NAC Air
Encyclopedia
NAC Air was a Canadian
regional airline
. Its main base was at the Thunder Bay International Airport
. NAC Air was a 100% First Nations
-owned company, owned by the communities of Eabametoong (Fort Hope)
, Neskantaga (Lansdowne House), Webequie
, Sachigo Lake
, and Sandy Lake
NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely in early 2008 due to financial difficulties.
. NAC's airfares were 40-50% lower than its competitors' existing fares and it also offered daily services with the possibility of same-day returns for business travellers. It commenced services with two Piper PA31-350 Chieftains and quickly added a Fairchild SA226-TC Metro II
as well. The two Chieftains were soon replaced by the first Pilatus PC-12
s and the Metro was also retired at the end of 2001. NAC grew steadily, evolving from the early two aircraft operation serving four communities to an eleven aircraft operation connecting Sioux Lookout, Ontario
; Winnipeg
; Thunder Bay
; Red Lake, Ontario
; Thompson, Manitoba
and 21 First Nations communities. In 2006 NAC changed its name to NAC Air, this coincided with the company moving into a new three-storey office and hangar complex at the Thunder Bay International Airport. In 2007 a base was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it serviced 2 aircraft which flew out of Winnipeg and 1 which flew out of Thompson, Manitoba.
On 13 January 2008 NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely due to financial difficulties, they claim, stemmed from a lawsuit with rival Wasaya Airways
. The shut down forced 150 employees off the job.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
. Its main base was at the Thunder Bay International Airport
Thunder Bay International Airport
Thunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, , is an airport in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. With 80,591 aircraft movements in 2010 it was the 7th busiest airport in Ontario and the 24th busiest airport in Canada...
. NAC Air was a 100% First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
-owned company, owned by the communities of Eabametoong (Fort Hope)
Eabametoong First Nation
Eabametoong, also known as Fort Hope, is an Ojibway First Nation in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. Located on the shore of Eabamet Lake in the Albany River system, the community is located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and is accessible only by airplane to Fort Hope...
, Neskantaga (Lansdowne House), Webequie
Webequie First Nation
Webequie First Nation is located on the northern peninsula of Eastwood Island on Winisk Lake, 540 km north of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Webequie is a fly-in community with no summer road access. The primary way into the community is by air to Webequie Airport or winter road, which...
, Sachigo Lake
Sachigo Lake First Nation
Sachigo Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on Sachigo Lake, part of the Sachigo River system and Hudson Bay drainage basin, approximately north of the town of Sioux Lookout...
, and Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake First Nation
Sandy Lake First Nation is an independent Oji-Cree First Nation. The First Nation community, in the west part of Northern Ontario, is located in the Kenora District, northeast of Red Lake, Ontario. Its registered population in June 2007 was 2,474...
NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely in early 2008 due to financial difficulties.
History
North American Charters (NAC) was established in 2000 to provide cheaper and more frequent airline services to First Nations communities in Northwestern OntarioNorthwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
. NAC's airfares were 40-50% lower than its competitors' existing fares and it also offered daily services with the possibility of same-day returns for business travellers. It commenced services with two Piper PA31-350 Chieftains and quickly added a Fairchild SA226-TC Metro II
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
as well. The two Chieftains were soon replaced by the first Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
s and the Metro was also retired at the end of 2001. NAC grew steadily, evolving from the early two aircraft operation serving four communities to an eleven aircraft operation connecting Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Sioux Lookout is a town in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 5,336 and an elevation of 1280 ft / 390 m. Known locally as the "Hub of the North", it is serviced by the Sioux Lookout Airport, Highway 72, and the Sioux Lookout railway station...
; Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
; Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
; Red Lake, Ontario
Red Lake, Ontario
Population trend:* Population in 2006: 4526* Population in 2001: 4233* Population total in 1996: 4778** Golden : 2248** Red Lake : 2277* Population in 1991:** Golden : 2355** Red Lake : 2268-Climate:...
; Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
and 21 First Nations communities. In 2006 NAC changed its name to NAC Air, this coincided with the company moving into a new three-storey office and hangar complex at the Thunder Bay International Airport. In 2007 a base was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it serviced 2 aircraft which flew out of Winnipeg and 1 which flew out of Thompson, Manitoba.
On 13 January 2008 NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely due to financial difficulties, they claim, stemmed from a lawsuit with rival Wasaya Airways
Wasaya Airways
Wasaya Airways LP is a 100% First Nations owned domestic airline with its headquarters in Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario...
. The shut down forced 150 employees off the job.
Service Communities
- BrochetBrochet, ManitobaBrochet is an unincorporated community located in Northern Manitoba near the Saskatchewan border . There is no year round road service to the mostly Cree people. A winter road is in place only a few months a year. Air service at Brochet Airport is the main link outside the community...
- Bearskin Lake
- Big Trout Lake
- Deer Lake
- Fort Hope
- Gods Lake NarrowsGods Lake Narrows, ManitobaGods Lake Narrows is a community located in northeastern Manitoba in Canada. The community is located on the shores of Gods Lake, which is the 7th largest lake in the province. Gods Lake has a maximum depth of 75 meters....
- Gods River
- Kasabonika
- Lac BrochetLac Brochet, ManitobaLac Brochet is a Dene community in Manitoba, Canada situated on a lake of the same name. The community has a population of 629 of which 610 are registered Indian. The median age is just under 20 years old....
- Muskrat Dam
- NeskantagaNeskantaga, OntarioNeskantaga , is a remote First Nations reserve number 239 in the northern reaches of the Canadian province of Ontario, situated along the shore of Attawapiskat Lake. The town is linked to the rest of Ontario by the Lansdowne House Airport, and by winter roads and ice roads to points south, via the...
- Norway HouseNorway House, Manitoba- Treaty and York Boat Days :Held annually each summer, the York Boat events serve as the main attraction.-External links:* * * *...
- Oxford HouseOxford House, ManitobaOxford House is a First Nations Cree community in Northern Manitoba, located on the Oxford House 24 Indian Reserve. According to the web site of the Bunibonibee Cree Nation, "Oxford House was originally one of the trading posts set up by the Hudson's Bay Company, en route to Norway House...
- Pikangikum
- Red LakeRed Lake, OntarioPopulation trend:* Population in 2006: 4526* Population in 2001: 4233* Population total in 1996: 4778** Golden : 2248** Red Lake : 2277* Population in 1991:** Golden : 2355** Red Lake : 2268-Climate:...
- Round Lake
- Sachigo Lake
- Sandy Lake
- ShamattawaShamattawa, ManitobaShamattawa is a community in Northern Manitoba, Canada and the location of the Shamattawa First Nation. It is located on the banks of Gods River where the Echoing River joins as a right tributary....
- Sioux LookoutSioux Lookout, OntarioSioux Lookout is a town in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 5,336 and an elevation of 1280 ft / 390 m. Known locally as the "Hub of the North", it is serviced by the Sioux Lookout Airport, Highway 72, and the Sioux Lookout railway station...
- Summer Beaver
- Tadoule LakeTadoule Lake, ManitobaTadoule Lake is an isolated northern community in Manitoba reachable by plane, snowmobile, and dog team sleds. In 1973, the Sayisi Dene moved here to return to their Barren-ground Caribou hunting life....
- ThompsonThompson, ManitobaThompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
- Thunder BayThunder Bay-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
- Webequie
- WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
Fleet
As of November 2007 NAC Air had a fleet of 11 aircraft.- 2 Beechcraft 100 King AirBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
- 1 Beechcraft A100 King AirBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
- 8 Pilatus PC-12/45Pilatus PC-12The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
External links
- NAC Air official website