WILDERNESS AIR (1975), LTD.: 4540 Agar Drive, Richmond, British Columbia V7B 1A4, Canada; Phone (604) 276-2635; Fax (604) 276-9586; Http://www. alloutdoors. com/Adventure-Travel/TuktoWilderness/default. html; http ://Www. wildernessair. com; Code 6W; Year Founded 1975. Privately owned WAL is established by David Kahl and Gordon Douglas at Bella Coola, British Columbia, on March 31, 1975. It takes over the Class 9-4 international charter license, 2 Cessna 206 floatplanes, and 1 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver of an ad hoc charter operator by this name founded in the late 1950s.
The two Cessnas are sold and replaced by a second Beaver and a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander. In addition to charter and contract service flights, the carrier in 1976-1977 inaugurates lightplane scheduled service linking the company base with Williams Lake, over the Coast Mountains 200 miles to the east.
The fleet in 1978 comprises the Islander, 3 Beavers, and 1 Cessna 185. The BN-2 offers the company’s only east-west scheduled service, a frequency between Bella Coola and Chilcotin Valley and Williams Lake. Class 3 scheduled flights are offered to South Betinck, Kimsquit, Punitzi, Tarla, One Eye, Charlotte, and Anahim. Operations continue apace in 1979-1980.
When Air BC, Ltd. pulls out of Bella Coola in 1981, Wilderness purchases a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain and inaugurates daily scheduled service to Vancouver on April 2, 1982 via Anaheim Lake. Operations continue apace for the remainder of the decade and into the 1980s. During these years, a charter base is also opened at Vancouver.
In 1985, the fleet comprises 1 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, the Islander, the Beavers, 1 Cessna 206, and 3 Cessna 185s. A Beech King Air 100 joins the company in 1987.
There is little change during most of the next decade as services are maintained between the three southern British Columbia destinations. In 1992, President Douglas’s company operates 1 Beaver, 1 Islander, 3 Navajo Chieftains, and 1 Beech Super King Air 200.
Cofounder Kahl becomes president in 1993 as one more Super King Air 200 arrives. In 1994, the fleet comprises 2 each King Air 100s and King Air 200s, 1 Cessna 207, 1 Beaver, and 1 Islander.
Operations continue apace in 1995.
A float-equipped DHC-2 crashes while taxiing after landing in Kar-luk Lagoon, about 67 mi. W of Kodiak, on September 28; although the aircraft is badly damaged, the pilot is not hurt.
In November, a Beech 1900C Airliner, first flown by Business Express, is purchased from Piedmont Aviation Services’ new Airliner Sales Division. It is employed in a combi role in scheduled and charter operations.
Airline employment stands at 40 in 1997-2000.
World History
