Duane Hicks
Local pilot Jordan Manty has become a partner with Kasper Aviation Inc. and is ready to launch a new air service by the end of this month.
Manty had contemplated starting his own air service earlier this year but instead joined up with fellow pilot Kasper Wabinski, whom he went to college with.
“Kasper knew I was working on trying to do something but he was also working on something [so] we said rather than us be competitors, let’s join forces and work on this together,” explained Manty.
He added two other pilots are partners, as well.
Manty said their aircraft, an Australian-built Gipps Aero GA-8, will be based in Sioux Lookout and provide flights on a charter basis.
For now, the business will focus on delivering mostly cargo, but also some passengers, to destinations far north of Sioux Lookout.
Once they’re established, however, they’ll start looking at other places to position airplanes, including Fort Frances Airport.
“If it makes sense to position an airplane here, well, then we’ll position an airplane here,” reasoned Manty.
He said as much as that is one of his goals for the company, it’s ultimately a board decision.
In the meantime, Manty did say aircraft charter requests to and from Fort Frances are more than welcome.
“We’ll do our best to accommodate,” he stressed. “We might have to fly from Sioux Lookout to here first until we actually have a plane here.
“At this point, we’re not targeting Fort Frances but we’re certainly willing to anything we’re able to do to serve Fort Frances at this time, if it’s possible,” Manty later added.
“Ideally, the more interest I get right now, even if we can’t accomplish the work, is going to be motivation for us to expand to have a base here,” he remarked.
Kasper Aviation also is contemplating a bus service to further enhance travel throughout Northwestern Ontario.
Operating as Kasper Minibus Inc., it would run from Sioux Lookout to Dryden twice a day starting in mid-February, with plans to add more routes later on.
This is mainly to transport Sioux Lookout residents, or those of communities north of Sioux Lookout who fly in there, to Dryden for the day to go shopping, make appointments, and take care of any business.
“It’s kind of an auxiliary service to the airline,” Manty noted.
But as part of the approval process to operate a public vehicle, applicants require support from individuals and organizations who may utilize the service.
As such, Manty is asking the public complete a short questionnaire in support of this service.
In addition to the Sioux Lookout-Dryden route, quite a few people also are expressing interest in other routes in the Kenora-Rainy River districts.
The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/YT7TH6M
For more information about Kasper Aviation Inc., visit www.flykasper.com
