{"id":351772,"date":"2023-11-09T09:49:34","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T14:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/?post_type=features&p=351772"},"modified":"2023-11-09T10:00:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T15:00:56","slug":"canadian-north-airline-enduring-enterprise","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/features\/canadian-north-airline-enduring-enterprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian North: An enduring enterprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The combined area of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik (the northern third of Quebec) is approximately 3.8 million square kilometres (1.5 million square miles), or about 38 per cent of Canada\u2019s total area. Given the great distances between communities and the lack of surface transportation infrastructure, air is the primary transport mode used to support the combined remote population of roughly 100,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The largest aviation service provider across Canada\u2019s Far North is Bradley Air Services Limited of Ottawa. Operating as Canadian North, it connects 25 northern communities with the major cities of Edmonton, Ottawa, and Montreal. Having been around for nearly eight decades, it\u2019s no surprise that the company has evolved significantly since it first took flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start Small, Then Build<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bradley Air Services was founded by aviation pioneer Russell Bradley (pictured) in 1946. It was initially known as Bradley Flying School. Bradley Air Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1946, aviation pioneer Russell Bradley created Bradley Flying School at Ottawa\u2019s Uplands Airport with a single Piper Super Cub. It later became Bradley Air Services and moved to nearby Carp, Ont., subsequently taking up charter work in an effort to diversify its revenues. During the \u201850s, Bradley supported the development of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line of northern radar stations with four Cessna 180s; used five Stearman biplanes to spray budworms in New Brunswick; and enabled the geological survey of Canada\u2019s High Arctic activities with numerous Super Cubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1960, Bradley Air had become a Piper dealership and was operating a diverse fleet of single- and twin-engine models. Two interesting types were the Lockheed P-38L Lightning (CF-NMW) that flew photography missions, and the large Sikorsky S-55 helicopter (CF-KQD) that performed electromagnetic surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201870s brought new opportunities, especially across Canada\u2019s Far North where petroleum, mining, and scientific exploration boomed throughout the Queen Elizabeth Islands. Bases were established at Resolute Bay, Eureka, and Iqaluit in Nunavut, and the fleet welcomed numerous DC-3s and Twin Otters \u2014 some of which flew for the U.S. Air Force in Greenland and the U.S. Navy in Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 1973, Bradley Air Services created First Air, and opened a major base in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Bradley Air Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bradley Air\u2019s initial scheduled services began in 1973 when Twin Otters connected Ottawa with North Bay and Sudbury, Ont. \u201cFirst Air\u201d was the brand used for this operation, and it would eventually become the company\u2019s trade name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1978, the company purchased the Baffin Island operations of Survair, giving it a scheduled network in the eastern Arctic. The company entered the jet age in June 1986, when it acquired a Boeing 727-90C. \u201cC-FRST\u201d provided the required capacity and speed to efficiently move passengers and cargo between Iqaluit and Ottawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the following 30 years, the route network and the fleet expanded with the acquisitions of Ptarmigan Airways in 1995 and Northwest Territorial Airways in 1997. First Air\u2019s Boeing 727 fleet was later replaced with different 737 variants, and its Hawker Siddeley HS-748 turboprops were supplanted by ATR 42s and ATR 72s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A First Air Boeing 727 captured on takeoff in 2009. Galen Burrows Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s freighter business also grew; two Lockheed Hercules were used between 2006 and 2015, and a Boeing 767-223F was operated from 2009 until 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Competition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, another carrier had become a significant competitor. Canadian North launched on Oct. 29, 1989, with nine 737-200Cs serving 10 communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut from bases at Edmonton and Montreal. The division of financially challenged Canadian Airlines International was sold to two Indigenous investment companies in September 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decade later, First Air was flying to 17 of the 21 communities served by Canadian North. The duopoly was resulting in excess capacity and a less than optimal utilization of assets. As time passed, it became apparent that the financial sustainability of Canada\u2019s northern air transportation system was at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First Air began operating a Hercules freighter aircraft in 1997, and added a second to its fleet in 2006. The aircraft were the only civilian-owned Hercules freighter planes in Canada, and operated with First Air until 2015.\nJason Pineau Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Merger talks between the owners of First Air and Canadian North \u2014 Makivvik Corporation of Kuujjuaq, Que., and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation of Inuvik, N.W.T., respectively \u2014 began in April 2014. Then, on July 6, 2018, the two carriers announced their intention to merge. Federal government approval was granted just over a year later, and the carriers began operating as one in November 2019 under the Canadian North banner, utilizing the First Air livery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Canadian North dominates the domestic market north of the 60th parallel. The airline provides scheduled passenger services, hauls cargo, and flies ad hoc passenger charters for customers including natural resource companies, tour operators, and sports teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upon first glance, the dots on Canadian North\u2019s route map resemble a shotgun pattern. A more detailed examination of the carrier\u2019s schedule reveals a network based on two hubs: Yellowknife, N.W.T., in the west, and Iqaluit in the east. Yellowknife is connected with four N.W.T. destinations, seven Nunavut communities, and Edmonton in the south. Iqaluit is connected with 12 destinations in Nunavut, one in Nunavik, as well as Ottawa and Montreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Service to Grise Fiord (Canada\u2019s most northerly community) is provided from Resolute Bay by Kenn Borek Air. Additionally, Calm Air International feeds traffic into the Canadian North network at Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, from Winnipeg, Man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A First Air Boeing 737 captured in 2017 \u2014 prior to the airline merging with Canadian North. Jan Jasinski Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Fleet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Canadian North\u2019s 32 aircraft are based on two reliable families \u2013 Boeing 737 jets and ATR turboprops. Within each of those are a variety of models that are ideal for the different missions flown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 17 737s include nine -300s, four -400s, and four -700s. There are seven 737-300 passenger aircraft fitted with 136 seats, as well as two Combis that can be configured with either 136 seats, 80 seats with three pallets, or as a full freighter. The four 737-400s include a dedicated passenger model with 156 seats, two Combis each configured with 72 seats and slots for four pallets, and one dedicated freighter that can carry up to 48,000 pounds in 11 pallets. Finally, the four 737-700s each accommodate 134 passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the retirement of its last 737-200C (C-GDPA) in May 2023, the company no longer has any gravel-kit equipped jets. Unprepared surface work is now the responsibility of its 15 turboprops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canadian North and First Air announced their intention to merge in July 2018. They began operating as one in November 2019 under the Canadian North banner, utilizing the First Air livery. Frank Reardon Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Canadian North has seven ATR 42-300s, six ATR 42-500s, and two ATR 72-500s. Six of the 42-300s are Combis that can be configured to carry either 42 passengers, 10 passengers with cargo, or only cargo, while one 42-300 is a dedicated freighter. The six 42-500s each have 42 seats, and the two 72-500s are dedicated freighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Canadian North has approximately 1,350 full-time equivalent employees, including some 240 pilots, about 160 aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs), and approximately 190 flight attendants. There are around 265 airport workers, including check-in staff, ramp workers, and flight kitchen personnel. Impressively, 617 employees have been with the company and its predecessors for more than a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support Capabilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to offering scheduled passenger services, cargo operations, and charter work, Canadian North has other capabilities in the areas of maintenance, engineering, and training. Its maintenance facilities are located in Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. The Ottawa and Yellowknife hangars, in particular, are dedicated to heavy maintenance work on the airline\u2019s 737s and ATR turboprops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n