Last night, at a De Havilland Canada and Friends’ event, we re-introduced our company to the federal government at an invite-only VIP event that included Ministers, MPs, and members of the RCAF. We brought eight aircraft – civilian and missionized – along with 12 supply chain partners to demonstrate that when you buy De Havilland Canada, you are truly buying Canadian.
For nearly a century, we’ve built iconic aircraft like the Beaver, Caribou, Buffalo, Otter, and Dash 8 that connected our country and served Canada’s needs at home and abroad. Now, from our home in Calgary, and across our facilities in Victoria and Ontario, we’re preparing for the next 100 years—building the Twin Otter Classic 300-G and the DHC-515 waterbomber, refurbishing Dash 8s and Canadair aircraft, and expanding our Canadian supply chain.
With 2,500 employees across BC, Alberta, and Ontario, we’re proud that every aircraft carries a Canadian flag and keeps jobs, skills, and innovation right here in Canada.
Last night wasn’t just about planes—it was about showing that De Havilland Canada and our partners are ready to power the future of Canadian aerospace.
Last night we also launched a new initiative that brings together De Havilland Canada’s special mission aircraft under one focused banner – De Havilland Defence. This new focus will be led by Phil Poutissou, who will take on the role of Vice President, De Havilland Defence. This exciting new initiative is supported by our excellent cross-functional teams and the many partners and suppliers we work with across Canada. It will develop aviation solutions for defence, peace and humanitarian missions that will ensure Canadian sovereignty in the north, improve border security, transport personnel, and goods from coast to coast to coast and provide civil protection – especially fighting wildfires – in an increasingly challenging time.
We’ve created a new video to showcase that story. Take a moment to watch our new De Havilland Defence video – a powerful look at how our special mission aircraft serve and protect the world.
Why De Havilland Defence?
The creation of this initiative is an important strategic step. It allows us to:
- Align more closely with the Government of Canada’s priorities, particularly it focusses on rebuilding Canada’s Air Force.
- Support the newly established Defence Investment Agency, which aims to strengthen Canada’s defence industrial base.
- Package and promote our special mission capabilities in a unified way.
Looking Forward
As De Havilland Defence takes shape, you’ll start to see the new brand appear in our materials, presentations, and engagement with customers and government partners. This is an exciting opportunity to reinforce De Havilland Canada’s long-standing contribution to Canada’s aerospace industry and its future role in national and international defence operations.
The Week Ahead
Later this week we’re opening the display to the public so they can discover De Havilland Canada aircraft from the past, present, and future. Hosted at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on October 8 & 9, the public have been invited to explore our aircraft up close and to meet De Havilland Canada pilots and specialists and learn how our innovation continues to shape the future of flight. In addition, a select number of lucky participants have the chance to register to take a flight on the Twin Otter Guardian! Seats have been filling up fast, so watch for an update from the rest of the week on the intranet or post on your local TV screen!
You can learn more about this new initiative on our new De Havilland Defence webpage
Thank you for continuing to help us build Canada’s aerospace future.
Team: News