First Air / Canadian North historical trivia -
Excerpts from the Canadian North website.
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- 1946 - Russell (Russ) Bradley forms Bradley Air Services Ltd based in Ottawa.
- 1954 - Charter and aerial survey work for then DEW line was undertaken. During 1958, on contract for the Geological Survey of Canada, Russ Bradley & partner Weldy Phipps mount tundra tires on Piper Super Cubs, revolutionizing Arctic explorations capability in the process.
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![tmb 550 bradley tundra tires](/images/netletters/2023/1522/Thumbnails/tmb_550_bradley-tundra-tires.jpg) |
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- 1968 - Bradley Air Services is awarded air support contract for the Polar Continental Shelf Project.
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![tmb 550 bradley air services](/images/netletters/2023/1522/Thumbnails/tmb_550_bradley-air-services.jpg) |
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- 1973 - Bradley Air Services Ltd creates First Air and opens a major base in Resolute Bay in the High Arctic.
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![tmb 550 bradley first air](/images/netletters/2023/1522/Thumbnails/tmb_550_bradley-first-air.jpg) |
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- 1990 - Makivik Corporation, the organization representing the Inuit of Northern Quebec, purchases First Air.
- 1995 - Ptarmigan Airways purchased expanding the scope in the Western Arctic.
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![ptarmigan airways dhc 2T](/images/netletters/2023/1522/ptarmigan-airways-dhc-2T.jpg) |
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- 1997 - NWT Air is purchased, solidifying passenger, cargo and charter services throughout the entire North.
- 2005 - First Air introduces all-passenger Boeing 737 jet service on the Ottawa-Iqaluit route.
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![tmb First Air B 737](/images/netletters/2023/1522/Thumbnails/tmb_First_Air_B-737.jpg) |
Photo by Alasdair McLellan @ en.wikipedia.org
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- 2010 - First Air mobilizes the Boeing 767 Super Freighter to aid in Haiti disaster relief.
- 2019 Canadian North and First Air are united to form a strong sustainable airline.
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![tmb First Air B 767](/images/netletters/2023/1522/Thumbnails/tmb_First_Air_B-767.jpg) |
Photo by Jpr89 @ en.wikipedia.org
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