Chrono Aviation

Summary

Chrono Aviation Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Chrono Jet Inc., is a charter airline headquartered at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. It operates aircraft in passenger (9 to 120), cargo and combi roles. It has bases at Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport, Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport and Rimouski Aerodrome. It has over 265 employees.[8]

Chrono Aviation Inc.
C-GTVO, Boeing 737-200
IATA ICAO Callsign
MB* NDL[1]
MBK[2]
NEEDLE[1]
MATBLACK[2]
Founded2012 (2012)
AOC #Canada: 17931 (Chrono Aviation)[3]
Canada: 18498 (Chrono Jet)[4]
United States: 2C0F389F (Chrono Aviation)[5]
United States: 2OJF535F (Chrono Jet)[6]
Operating bases
SubsidiariesChrono Jet Inc.
Fleet size15[7]
HeadquartersJean Lesage International Airport, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Key peopleVincent Gagnon (President)
Employees250+
Websitehttps://www.chronoaviation.com/en/home/

History edit

Chrono Aviation was founded in 2012 by Vincent Gagnon and Dany Gagnon with a single Pilatus PC-12 and two pilots.[9] Later in that same year, the company purchased its second aircraft.[10]

In 2014, the company acquired their first Beechcraft 1900D.

In 2016 they obtained the authority to conduct Canadian Aviation Regulations Part 705 operations with more than 37 passengers allowing for the operation of their first Dash 8-100 in 2017. The airline immediately upgraded the Dash 8 with brand new avionics worth $1.5 million and the cockpit was also upgraded with 3-D terrain vision.[10]

In 2018, the company unveiled its first Boeing 737-200 airliner with a second following shortly thereafter.[11] These aircraft can carry passengers or various combinations of passengers and cargo, and are able to operate to and from unpaved runway gravel strips.[12]

The company briefly operated a Dassault Falcon 50EX from 2017 to 2020 and a Citation CJ4 from 2019 to 2020.

In 2019, Chrono Aviation and Arctic Co-operatives Limited (ACL) Announced the awarding of a contract from Baffinland Iron Mines Corp for the provision of air transport services.[13] Chrono Aviation was to fly three to five flights a week from their base at Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport.[14] In October 2019, the company announced the groundbreaking of their 66,000 square foot hangar project being constructed at the Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport which the ACL contract supported.[15][13] that same year, the airline also outfitted their aircraft with SKYTRAC's ISAT-200A SATCOM terminals for real-time flight following, voice communications, and weather tracking capabilities. Operating on the Iridium Communications network, this system allows the airline to track every flight, send weather data, and remain in direct communication with the flight crew.[16]

In 2020, Chrono Aviation was ranked 213 out of 400 of the fastest growing companies in Canada based on a report published by The Globe and Mail.[17] In 2021, Chrono Aviation was again recognized and ranked 167 out of 400 of the fastest growing companies in Canada.[18]

Chrono Aviation had previously announced that it had added a Boeing 737-800, formerly belonging to Air Transat to its fleet.[19] However, on July 6, 2021, the aircraft was deregistered by Chrono Jet.[20] On December 7, 2021, Chrono Aviation announced that it would commence exclusive dedicated cargo operations utilizing a Boeing 737-800SF starting January 2022. Chrono will be first operator of the type in Canada.[21] In the fall of 2021, the airline also began to use its new state of the art 66,000 square foot hangar.

Operations edit

Chrono Aviation's primary bases are:

Chrono Aviation is focused on the non-scheduled charter business in Quebec (primarily in Northern Quebec and Nunavik), Nunavut, the rest of Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.[9]

Livery edit

Chrono Aviation's livery is very distinct. Almost all their aircraft are painted matte black. Their accent colour is red.

Chrono has also done wraps for special occasions such as Canada's 150th birthday and Star Wars.[10]

Ownership edit

Chrono Aviation Inc. is owned by Dany Gagnon, Vincent Gagnon and Larga Capital Inc.[22]

Chrono Jet Inc., the operator of Chrono's Dash-8 100 and 737-200 fleets, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrono Aviation Inc.[22]

In addition, the company owns the following partnership companies with northern Quebec First Nations.[10][22]

  • Chrono Aviation Nemaska Inc.
  • Chrono Aviation Wemindji Inc.
  • Chrono Aviation Waswanipi Inc.
  • Waasheshkun Chrono Aviation Inc.

WAAS Aerospace and Lux FBO are sister companies of Chrono Aviation Inc.[23]

iFlyCollege, a flight training school based at Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, is a sister company and the primary feeder school for Chrono Aviation.[24]

Fleet edit

 
C-FCVD PC12 Chrono Aviation at Cambridge Bay Airport 02
 
Chrono Aviation B737 TVO 2

As of 17 May 2021 Chrono Aviation and Chrono Jet had the following aircraft:[7]

Chrono Aviation fleet
Aircraft No. of aircraft Variants Notes
Beechcraft 1900 2 1900D Seats up to 19 passengers. Can be freight only.[25]
Boeing 737-200 3 200 series Combi aircraft, can carry up to 120 passengers, equipped with gravel kits.[26] Operated by Chrono Jet.[27]
Boeing 737-800 2 800 series Freighter, can carry up to 52000lbs of cargo, Operated by Chrono Jet.[28]
De Havilland Canada Dash 8 1 100 series Carries up to 37 passengers.[29] Operated by Chrono Jet.[27]
Pilatus PC-12 7 PC-12/45, PC-12/47 Carries up to 9 passengers.[30]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 2023-05-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-02-25. Chrono Aviation: NDL, NEEDLE
  2. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 2023-05-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-02-25. Chrono Jet: MBK, MATBLACK
  3. ^ Transport Canada (31 December 2020), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  4. ^ Transport Canada (31 December 2020), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  5. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  6. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  7. ^ a b "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Chrono Aviation". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  8. ^ "Charter Airline". Chrono Aviation.
  9. ^ a b Sabourin, Marc-André (25 September 2020). "Décollage sur mesure". L’actualité.
  10. ^ a b c d "Taking the charter industry by storm".
  11. ^ "Chrono Aviation unveils its first Boeing 737-200".
  12. ^ "Chrono Aviation unveils its first Boeing 737-200, Joins the big leagues of Canadian Aviation".
  13. ^ a b "Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. to invest in Quebec air charter company". Nunatsiaq News. February 10, 2020.
  14. ^ Neary, Derek (March 31, 2019). "Arctic Co-operatives wins Baffinland flight contract". Nunavut News.
  15. ^ https://www.lecourrierdusud.ca/chrono-aviation-erigera-le-plus-gros-hangar-des-dernieres-annees-au-quebec/>
  16. ^ "Case Study: SKYTRAC's SATCOM Solutions Assist Chrono Aviation in Extreme Weather Climates".
  17. ^ "Canadas top growing companies:2020".
  18. ^ "Canada's top growing companies 2021". The Globe and Mail. 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  19. ^ "Chrono Aviation announces the addition of a Boeing 737-800". newswire.ca. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  20. ^ "Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has retired at Air Transat".
  21. ^ "Chrono Aviation Offers First Boeing 737-800 SF Service in Canada with New Operations in Western Provinces".
  22. ^ a b c "Registraire des entreprises". www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Home (mobile) - Registraire des entreprises". www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca.
  24. ^ "About iFly College". Collège iFly (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  25. ^ Beechcraft 1900D
  26. ^ Boeing 737-200
  27. ^ a b Our Fleet
  28. ^ "Chrono Aviation Offers First Boeing 737-800 SF Service in Canada with New Operations in Western Provinces".
  29. ^ Dash-8 100
  30. ^ Pilatus PC-12