About Us

Gravitas Aviation Limited is a privately held company whose management has specific expertise in the fields of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft and seaplane airline development and operations.  The company acquires aircraft for its own operations and lease fleet needs in addition to providing clients with aircraft procurement, upgrade, lease and financing service. Gravitas also provides comprehensive business development  services for parties wishing to develop seaplane operations in both new and existing markets.

Gravitas works with aircraft brokers globally and uses its own capital to acquire aircraft, transport them back to select approved maintenance facilities for overhaul and preparation for deployment by subsequent Purchaser or Lessee operators. For owners of aircraft that do not suit our needs we offer exceptional advice, valuation and marketing services. See our services tab.

Cameron Earle is  a  graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s International Business Program. Cameron has worked in the aviation field having been employed by Erwin Aero, a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility based out of Airdrie, Alberta. Cameron has also worked as a customs agent for SDV logistics, a logistics firm in Richmond, British Columbia.

As Vice President at Gravitas Aviation Limited Cameron’s duties include the administration of leases for compliance of terms and payments, the sales and marketing of company assets, equipment and services, and the preparation of transaction documents and agreements.

Steve was co-founder and former CEO of AirSea Lines International (Canada) Limited.   ASL was successful in developing the first scheduled service seaplane operation in the EU.  As no scheduled seaplane operations existed, this process involved the entire development of the regulatory framework, the design and operation of the physical infrastructure including aquatic aerodromes and the recruitment and training of the required human resources.  It also involved the branding and marketing of the entirely new concept to the flying public, the sourcing and acquisition of specialized aircraft and funding of the enterprise with over €25,000,000 in private equity from individual and institutional investors.

As founder and President of Gravitas Aviation Limited Steve continues the acquisition, lease and finance of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft and, through Gravitas Aviation advisory services, the development of seaplane aviation operations on behalf of client/partners worldwide.

Steven Earle
President

Who We Are

Cameron Earle
Vice President

Almost 100 Twin Otter

Transactions Completed

2023

  • Gravitas Sale of MSN 895 to Montrose Global

  • Purchase of MSN 842 from Conoco Phillips

  • Delivery of MSN 842 to Trans Maldivian Airways on lease

2022

  • Gravitas Sale of MSN 073 to Regent Aircraft Services

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 282 to Air Adelphi

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 073 from Flannigan Enterprises Nevada

  • Gravitas brokered sale of MSN 078 to Aerostar Alpha

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 702 to Rimbun Air

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 702 from Unity Aviation Group

2021

  • Gravitas brokered sale of DHC-2 MKIII MSN 1300

  • Gravitas brokered sale of MSN 762 to AMS LLC.

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 132 to Regent Aircraft Services

2020

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 132 from Sky Dive Dubai

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 836 to Rocky Mountain Aircraft

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 552 to Rocky Mountain Aircraft

2019

  • Gravitas purchase of Wipline 13000 Amphib Floats from RUAG AG

  • Gravitas secures 1st DHC-6-400 MSN 895 from Canadian entity

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 836 from Saudi Arabia

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 552 from Exxon Mobil Nigeria

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 282 from Peruvian operator

  • Gravitas secures US$9,000,000 additional credit facility

  • Gravitas marketing MSN 078 for Third Party

  • Gravitas delivery of MSN 368 for US Government contract

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 527 airframe to Canadian MRO

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 368 from AGM

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 239 to Aurora Flight Services

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 527 from USAIG

  • Gravitas lease of MSN 082 to Titan Air

2018

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 046 to Zimex

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 046 from SAP of the Dominican Republic

  • Gravitas Purchase of MSN 082 from Albertan aviation company

2017

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 539 to Canadian Lessor

  • Gravitas sale of MSN 623 to Canadian Lessor

  • Gravitas overhaul and sale of MSN 726 to Mustique operator

  • Gravitas overhaul and sale of MSN 164 to French skydive operator

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 779 from Canadian mining company Sherrit International

  • Gravitas purchase of MSN 721 from Canadian mining company Goldcorp.

  • Gravitas delivery of MSN 779 to Harbour Air Ltd.

  • Gravitas delivery of MSN 721 to private Canadian operator

2016

  1. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 368 to Sub of Canadian mining company

  2. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 726 from Star Mountain Aviation

  3. Gravitas’ management of lease return and overhaul of DHC-6 MSN 164

  4. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 831 from SkyQuest International

  5. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 831 to Unity Group Ltd.

  6. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 015 from Dilkara Leasing LLC

  7. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 623 & MSN 539 from Air Seychelles

2015

  1. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 244 to RUAG Aviation in Bern, Switzerland.

  2. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 768 To TMA in Male, Maldives

  3. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 368 & MSN 687 from PGR of Mexico

  4. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 687 to Canadian leasing Company

2014 

  1. Gravitas’ acquisition of DHC-6 MSN 276 for Maldivian operator

  2. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 226 from Air Tindi Ltd.

  3. Gravitas lease of DHC-6 MSN 226 to Aerostar Bravo Ltd.

  4. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 244 from South America

2013

  1. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 045 to Ikhana Group Inc.

  2. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 286 to Berry Aviation Inc.

  3. Gravitas’ sale of DHC-6 MSN 429 to Corvaire LLC (Rampart Aviation LLC)

  4. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 768 from Anglo Celtic

  5. Gravitas’ acquisition of DHC-6 MSN 358 for Maldivian Operator

  6. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 164 from GK Investco

2012

  1. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 286 from NEOS

  2. Gravitas’ 3 yr lease of DHC-6 MSN 239 to SVG Air of St. Vincents

  3. Gravitas’ short term lease of DHC-6 MSN 239 to Aerodynamics Inc.

  4. Gravitas’ short term lease of DHC-6 MSN 045 to Aerodynamics Inc.

  5. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 239 from Carson Helicopters Inc.

  6. Gravitas’ purchase of DHC-6 MSN 045 from Carson Helicopters Inc.

2011

  1. Gravitas’ sale of MSN 560 to Avmain SA (Ecuadorian Air Force)

  2. Gravitas’ purchase of 1964 DHC-2T Beaver for lease to local operators

  3. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 560 from Unity Group for total rebuild and re-sale

  4. Gravitas’ sale of MSN 493 to Rocky Mountain Aviation

  5. Gravitas’ lease of MSN 429 to Rampart Aviation LLC

2010

  1. Gravitas’ sale of MSN 355 to Alkan Air Ltd. of Whitehorse Yukon Territories

  2. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 355 from Transport Canada

  3. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 493 from the US Dept. of Energy for upgrade and lease to Gravitas Lessees

  4. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 429 from the US Dept. of Energy for upgrade and lease to Gravitas Lessees

  5. Gravitas’ overhaul and sale of MSN 553 to private owner for use in the Grenadines

  6. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 553 from Alcoa subsidiary in Conakry Guinea, Africa

  7. Gravitas’ overhaul and sale of MSN 838 to private owner for use in Fiji

  8. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 838 from Airserve International operation in Uganda

2009

  1. Lease for 60 mths of MSN 768 to Trans Maldivian Airways for float ops in the Maldives

  2. Lease of MSN 768 to Harbour Air Malta from Anglo Celtic Leasing for beta ops in Malta

  3. Gravitas’ sale of MSN 779 to Air Partners Inc.

  4. Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 779 from Hewlett Packard

2008

  1. Sale of MSN 691 to H3 for AirSea Lines

2007

  1. Sale leaseback of MSN 768 to Anglo Celtic Leasing Ltd. for AirSea Lines

  2. Sale leaseback of MSN 375 to Braken Aircraft Ltd UK by AirSea Lines

  3. Sale leaseback of MSN 283 to Braken Aircraft Ltd UK by AirSea Lines

  4. Purchase of MSN 283 by AirSea Lines from Topscore Management

  5. Purchase of MSN 375 by AirSea Lines fromAnglo Celtic Leasing

  6. Purchase of MSN 768 for AirSea Lines from BBS Aircraft

  7. Purchase of MSN 691 for AirSea Lines from BBS Aircraft

2006

  1. Purchase of MSN 375 by Anglo Celtic Leasing from Harbour Air

2005

  1. Purchase of 7 sets of Wipline 13000 floats from Wipaire on behalf of AirSea Lines

  2. Lease of MSN 283 for AirSea Lines from Topscore Management

  3. Lease of MSN 375 for AirSea Lines from Harbour Air Limited

DEBT TRANSACTIONS

2014

  • US$2,350,000 loan facility for Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 226

  • US$2,100,000 loan facility for Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 244

2013

  • US$2,100,000 syndicated loan facility for Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 286

  • US$2,100,000 loan facility for Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 768

2012

  • US$2,950,000 vendor financing structure for Gravitas’ purchase of MSN 045 & 239

2011

  • US$700,000 loan facility for MSN 560 first stage works

2010

  • CDN$2,327,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 355

  • US$2,300,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 838

  • US$2,200,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 553

  • US$2,200,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 429

  • US$1,600,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 493

2009

  • US$2,200,000 loan facility for Gravitas Aviation purchase of MSN 779

2008

  • US$12,500,000 convertible debt facility from Fortelus Ltd. for the refinancing of 4 Twin Otter aircraft for AirSea Lines

  • CDN$3,800,000 equity to loan conversion facility from Anglo Celtic Leasing Limited for AirSea Lines

  • US$2,200,000 loan facility from Rich Investments for AirSea Lines’ exercise of its purchase option on MSN 283

 2007

  • US$23,000,000 term sheet provided by Export Development Canada for the import, renovation and re-export of 14 DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft for AirSea Lines

 EQUITY PLACEMENTS

Gravitas Aviation or its principals have completed equity funding transactions involving the following parties and amounts:

  • Euro 25,000,000 equity placement for AirSea Lines operations in Greece

CLIENTS

Below is a partial list of entities that Gravitas Aviation or its principals have worked with, advised or represented on various aviation/DHC-6 aircraft projects:

  • 415453 BC Ltd. ( Canada)

  • 0839773 BC Ltd. (Canada)

  • AirSea Lines International (Canada) Ltd. (Canada, Greece)

  • Alkan Air Ltd. (Yukon)

  • Altenrhein Aviation (Switzerland)

  • Anglo Celtic Leasing Ltd. (Canada)

  • Avmain SA (Ecuadorian Air Force) (Ecuador)

  • Berry Aviation Inc. (USA)

  • Casas Capital (Canada)

  • Canadian Government – Transport Canada (Canada)

  • Erwin Aero International Ltd. (Canada)

  • FUSETRA – European Union sponsored seaplane industry panel and research program

  • Harbour Air Ltd (Canada)

  • Harbour Air Malta (Malta)

  • Ikhana (USA)

  • Inis Management (Canary Islands)

  • K-Air Charters (India)

  • Kenn Borek Air (Canada)

  • Kenmore Air (USA)

  • Pacific Rim Aviation (Canada)

  • Pegasus Aviation (Greece)

  • Rampart Aviation LLC (USA)

  • Rocky Mountain Aviation (Canada)

  • Suzhou Xinghai International Investment Co, Ltd (China)

  • SVG Air (St. Vincents & Grenadines)

  • Texas Air Services (USA)

  • Trans Maldivian Airways (Maldives)

  • United States Government – Department of Energy (USA)

  • Unity Group Inc.(Canada)

  • Viking Air Ltd. (Canada)