The services will be offered on an as-required basis for an initial period of two years, with the potential to cover a period of up to eight years. Flying Colours has worked with the RCMP previously and were once again successful in winning the public bid for the work.
The first aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12 turboprop, was inducted at the Flying Colours Peterborough facility at the end of March, with work expected to be completed and the aircraft re-delivered in early May. A second aircraft, another PC-12, is already confirmed to arrive in October 2023. The RCMP aircraft will be painted aviation gray with a three-stripe scheme in navy blue, federal yellow and toreador red, with the organization’s insignia bisecting the red and yellow stripes. The iconic logo, which features a uniformed officer mounted on a horse, will be painted on the tail in navy blue.
“This is a really unique project, and as a family-run Canadian company with its roots in aviation painting, we are proud to support the RCMP as they upgrade their aircraft exteriors. I know our team is looking forward to honouring the force with the highest quality work and are excited to be applying the emblematic logo onto the aircraft,” says Eric Gillespie, executive VP at Flying Colours.
The RCMP operates a fleet of 25 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft from 19 air service locations in 11 provinces and territories across Canada. Airbus H145, H125 & H120 helicopters, Cessna 206 & 208 turboprops, De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otters, Quest Kodiak and Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft comprise the fleet.
The mixed aircraft will be painted in Flying Colours' state-of-the-art paint hangar by the highly experienced paint team, which has worked in the facility since opening two years ago. The state-of-the-art facility is fully computerized and climate controlled. It features a pressurized cross-draft paint booth equipped with 168 energy-efficient lights that simulate natural daylight to optimize paint colour matches and visibility for technicians. The sanding, paint, purge, and cure application sequence reduces environmental impact through intelligently designed air recirculation and exhaust systems, decreasing the heat needed to operate while reducing paint emissions released into the air.
Flying Colours will be exhibiting at the Canadian Business Aviation Association meeting in Calgary 11- 13 July 2023 on booth 508.
