On behalf of Brian Chafe
We have made a solid start to 2026, with several important milestones achieved across DHC.
The Government of Alberta confirmed its purchase of five DHC-515 aircraft. The “G” in our 300-G (Garmin) has received certification. We have delivered two aircraft, with three additional deliveries scheduled in the coming weeks. These achievements reflect steady progress across the company.
With this in mind, I would like to share an update on where we are today and outline the steps we are taking to support our priorities for the months ahead.
De Havilland has evolved significantly. We recently launched a cost-saving initiative that identified opportunities to make DHC more efficient and cost-effective. That work is ongoing, and there is still more to do as we continue building a truly efficient company.
IFS is simplifying processes, reducing manual effort and duplication, and helping us operate in a more connected and consistent way across all our sites. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through some IFS issues, and you will see further improvements in how we collaborate and perform as the bugs are corrected.
At the same time, we’ve grown rapidly, adding more than 1,000 people in 2025 alone. We now have more than 2,800 employees across the country.
As we continue aligning our organization for the future, there will be adjustments to certain roles, responsibilities, and team structures. As part of these changes, Davor Filipovic has departed De Havilland. We appreciate his contributions to the company and wish him continued success. During the transition, Davor’s portfolio will transition to Janet Wardle and Jean-François (JF) Desroches.
We have also temporarily paused some hiring so we can improve efficiency and ensure we have the right people in the right roles. This pause allows us to better align our teams with the direction of the business.
However, this pause is temporary for the next four to six weeks. The recent DHC-515 aircraft announcement is a strong signal of market momentum and reinforces that our strategy is working. As production accelerates, we will need to ramp up accordingly.
As part of this process, we will prioritize filling roles internally. This creates opportunities for movement and growth while ensuring we continue to invest in and advance our talent within DHC.
But let’s be clear: De Havilland is still growing rapidly and will be adding over 500 additional employees this year.
We will continue to grow and invest in our people and our future. This is a course correction for growth, not a retreat from it. We are strengthening the business so we can continue to grow in a sustainable and successful way.
With these steps, we are moving forward as a more focused and aligned company with a clear direction. We want everyone to feel confident about what lies ahead.
Thank you for everything you do each day. Our progress is only possible because of the talent across this company. Together, we will continue building a strong and successful future. As always, the leadership team is available if you have any questions.
Team: News