Aviation News - May 2016

Y

ellowknife Airport, in Canada’s North

West Territories (NWT) is home to

Buffalo Airways, an operator made

famous by the television series, Ice

Pilots NWT. The show charts the fortunes

of the airline, including the severe Canadian

winter months, hence the title.

The crash of Curtiss C-46 Commando

C-GTXW at Déline on September 25, led to

a much-publicised suspension of Buffalo’s

Air Operator Certi cate (AOC) on November

30. So as not to disappoint local passenger
    and cargo customers over the Christmas
    period, Buffalo continued its Hay River to
    Yellowknife services using chartered aircraft;
    however this also ceased on December 24.
    On January 12, Buffalo’s corrective action
    plans were approved by Transport Canada

and the suspension was lifted. The airline

has now recommenced freight  ights.

STARTING OUT

Buffalo Airways was founded by Robert

Gauchie in 1969 and that winter he teamed

up with Joe McBryan. By May 13, 1970

‘Buffalo’ Joe had purchased the operating

licence and bought out two other partners to

30 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft May 2016

ICE PILOTSICE PILOTS

BUFFALO AIRWAYS

Buffalo Airways’ fl eet of classic propliners provides a

vital lifeline to some of Canada’s most remote settlements.

An accident last year resulted in the suspension of the

airline’s Air Operator Certifi cate but it is now getting back

to business. Ken Cothliff reports from ‘North of 60’.

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