(St. John’s, NL– June 29, 2020) AltoMaxx, a local UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) training centre and service provider, was on the cusp of exponential growth when COVID-19 and the offshore industry crisis created uncertainty with the company’s plans for expansion.
AltoMaxx began operations in 2018 with its head office in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and subsequent offices in Toronto, Ontario; Delta, British Columbia; and Bellingham, Washington, USA. The marketplace immediately saw the value in UAV technology and the company quickly expanded its UAV fleet and service offerings, and hired additional employees. In January 2020, the company had set its sights on the offshore oil & gas industry and were in discussions with several operators and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies to develop UAV programs. In March, AltoMaxx was in the process of finalizing the terms and conditions on a major offshore contract when the world essentially shut down, and all discussions came to a halt. The new contract would have allowed the company to further expand and immediately hire another two-three full-time Newfoundlander and Labradoreans.
“We are a Newfoundland and Labrador company that takes great pride in hiring local talent, but our opportunity for growth has now been hampered by Covid-19 and the offshore industry crisis,” said Director of Strategic Planning Rodney Codner. “The oil & gas industry had momentum, but now the future of the industry is bleak, and businesses in the province are facing great uncertainty. Without some form of assistance from the federal government, companies will simply hold back on investment, creating further problems for our already damaged provincial economy.”
AltoMaxx is one of Canada’s largest UAV trainers specializing in high quality UAV regulatory and tactical training, as well as a leader in UAV health and safety policy development. The company has a dedicated staff who excel in thermal imagery, tactical training, emergency preparedness, and methane detection. As well, AltoMaxx is the first company in Canada to be ISO 21384-3 Unmanned Aircraft Systems compliant.
