undertaken for governments, military, border forces and private clients over the years,” said Gillespie. “Creating a practical, functional area for a very precise task requires an intelligent approach, technical expertise and engineering talent, all of which we have in abundance. For all our special mission work, from small medevac reconfigurations, through to the large aircraft modifications, the original airframe is leveraged to perform above and beyond the original spec and is adapted for an unambiguous role. We effectively alter the aircraft DNA, so it becomes perfectly designed to execute a particular task.”
Flying Colours has noted an increased interest in special-missions requests in the last six months for multipurpose interiors, and the modification of regional jets into corporate shuttle interiors. In addition, it is expanding its capabilities to further support aerial firefighting in response to the growing crisis related to the spread of wildfires, and their presence globally. Gillespie confirmed Flying Colours is attending the Aerial Firefighting Conference to be held in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, on 26 October 2021, in support of its partners, and other specialists, in this high-demand field.
