Maxcraft Avionics Ltd.

"Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. provides professional avionics services to all types of private and commercial aircraft including helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.  Our services include complete panel upgrades, avionics & instrument installation, design, fabrication, STC approval services, wire kit fabrication, and  worldwide field support.  A substantial inventory of serviceable avionics equipment is available for sale, exchange or rent.  Maxcraft is a Transport Canada approved maintenance organization (EASA and FAA recognized) holding ratings in Avionics, Structures, Instrument, Component and Aircraft categories.  Maxcraft  is a fully authorized representative of the industries leading manufacturers."

Joanna Miles, Customer Service Representative of Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. took me on a very enlightening tour of the facility.  With much understanding and patience, she explained the business of Maxcraft Avionics, and the industry as a whole.

Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. was begun in Langley in 1989 by Daryl MacIntosh, and has since grown into a thriving and successful avionics business, with an international clientele.  Mr. MacIntosh opened Maxcraft several years after he graduated in Alberta from the Institute of Technology. Prior to Maxcraft, he worked at Canadian-Heli (internationally), and started a family.  The business was moved to YVR in 1996, then to the Shell Aero Center in 2001. In 2009, it was moved to the roomier Pitt Meadows Airport, from where it is currently being operated.

The building Maxcraft is operating from now, was built in 2009 specifically for avionics.  Everything in the building is strategically placed for maximum efficiency and flow.  The front desk was placed to facilitate a workflow on one side to the technology department, and on the other side to the shipping and receiving department.  There is also a repairs desk where all parts sent in for repair are inspected – serial numbers  are very important – and work orders are opened and sent up to the second level for repair.

The actual hangar is a roomy 90ft x 80ft, with roll-up doors to enable easy access for planes and helicopters.  It also holds a sheet metal shop, with two full-time sheet metal workers.  The tech department is located right next to it. Here, kits for installations are put together, parts are assembled and the laser wire marking machine is located. Joanna explained some of the strict Transport Canada regulations to me, including the requirement that all wires be labelled before they are put into an aircraft. I was surprised to hear the extent of work logging necessary; every single AME that has worked on an aircraft has to log on and off, with exact details of what they did, and when they did what, and which wires and parts they worked with.

The upper level is where the designers and engineers are located, and also where all documentation, such as manuals, are generated and stored.   One of the repair rooms on the upper level is sound-proofed for noisier repairs.

At the time of this writing, amongst other high-profile contracts-including federal ones such as the RCMP, Maxcraft was beginning to work on three Helijet (Sikorsky S-76C+ model) for the BC Ambulance Service.

According to their website, Maxcraft is currently looking for further technicians to join their Team.

It was an incredibly informative tour, thanks to Joanna Miles, who was bursting with information about the business and the industry! Thanks to Daryl as well, for opening the doors of his business to me, and the entire Maxcraft team, for welcoming me in. 

Twitter: @MaxcraftAvionics
Website: maxcraft.ca

Address: 250-18799 Airport Way
Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B4

Tel: 604-465-3080
Fax: 604-465-3084

Email: sales@maxcraft.ca
parts@maxcraft.ca