West Coast Air
Encyclopedia
West Coast Air is a scheduled airline
operating de Havilland Canada
float planes
, with scheduled flights from downtown Vancouver
and the Richmond Floatplane base at Vancouver International Airport
to Victoria
, Nanaimo, Comox
, the Sunshine Coast, and Whistler
. The company also flies tours and private charters.
. Rick Baxter, a commercial pilot, became a partner in 1998, and bought West Coast Air outright in 2004.
In August 2006, West Coast Air acquired the assets of Pacific Wings Airlines, expanding its routes.
On April 20, 2007, West Coast Air completed the purchase of Baxter Aviation
, adding a further 9 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
aircraft to its fleet, and increasing its number of employees to over 150.
On April 30, 2010 Harbour Air
completed its purchase of the assets of West Coast Air. Harbour Air still operates West Coast Air under the banner of West Coast Air.
Current destinations as of February 2010:
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
operating de Havilland Canada
De Havilland Canada
The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
float planes
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
, with scheduled flights from downtown Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and the Richmond Floatplane base at Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
to Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Nanaimo, Comox
Comox, British Columbia
Comox is a town of 12,000 people located on a small peninsula in the Georgia Strait on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The warm dry summers, mild winters, fertile soil and abundant sea life attracted First Nations thousands of years ago, who called the area kw’umuxws...
, the Sunshine Coast, and Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
. The company also flies tours and private charters.
History
West Coast Air was originally the float plane division of Air BCAir BC
Air BC was an airline headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- History :Air BC was established in 1980 after the merger of a number of west coast domestic airlines: Canadian Air Transit, Flight Operation, Gulf Air Aviation, Haida Airlines, Island...
. Rick Baxter, a commercial pilot, became a partner in 1998, and bought West Coast Air outright in 2004.
In August 2006, West Coast Air acquired the assets of Pacific Wings Airlines, expanding its routes.
On April 20, 2007, West Coast Air completed the purchase of Baxter Aviation
Baxter Aviation
Baxter Aviation was an airline based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, founded by Tom and Linda Baxter which operated scheduled and chartered services throughout the Pacific Northwest with DHC-2 Beaver float-equipped aircraft...
, adding a further 9 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...
aircraft to its fleet, and increasing its number of employees to over 150.
On April 30, 2010 Harbour Air
Harbour Air
Harbour Air is a scheduled service, tour and charter airline based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The airline specializes in routes between Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria, Sechelt, Comox and the Gulf Islands, primarily with de Havilland Canada floatplanes...
completed its purchase of the assets of West Coast Air. Harbour Air still operates West Coast Air under the banner of West Coast Air.
Destinations
- ComoxComox, British ColumbiaComox is a town of 12,000 people located on a small peninsula in the Georgia Strait on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The warm dry summers, mild winters, fertile soil and abundant sea life attracted First Nations thousands of years ago, who called the area kw’umuxws...
- Jervis InletJervis InletJervis Inlet is a principal inlet of the British Columbia Coast, about northwest of Vancouver.-Geography:It stretches from its head at the mouth of the short Skwakwa River to its opening into the Strait of Georgia near Texada Island...
(Earl's Cove, Chatterbox Falls) - Nanaimo Harbour Water AerodromeNanaimo Harbour Water AerodromeNanaimo Harbour Water Airport, , is located adjacent to Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.It is classified as both an airport and an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency...
(Nanaimo) - SecheltSechelt, British ColumbiaThe District Municipality of Sechelt is on the lower Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Approximately 50 km northwest of Vancouver, Sechelt is accessible to the mainland of British Columbia via a 40 minute ferry trip between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, and a 25 minute drive from Langdale...
- Vancouver Harbour Water AerodromeVancouver Harbour Water AerodromeVancouver Harbour Water Airport or Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base, , is located at Coal Harbour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
(Vancouver) - Vancouver International Water AerodromeVancouver International Water AerodromeVancouver International Water Airport, , is located adjacent to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.It is classified as both an airport and an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency...
(Richmond) - Victoria Inner Harbour AirportVictoria Inner Harbour AirportVictoria Harbour Airport or Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome, , is located in Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada....
(Victoria) - WhistlerWhistler/Green Lake Water AerodromeWhistler/Green Lake Water Aerodrome is located on Green Lake adjacent to Whistler, in British Columbia, Canada. It offers scenic tours, scheduled service to downtown Vancouver and general charter services. with DHC-3 Turbine Otter, DHC-2 Beaver and Cessna Caravan.-Airlines and destinations:...
(May to September)
Fleet
As of November 30, 2009, the West Coast Air fleet consisted of 17 aircraft:| Aircraft | Count | Variants | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC... |
6 | 100/200 series | 18 passengers |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft... |
11 | DHC-2/DHC-2 MK. I | 6 passengers |
Accidents
- On 1 November 2000 a company de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterThe DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
had just departed the Vancouver Harbour Water AerodromeVancouver Harbour Water AerodromeVancouver Harbour Water Airport or Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base, , is located at Coal Harbour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
enroute to Victoria when its number 2 engine failed at 50 to 100 ft (15.2 to 30.5 m). Even though the aircraft was being flown above VMCV speedsIn aviation, V-speeds are standard terms used to define airspeeds important or useful to the operation of all aircraft including fixed-wing aircraft, gliders, autogiros, helicopters, and dirigibles...
it impacted the water about 25 seconds later in a nose-down, right wing-low attitude. The two crew members and 15 passengers all escaped unharmed and were rescued by local watercraft present in the harbour. The Transportation Safety Board of CanadaTransportation Safety Board of CanadaThe Transportation Safety Board of Canada , officially the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board is the agency of the Government of Canada responsible for maintaining...
concluded that "Since most air taxi and commuter operators use their own aircraft rather than a simulator for pilot proficiency training, higher-risk emergency scenarios can only be practiced at altitude and discussed in the classroom. As a result, pilots do not gain the benefit of a realistic experience during training." As a result of this accident the company revised its training programs with "increased emphasis on aircraft handling and emergency procedures in response to loss of power at low altitude and low airspeed."