Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

In NetLetter #1304 issued July 30, 2014 we had an article, which appeared in the 'PWA Flightlines' magazine, issued July 1985, regarding the opening of the Kamloops terminal on April 12, 1985.

It included a photo of the terminal and a photo of Jim Wyse, Lorne Perrin, Steve Bullock and Jake Huibers.

Pacific Western has a rich heritage at Kamloops, dating back to 1949. The company, then known as "Central British Columbia Airways" under the direction of Russell Baker, purchased Kamloops Air Services and operated a charter float-plane base from the Thompson River which passes directly by Fulton Field.

Scheduled air service by Pacific Western was introduced into Kamloops in competition with CP Air in December, 1968. The service was the first through the southern B.C. interior for Pacific Western and was known as the 'Stampeder', operating Vancouver-Kamloops-Calgary.

Prior to introducing PWA scheduled service, initial training was done on the new state-of-the-art Boeing 737 aircraft at Kamloops.

Jake Huibers advised that during these training sessions, the Pacific Western crews would make a point of stopping for coffee and parking the new B-737 directly in front of the terminal, just before CP Air's scheduled arrival with their old DC-6 aircraft. CPA suspended service in the spring of 1969.

Neil Burton has sent us some information regarding the article -

The article was written by Jim Wyse.

The weekend of April 12 to 15, 1985, were moving days for PWA staff on Fulton Field (Kamloops – YKA) from the old passenger terminal build (opened August 15, 1964), with its later clinging additions of departure and arrival modules (with indoor baggage system) and 40-foot air cargo trailer, to a brand spanking new and spacious passenger handling terminal.

At some later point, the baggage/cargo handling area received Canada Customs approval for a section of it to be a Customs Bonded Warehouse.

Here we have this photo dated 1985 of the Kamloops crew. Note that Neil Burton is second from the left.  

Some additional information from Neil as to dates of Central British Columbia Airways on Fulton Field:

The City of Kamloops assumed the operation of Fulton Field Airport, without a signed lease with the Department of Transport on May 1, 1946.

Part of the reason was to use the former military huts on the airport to cover a housing shortage with returning veterans. Central B.C. Airways would station a twin-engine Crane aircraft on Fulton Field for the summers, beginning May 1946 under the contract with the B.C, Forest Service. Pilot for the Crane was Harold (Hal) S. Quinn.

Russ Baker, his wife Madge and daughters moved from Fort St. James to Kamloops about the beginning of May 1949. (The write-up of Mr. Darrel Smith’s speech indicated 1949).

It is 38 years this week, (April 10-14, 2023) that we as Pacific Western Airlines employees, made the move to the spanking new ramp, counter, and cargo areas.

Neil Burton