Abbotsford’s Cathy Press has been appointed to lead the Canadian operations of Parallel Flight Technologies, a leader in autonomous heavy-lift drone technology.
Her appointment also comes with the company’s expansion into Canada, out of a Vancouver headquarters.
Press is the president and CEO of Chinook Helicopters, and is currently the only person in Canada to hold the Transport Canada Pilot Examiner status in both airplanes and helicopters, giving her the ability to license new instructors and pilots. She was named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2019 by the Women’s Executive Network, and that’s just a small part of her impressive resume.
As the first female flight instructor in Canada, Press holds nearly 40 years of executive aviation experience and has led Chinook Helicopters, an industry leader in training some of the best helicopter pilots, globally. Press began flying at the age of 11 and did her first solo flight at 16.
“Cathy has a long history of persevering toward big challenges and goals in her extraordinary aeronautical career,” the press release added. In her early career, Cathy was one of only six women in Canada licensed to fly helicopters, and flew charters in areas of electronic news gathering, aerial survey, search and rescue, forestry and air taxi.
Chinook Helicopters has also received the BC Aviation Council’s Back and Bevington Air Safety Award for the most significant contribution to air safety in the province.
She joins Parallel as the company grows internationally.
“This expansion marks Parallel Flight’s first presence in Canada, where it will strategically serve as a global anchor to help the organization supply and service advanced autonomous, heavy-lift, vertical flight systems to customers across several industries,” the release stated.
“Cathy’s unmatched experience in aviation and hands-on business approach is undoubtedly going to be a key asset as we continue to expand Parallel Flight’s footprint across the Canadian region,” added Joshua Resnick, CEO of Parallel Flight Technologies. “We are thrilled to welcome such an esteemed visionary to the Parallel Flight team and look forward to significant growth in Canada under Cathy’s leadership.”
Press said the work that Parallel Flight is doing is exciting for aviation.
“UAV systems, such as the heavy lift long duration platform that PFT has under development, certainly have the potential to revolutionize the aviation industry,” she said. “It’s my delight to be joining Parallel Flight and partnering with a team that has a core focus on cutting-edge technology, sustainability and public good.”
The company’s release says they have developed “patented parallel hybrid drone technology that enables its aircraft to fly exponentially longer in hover with a heavy payload, than existing electric systems.”
“The company’s transformative UAS technology can be applied across multiple logistics verticals, including real-time and complex healthcare logistics, tactical support for firefighters and first responders, and industrial logistics. By serving as an original equipment manufacturer and service provider, Parallel Flight Technologies is well-positioned to revolutionize drones as a service (DAAS) on a global scale.”
READ MORE: CEO of Chinook Helicopters in Abbotsford among nation’s Most Powerful Women