Transport Canada says it has suspended Orca Airways' Air Operator Certificate (AOC) citing its repeated non-compliance with aviation safety regulations.
The regulator said in a statement on March 15 that it had identified several areas where the Vancouver-based carrier had not met regulatory requirements including maintenance, operational control, documentation, and quality assurance.
"Transport Canada will not allow Orca Airways to resume its commercial air service until it proves it can keep its operations consistently compliant with aviation safety regulations," it said.
Orca Airways operates six Beech (twin turboprop) King Air and Beech (twin piston) aircraft, one Learjet 35A, fifteen Piper (twin piston) 31-350s, and one Metroliner on daily scheduled flights between Vancouver and Vancouver Island as well as charter and medevac services throughout North America.
In the interim, Calgary-based Integra Air (Lethbridge) has announced it will assume Orca Airways' flights and is currently in the process of negotiating aircraft, crews and management to support the carrier and prevent any further interruption to Orca passengers and customers.
Integra CEO John Macek said in a press release that the two companies have already been working toward a merger over the past several months. This will eventually see all of Orca Airways' operations being transferred to Integra, while its AOC will be relinquished.
