RE: "Not even Diadon?""with the ice roads open they can move big drills and heavy equipment in"
so is MTX contracting Buffalo Airways!
From the News/North...a paper in the NWT/Nunavut.
A million pound haul
Stephan Burnett
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 07/04) - Buffalo Airways Ltd. has been tapped on the shoulder to provide a million pounds of expediting services for a new diamond mine near Chibougamau, Quebec.
Company president Joe McBryan would not reveal the name of the company that has contracted their services, but said the contract will be a major part of Buffalo Airways' work projects for the coming year.
"We've got the work because of our experience, equipment and knowledge," said McBryan.
"What's important is that we're being recognized for doing one of the things that we do best. We want to continue to do it to keep people and equipment qualified.
"We've mobilized every mine north of Yellowknife for the past 30 years," said McBryan.
The mobilization will be done on a man-made runway.
"Jim Essery and Pat Hungle are very well known and experts at building ice strips. They'll be involved in setting up the ice strips," said McBryan.
The strips should be ready by Jan. 15, when Buffalo expects to send 12 personnel to the site. Four pilots, four mechanics, two helpers, a co-ordinator and a risk-management consultant will all be on the job.
Buffalo expects to send two C46 airplanes to start the work.
"Should the ice not be favourable we still have ski-equipped DC-3s that can save the show," said McBryan.
When Buffalo Airways mobilizes a mine they usually support expediting services until a jet-type aircraft, such as a 737 or Dash 8, can land on a more permanent airstrip, said McBryan.