Peace Air
Encyclopedia
Peace Air was a Canadian
regional airline
that flew to destinations within the Canadian province of Alberta
and to two destinations in eastern British Columbia
. It covered niche markets including scheduled flights to smaller communities, freight and charter flights in northern Alberta. It was based in the town of Peace River, Alberta
. On May 18, 2007 Peace Air announced that the airline would cease all operations.
. From 1994 onwards, it was owned by Albert and Wendy Cooper.
The company was founded in the 1960s by an optometrist (Mr. Smale) and a jeweller (Bud Dennis). At that time all the charter flights operated after 1700 hours, when the optometrist and jeweller closed their businesses for the work day. John MacMillan took over Mr. Smale's share of Peace Air after he was killed in an automobile accident involving a gravel truck. a In 1991 Les Gayton, aircraft mechanic, became the primary owner of Peace Air until his death from a heart attack in June 1991. Mr. Gayton's widow, Winnie Gayton, ran the company until she sold all rights to Mr. & Mrs. Albert Cooper.
Peace Air head office operated at the Peace River Airport
, 7 kilometers outside Peace River town limits, and also 7 kilometers outside of Grimshaw, Alberta. Approximately 98 employees (including pilots, counter agents, secretaries etc.) were responsible for managing all of Peace Air's route locations.
Other aircraft:
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...
that flew to destinations within the Canadian province of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and to two destinations in eastern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It covered niche markets including scheduled flights to smaller communities, freight and charter flights in northern Alberta. It was based in the town of Peace River, Alberta
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
. On May 18, 2007 Peace Air announced that the airline would cease all operations.
History
Peace Air was started in 1962 in the town of Peace RiverPeace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
. From 1994 onwards, it was owned by Albert and Wendy Cooper.
Peace Air head office operated at the Peace River Airport
Peace River Airport
Peace River Airport, , is a municipally owned airport located west of the Town of Peace River, Alberta, Canada. The airport has two operating runways, the longest being long and the terminal building, in size....
, 7 kilometers outside Peace River town limits, and also 7 kilometers outside of Grimshaw, Alberta. Approximately 98 employees (including pilots, counter agents, secretaries etc.) were responsible for managing all of Peace Air's route locations.
Destinations
Destinations served by Peace Air:- AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
- Calgary (Calgary International AirportCalgary International AirportCalgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
) - Cold LakeCold Lake, AlbertaCold Lake is a city in northeastern Alberta, Canada, named after the lake it is situated near.-Geography:The city is situated in Alberta's "Lakeland" district, 300 km northeast of Edmonton, near the Alberta-Saskatchewan provincial border. The area surrounding the city is sparsely populated,...
- Edmonton
- (Edmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) AirportEdmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) AirportEdmonton City Centre Airport, , is located within the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is bordered by Yellowhead Trail to the north, Kingsway to the south, 121 Street to the west, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to the east. It encompasses approximately of land just north...
- Esso Avitat) - (Edmonton International AirportEdmonton International AirportEdmonton International Airport is the primary air passenger and air cargo facility in the Edmonton region in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a hub facility for Northern Alberta and Northern Canada providing regularly scheduled nonstop flights to over fifty communities in Canada, the United...
)
- (Edmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) Airport
- Fort McMurrayFort McMurray, AlbertaFort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. It was previously incorporated as a city on September 1, 1980. It became an urban service area when it amalgamated with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995 to create the Municipality...
(Fort McMurray AirportFort McMurray AirportFort McMurray Airport is located southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. It has seen a rise in business over the last 10 years due to an economic boom in the Athabasca Oil Sands, which are north of Fort McMurray. Now the fifth largest city in Alberta, the population of Fort McMurray has...
) - Grande PrairieGrande Prairie, AlbertaGrande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...
- High LevelHigh Level, Alberta- Demographics :According to the 2006 census, High Level had a:*population of 3,887 living in 1,519 dwellings, a 12.9% increase from 2001;*land area of ; and*population density of .- Economy :...
- Lloydminster
- Medicine HatMedicine Hat, AlbertaMedicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
- Peace RiverPeace River, AlbertaPeace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
- Red DeerRed Deer, AlbertaRed Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
- Calgary (Calgary International Airport
- British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
- Fort NelsonFort Nelson, British ColumbiaFort Nelson is a town of approximately 5000 residents in British Columbia's northeastern corner. It is the administrative centre of the newly formed Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, a first for BC. The majority of Fort Nelson's economic activities have historically been concentrated in the...
- Fort St. JohnFort St. John, British ColumbiaThe City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...
- Fort Nelson
Fleet
As of August 2006 the Peace Air fleet included :Other aircraft:
- 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...
- Pilatus PC-12Pilatus 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:...
- Piper ChieftainPiper PA-31 NavajoThe Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
- Cessna 210Cessna 210The Cessna 210 Centurion is a six-seat, high-performance, retractable-gear single-engine general aviation aircraft which was first flown in January 1957 and produced by Cessna until 1985.-Design and development:...