At at time when most airlines are experiencing difficulties with the global economic downturn, commercial aviation in northern Canada is prospering. Most Canadians are well aware that aviation has been the main mode of conveyance to open up the northern part of the country from coast to coast.
The Beaver, the Otter, the Twin-Otter, the DC-3 were familiar silouhettes in northern skies well into the jet age. The first two or three aircraft types were often used on floats in the summer time.
Countless airline pilots have started their aviation career flying up North to build up time and experience a variety of flying conditions, some of which are quite demanding mentally and physically.
Entrepeneurial people like Max Ward have become legendary figures in making air transport more affordable, regular and wide-spread in the great North. He may have been instrumental in elevating the concept of bush-flying to that of airline operations, while maintaining the presence of a strong bush-flying industry which is still an essential component of commercial aviation north of the 60th parallel.
Natives living in remote areas have come to depend on air transport, as no roads link them to larger cities down south. And where their city, village or setlement was linked by dirt or ice roads, their use remains by and large seasonable due to extreme climate fluctuations.
The well-researched article accessible here and published by Canada’s WINGS magazine is a case-in-point and aptly describes the dynamics between air transport and living up north in modern-day circumstances, despite the recent set backs suffered by commercial aviation around the globe.
Moving about over medium to long distances in northen Canada is not a luxury; it’s a necessity whether the aircraft used are big or small.
The same could be said about northern parts of Russia, though I have no recent article to compare public air transport there with Canada’s North.
Enjoy the article by WINGS linked above!
