Kelowna Flightcraft is getting a huge boost to their bottom line from Canadian taxpayers.

They’ve signed a 2 year, $15-million contract to service the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft. There is an option for a 1 year extension that would give the contract a total value of $25-million.

The CC-115 Buffalo planes are used for search and rescue operations in western Canada, while the CC-138 Twin Otters are used up north.

Kelowna Flightcraft has been servicing the 10 planes since May 2009. The aircraft operate out of CFB Comox, B.C.

Flightcraft employees 54 full time people in Kelowna. The company says the contract extension will keep those people working continuously.

“We are very pleased to be awarded this contract in their very important Search and Rescue functions,” said Barry Lapointe, the CEO of Kelowna. “Our staff help the RCAF maintain very good aircraft reliability, serviceability, and safety for the West Coast Fixed Wing SAR fleets, and I am proud of the high quality of work performed at Flightcraft.”

Kelowna Flightcraft has a 1,000 employees across the country. The company operates and leases over 70 aircraft. It’s Canada’s largest dedicated cargo operator and is a leading aircraft maintenance, modification and manufacturing organization.