This is the announcement made by the Champagne family, well known in the region for its companies Bionest and Shalwin, which launched the operations of Cjet Aviation on Wednesday, in the presence of around a hundred economic stakeholders from Bécancour, Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières.
The 10,000 square foot hangar is located very close to the Trois-Rivières airport. (Stéphane Lessard/Le Nouvelliste)
This includes a 10,000 square foot hangar which offers heated indoor parking that can accommodate between 12 and 15 aircraft, as well as 55,000 square feet of outdoor parking.
The two-story building also includes luxurious lounges and a chic multimedia conference room with views of the airport.
A concierge service, in aviation jargon, will also allow people passing through Trois-Rivières airport to be accompanied to discover the different attractions of the region, according to their interests. Courtesy vehicles, with or without a driver, will also be available for pilots who land in Trois-Rivières.
Cjet has also developed a partnership with Global Air Services to offer an aeronautical mechanics service for the maintenance and repair of the various aircraft that will pass through the hangar.
Additionally, Cjet Aviation is close to obtaining its licenses to offer businesses in the region the opportunity to charter a flight to different destinations.
Cjet has a Piaggio P.180 Avanti, a seven-passenger turboprop plane that can reach 740 km/h, which is among the fastest in its category. Added to this is a Eurocopter EC120, a single-engine, four-passenger light utility helicopter.
Until now, such a service was only offered in Mirabel, Montreal, Quebec and Saint-Hubert. Cjet Aviation is therefore investing in a whole new market by establishing itself in the region.
“Someone from Trois-Rivières who wants to rent a helicopter will prefer to leave here. We are going to develop the local market, and after that it will be to stand out on the Quebec market and even the global market, because there are FBOs all over the world,” specifies the general director, Laurent Beaulieu.
An extension of the terminal
The investment is intended to complement that being made at the new Trois-Rivières terminal to offer airport services with a baggage carousel, check-in counters and a restaurant.
The launch took place in the presence of around a hundred speakers from Bécancour, Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières. (Stéphane Lessard/Le Nouvelliste)
“It’s a product that will enhance what we wanted to do and will complement what is being done in Montreal and Quebec,” underlined the mayor of Trois-Rivières, Jean Lamarche.
If the airport takes care of the entire public part, Cjet takes care of the private part for aircraft. “If he just stops and goes out to eat, he’ll go to the airport. If he stays for two days to go to Sacacomie, or whatever, we’ll take care of it. We take the device, because it cannot stay on the grounds of the public airport,” explains the general director of Cjet.
Shawinigan municipal councilor and general director of the National Center for Electrochemistry and Environmental Technologies (CNETE), Nancy Déziel, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment by making it possible to charter a flight from the region. There was a void at the commercial level,” she said.
