IMP Group wins Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Contract
15-Jan-2009
The aircraft wing replacement program at IMP Group’s aerospace division is taking flight.
The Halifax company’s decision to build a hangar dedicated to wing replacement on long-range aircraft is paying off. IMP has a contract to replace the wings on six Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3s at its 11,000-square-metre hangar near Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
David Gossen, the aerospace group’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said Wednesday that IMP doesn’t discuss the value of its contracts.
But to put this into perspective, he said this project is worth more than $50 million.
Before the first aircraft arrives in March, the company will retool and prepare the necessary engineering and planning documentation.
Mr. Gossen said IMP is one of a few companies in the world that can replace wings on long-range aircraft.
The company has also finalized an agreement to do wing replacements on the Canadian government’s fleet of CP-140s Auroras, which is an identical aircraft to the P-3, he added.
That contract will be for a minimum of 10 aircraft and possibly 12, Mr. Gossen said.
The Norwegian project, which includes other maintenance work, could take up to two and a half years. There will be over 100 people involved either directly or indirectly, Mr. Gossen said.
Replacing the wings, which will come from Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Ga., extends the life of the aircraft and avoids major capital expenditure on new planes.
"Replacing aircraft is a very expensive proposition and there is no logical replacement to the P-3 aircraft," Mr. Gossen said. "It is a unique aircraft and has proven itself very successfully in an operational role.
"Boeing is developing what is called a P-8, a 737 derivative, but is still years down the road and will have a very big price tag associated with it, as opposed to (refitting) a P-3. A P-3, once re-winged, will probably fly another 20 to 25 years."
The aerospace company could replace wings on other aircraft types but Mr. Gossen said the company’s expertise is with the P-3.
"IMP is an approved Lockheed Martin authorized P-3 service centre. That is certainly a designation that is important and recognizes you as being a world leader in P-3 maintenance and repair," Mr. Gossen said.
"But what IMP also has other than the P-3 designation from Lockheed is dedicated facilities, the new hangar with (overhead) cranes that can do that type of work and a very large and experienced engineering department. It is not traditional work a typical maintenance facility will do."
Mr. Gossen said this type of work is good for the company and for the local economy.
"It’s a testament to the infrastructure we have built here."
IMP’s only obstacle to getting more business is a lack of skilled people.
"If we had more people, we could do more work," Mr. Gossen said. "We going through recession and a lot of industries are suffering. Fortunately, we are one that the recession hasn’t hit. We could probably hire 200 to 300 people today with the right skill sets and we are literally recruiting all over the world."
About IMP Aerospace
IMP Aerospace is a division of IMP Group International Inc., a privately held diversified group of companies with more than 3000 employees worldwide with business units in aerospace, aviation, marine, airline, information technology, healthcare and real estate. IMP Aerospace’s core competencies include engineering support, fleet management, repair/overhaul and manufacturing. IMP Aerospace provides complete in service support for Canada’s fleet of CH-149 Cormorant helicopters, as well as major maintenance and engineering support for the CH-124/H-3 Seaking helicopter, Canada’s fleet of CP-140 (P-3) Auroras, and numerous international customers.
About IMP Group International, Inc.
I.M.P. Group International Inc. is focused on global, sustainable growth, with 3,500 experienced people delivering service, quality and value to customers across diverse sectors, such as aerospace, aviation, airline, healthcare, industrial marine, information technology, hospitality and property development.
For further information contact:
David Gossen, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of IMP Aerospace
I.M.P. Group International Inc.
david.gossen@impaerospace.com
(902) 873-2250