Discovery Air's Great Slave Helicopters Inks Fire Services Contract with
Manitoba

YELLOWKNIFE, May 17 /CNW/ - Discovery Air Inc. is pleased to announce that its Great Slave Helicopters subsidiary (GSH) has signed a new three-year contract with the Province of Manitoba to provide forest fire suppression support services. The deal commits one Bell medium helicopter, operated by GSH subsidiary Hudson Bay Helicopters, to the province for each fire season over the next three years, and includes both basing fees as well as a per-flight-hour charge.

"This contract with the Province of Manitoba is a clear recognition of our Canada-wide fire services support expertise," said Jeff Denomme, President of GSH. "It builds on the momentum created in 2009 when we signed a multi-year contract with Alberta Forestry Services for a five-helicopter commitment. And indications are that our crews are going to be kept busy this year - dry conditions and high temperatures in the early spring meant that we began getting call-outs in some jurisdictions as early as April."

At home in the NWT, GSH works with its Aboriginal partners to provide the territorial Department of Environment and Natural Resources with forest fire suppression support services in four areas including the Dehcho, Sahtu and South Slave regions as well as around Yellowknife. Helicopters from the GSH fleet are routinely dispatched to other provinces and territories during the summer fire season when emergency situations arise.

"At Discovery Air the fire suppression support services we provide through both GSH and Hicks & Lawrence in Ontario are an important part of our business," said Dave Jennings, President and CEO, Discovery Air Inc. "The work we do is critical to ensuring public safety and preserving forest resources, and the relationships we are building with the provincial governments we work with are invaluable. We are very pleased with the expansion of GSH's reach to Manitoba as a result of this contract, and we look forward to continued growth in this line of business."

ABOUT DISCOVERY AIR AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

Founded in 2004, Discovery Air Inc. is a specialty aviation services company operating across Canada and in select locations internationally. With 145 aircraft, it is one of the largest air operators in Canada, employing 450 flight crew, maintainers and support staff to deliver a variety of air transport and logistics solutions to a wide range of government and business customers. The Company's Government Services segment includes two subsidiaries: Top Aces Inc., which delivers airborne training and special mission services to the Canadian military; and Hicks & Lawrence, a primary supplier of airborne fire management services to the Ontario government and charter services to government agencies and corporate customers. The Company's Northern Services segment includes three subsidiaries: Great Slave Helicopters, the second-largest VFR helicopter operator in the country; Air Tindi, a fixed-wing aircraft charter provider primarily operating in Northern Canada; and Discovery Mining Services, which constructs and rents all-weather exploration camps and provides expediting and logistical support services.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Discovery Air's public communications may include written or oral forward-looking statements (as defined in applicable securities laws) regarding the future performance of the company and/or its subsidiaries. Forward-looking statements by definition are based on assumptions and are as a result subject to risks and uncertainties, including those identified in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of Discovery Air's financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, available at www.sedar.com. As a result of such risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements, and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements represent expectations as of the date they are made, and Discovery Air disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements it may make, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

For further information: Media Relations, John Curran, Marketing Manager, Discovery Air - Northern Services, [email protected], [phone]; Investor Relations, Sheila Venman, Discovery Air, Investor Relations, [email protected], Toll Free [phone]; Rolf S. Dawson, Vice President, Corporate Finance & Administration, [email protected], [phone], Ext. 304