Volatus Aerospace Supports J.D. Irving, Limited’s Vision for Drone-Powered Tree Planting in New Brunswick
VAUGHAN, Ontario, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: FLT; OTCQB: TAKOF; FSE: A3DP5Y) is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) to advance Spring 2025 tree planting operations in New Brunswick. This initiative supports JDI’s leadership in managing working forests by integrating advanced heavy-lift drone technology to enhance their efficiency, scalability and environmental impact.
As part of the project, Volatus will provide a heavy-lift Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) capable of transporting seedlings and supplies to planting crews operating in remote and difficult-to-access terrain. All flight operations will be coordinated by Volatus’ centralized Operations Control Centre (OCC) in Vaughan, Ontario, enabling real-time mission oversight and reduced environmental footprint compared to traditional ground logistics.
“Forestry is a critical pillar of Canada’s economy and environmental stewardship,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “We are honoured to support JDI’s long-standing commitment to well-managed working forests by contributing innovative drone logistics, training, and regulatory guidance to their Spring 2025 reforestation operations.”
Ben Lane, Operations Manager, Tree Planting, states, "At JDI we strive to make improvements to our operations, and we always focus on our people. We needed to find safer and more efficient ways to deliver seedlings to our planters and we think drones are the answer. It has been great working with Volatus to help make this initiative a reality. "
JDI is a leader in planting trees nationally and has planted more than 1.1 billion trees since 1957. Following recent wildfire devastation, more than 5.3 billion seedlings are estimated to be needed to restore just 15% of damaged forests. Globally, the tree planting services market is expected to grow from $7.2 billion in 2023 to $12.5 billion by 2031, positioning Canada—and technologies like drone logistics—at the forefront of this expansion.
Drone-based seedling delivery is a scalable, low-cost solution accelerating global tree planting and forestry operations. By combining AI, automation, and remote sensing, drones enable high-volume planting in remote terrain with minimal environmental impact—aligning with sustainability priorities while creating long-term value in the growing carbon market.
Volatus invites investors and stakeholders interested in the economic, environmental, and technological opportunities of drone-enabled tree planting and reforestation to request our in-depth white paper on this subject by emailing the contact listed in the information section below.
The initial deployment will include:
- Deployment of a heavy-lift logistics RPAS to New Brunswick
- On-site support and RPAS training for JDI’s tree planting teams Remote mission execution from Volatus’ centralized OCC
- Full regulatory management, including Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) coordination with Transport Canada
This collaboration reflects JDI’s forward-looking approach to managing working forests and Volatus’ commitment to supporting client-led innovation through cutting-edge aerial solutions. The companies will also explore joint marketing opportunities to share the success of this initiative and encourage broader adoption of drone-based tree planting methods.
About Volatus Aerospace
Volatus Aerospace is a leading provider of integrated aerial intelligence and logistics solutions, serving clients across North America and internationally. Through a combination of drone, piloted aircraft, and data analytics services, Volatus supports industries including public safety, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and environmental management.
About J.D. Irving, Limited
Founded in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) is a private, family-owned company headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. With operations spanning forestry, transportation, shipbuilding, agriculture, consumer products, and more, JDI is deeply rooted in sustainable business practices. The company is one of North America 's largest private landowners, a leader in science-based forest management, and producer of high-quality forest products. JDI is committed to responsible land stewardship, investing in innovation and partnerships that support healthy forests, strong communities, and a sustainable future.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information about the Financing, the Debenture and the Shares-for-Debt Transaction, including information regarding the use of proceeds of the Financing and TSXV final approval of the Financing and the Shares-for-Debt Transaction. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs of management as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management 's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company 's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to TSXV final approval of the Financing and the Shares-for-Debt Transaction and including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company 's annual and quarterly management’s discussion and analysis filed on www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contact Information:
Rob Walker, CCO
Rob.Walker@volatusaerospace.com
+1-833-865-2887
© 2025 GlobeNewswire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
