Discovery Air's Great Slave Helicopters Wins Two-Year Newmont Mining Contract

YELLOWKNIFE, May 13 /CNW/ - Discovery Air Inc. is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Great Slave Helicopters (GSH), has been awarded a new two-year contract with Newmont Mining Corp./Hope Bay Mining Ltd.

The contract, operated through GSH's majority Inuit-owned joint-venture partner Kitikmeot Helicopters, covers this year's five-month exploration program out of the Doris Camp as well as next year's yet-to-be-determined program. During 2010 alone, the contract will result in a high-utilization commitment for at least four intermediate helicopters supporting exploratory drilling and crew movements. Gross revenue related to Year 1 of this contract is expected to be approximately $4 million.

"Having also worked with Newmont on this project in 2009, this new contract clearly attests to GSH's proven experience, company-wide commitment to safety, past performance and our ability to properly support an advanced exploration project of this scope," said Jeff Denomme, President of GSH. "We look forward to continuing this relationship as Newmont works to refine its plans for developing a large-scale gold mine in the region."

Based in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Kitikmeot Helicopters was the first NTI-registered helicopter company in the Kitikmeot region. For almost 12 years Kitikmeot Helicopters has been a dependable leader in providing safe, customer-focused rotary-wing charter solutions anywhere around the region.

"The future of this region of Nunavut is very promising thanks in part to the investment being made by Newmont Mining in the Hope Bay project," said Bill Lyall, President of Kitikmeot Helicopters and a Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiary. "We are proud to have been selected to provide helicopter services during the next two years for a global mining leader like Newmont - a good corporate citizen which clearly understands the value of doing business with reliable, experienced Inuit-owned firms like Kitikmeot Helicopters."

For its part, Newmont Mining reported that contracting Inuit-owned, Kitikmeot-based firms that have a proven track record of safety and reliability is key to its plans at Hope Bay moving forward.

"We are very pleased to see Kitikmeot Helicopters was again successful in the tendering process for our project as they have proven themselves over their six years of service at the site," said Mike McCreadie, Logistics Manager Newmont Mining Corp./Hope Bay Mining Ltd. "As a company we want to ensure that the Hope Bay project leaves a lasting legacy in the region and that begins with utilizing the talent and expertise that exists among the established business community in the region and that certainly includes Kitikmeot Helicopters."

ABOUT THE GREAT SLAVE HELICOPTER PARTNERSHIPS

Great Slave Helicopters Ltd. has nine profitable, Aboriginal-owned joint-venture partnerships around the NWT and Nunavut, including Denendeh Helicopters, Dehcho Regional Helicopters, Akaitcho Helicopters, Sahtu Helicopters, Tlicho Helicopters, Kitikmeot Helicopters, Gwich'in Helicopters, Havgun Helicopters, and Kivalliq Aviation. Together these partnerships come together in the Northlinx network and allow all partners to benefit from pan-territorial mega-projects requiring helicopter services.

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 based 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.

Discovery Air's shares and debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Symbols DA.A and DA.DB respectively).

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