GANDER, N.L. — Diversification isn’t anything new for Newfoundland’s EVAS Air.
In the past, the Gander-based company has equipped its Beechcraft 1900D aircraft with custom-built lavatories, installed one with a glass cockpit and built up its maintenance force, among other progressive steps.
In a way, EVAS Air has pushed its 10 airplanes to their limits through innovation and diversification. By the end of the year, EVAS Air would like to outfit three planes as cargo aircraft, on top of its two air ambulances and its passenger capabilities.
The dedication to improvement has enabled EVAS Air to become a charter, passenger and air ambulance provider in the province.
According to EVAS Air president and CEO Patrick White, that diversification really started to take off once the group had developed its in-house maintenance program.
That allowed the company to confront whatever problems it encounters without having to go elsewhere.
“It's been very strategic to first build the maintenance capabilities and the diversification of those abilities beyond what we additionally needed, but up to what we would need going forward,” said White. “Next is diversified utilization of the aircraft.”
In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was quick to initiate precautions among its employees to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Those included new regulations around how personnel get to their accommodations, how they get their food and their onboard safety checks.
“Next is diversified utilization of the aircraft.” — Pat White
This allowed the company to maintain the weekly cargo runs it does between Halifax and airports in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“We were out in front of this ... being infectious-disease capable,” said White.
EVAS Air expects the delivery of an isopod in the near future that will give it the ability to isolate a person with an infectious disease from the rest of the aircraft when moving patients.
Add that to the efforts to get running water for sanitation purposes into their aircrafts, and EVAS Air continues to push the envelope of what their aircrafts can do.
“The team of people here is amazing,” said White.
Nicholas Mercer is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Central Newfoundland for Saltwire Network.
