North Sask. airline signs 15-year deal with Cameco, Orano

Some uranium mine workers in rural Saskatchewan can count on air transport between their worksites and professional training for the next 15 years because of a new $500 million agreement, reached between Cameco, Orano and Rise Air.

Read more:

The deal also invests in initiatives like the Dziret’ai pilot training program, which aims to train and hire indigenous pilots. The contract made it possible for the airline to purchase three new ATR-72-600 planes to transport workers between their worksites. The three airplanes will cost a total of $98 million.

“The ability to attract new employees and new pilots is what I really get excited about operating new aircraft. You’re going to see that come to fruition shortly,” said Dylan Bryngelson, the vice president of supply chain management with Cameco.

He feels the new aircraft will benefit the workers who heavily depend on the transport service the most.

“Our employees will be really excited to fly on some new aircraft and get the comfort that brings the reliability of getting to and from (the) site,” Bryngelson said.

“Most of our employees come from their home communities – they want to get to work and then get home on time – and with reliable aircraft, you actually get to do that.”

Bryngelson said the idea for a long-term agreement comes because Cameco knows they’re going to be around for a long time, noting the company has been around for more than 35 years.

“We look for these long-term commitments with our strategic, critical suppliers – something as important as getting our workers to and from (the) site,” he said.

The new airplanes will be fresh off the assembly line and can hold up to 68 passengers at a time.

The first aircraft is expected to arrive in Saskatoon this December and will likely go into service in January.

Rise Air is owned by the First Nations reserves that it serves. The company’s president and CEO, Derek Nice, suggested many of the leaders in the north are pleased to see this deal get across the finish line.

“I think they’re very happy with this step because it’s not only strengthening our ability to support Cameco and Orano, but it’s also allowing us to increase the level of support that we can give to the northern communities and their residents,” Nice said.

“The upgrade of those aircraft is just one step in our fleet renewal, which includes bringing in new aircraft that we can use for flights into the northern communities that will allow us to carry more cargo and baggage and also more passengers.”