It’s ’Plane Floating with West Coast Air by Ken Donohue KEN DONOHUE

Victoria, on Island, is the est Coast Air began service in 1996 after AirBC (Airways, September 2002)—once capital of British Columbia, Canada. a regional connector for — unloaded its floatplane division, which Much of its heavy industry shut down Whad been created from the amalgamation of several operators, including West Coast Air Services. A year decades ago, leaving the city with later, Rick Baxter began discussions with Al Baydala, two main financial activities: tourism the owner of West Coast, who had been a former business partner, about acquiring a stake in the new and government. Both of these are venture. The Baxter name was well known in the coastal aviation industry because Rick’s parents, Tom ingredients for a successful airline, and Linda Baxter, had started a small operation early in the Nineties—aptly named Baxter Aviation—based and according to West Coast Air (IATA: in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. 8O/ICAO: YWZ) business travellers Rick Baxter grew up in Vancouver, and because he knew the city well he offered to develop a base there comprise some 80% of its traffic to for his parents’ fledgling airline. “I thought it would be a part-time job, and then I would move on to the Victoria from the city of Vancouver. next opportunity,” says Baxter, “but it turned into

42 March 2010 Airways 43 a full-time position.” In the meantime, Baxter kept Convention Centre. The last few years have seen temporary base in 2005. In August 2006, West Coast niche position; on the other hand, West Coast was working on his Canadian private pilot licence, and considerable changes to the area around Coal acquired Sechelt-based Pacific Wings Airlines, which always looking for new opportunities. “My last name then his commercial certificate. Harbour, where float operations have been based opened up new routes to the Sunshine Coast from was on those airplanes and I had been a big part As the Vancouver operation of Baxter Aviation grew, for decades (Airways, March 2005). More and more both Richmond and Nanaimo. New opportunities for of its growth,” says Baxter. “I cared a lot about the Baxter saw an opportunity for tourist charters. “At the condominium towers, along with parks and green charter flights were also realized with this acquisition. business.” Soon, though, the Baxter name was erased time, much of the charter market was resource-based, spaces, are competing for prime real estate. “These Rick Baxter still wasn’t finished. A year later, West from the aircraft and they were integrated into the and it was dwindling,” Baxter relates. “I once had a were challenging times,” remembers Baxter. “Finding Coast Air made headlines when he bought Baxter West Coast fleet. summer job driving a tour bus around Vancouver. I love a new location wasn’t easy, we had to navigate through Aviation from his parents on April 20, 2007. For years (continued on page 48) showing people this beautiful city, but with a floatplane various levels of government, the parks board, and before the deal was made, the younger Baxter I could show them so much more—the city and its local residents, who didn’t want a float operation near had many discussions with his parents backyard.” Under Baxter’s leadership, a substantial tour their waterfront homes.” about the future of both concerns, but the program was added to Baxter Aviation’s services. West Coast’s main competitor, Harbour Air deal to buy Baxter wasn’t the usual family Baxter was intrigued by the decades-long tradition (Airways, October 2002), abandoned Coal Harbour all transaction. “They put the airline up for sale of DHC-6 Twin Otter service on Canada’s Pacific coast. together and moved flights to its Fraser River base in to everyone, including our competition,” In acquiring a 40% stake in West Coast Air in 1998—a Richmond, next to Vancouver International Airport reveals Baxter. “I realized that this would be shareholding renegotiated to 50% two years later— (Airways, January 2008 & August 1999). a strict business deal.” At the end of some Baxter brought much-needed operational experience. Lacing that option, Baxter approached the Westin very tough negotiations, Baxter Aviation The company was struggling, with only one route and Bayshore Hotel to see if the airline could use one of the passed into the hands of the younger son. two operational aircraft, one based in Vancouver, the hotel’s docks during the winter months, when there “I was happy that we could offer everyone other in Victoria. would be little boat traffic. Despite having to scale at Baxter a job, along with pay increases and While some saw a beleaguered company, Baxter back the number of flights it could offer during this more benefits,” notes Baxter. “I felt good saw only opportunity. Immediately he introduced time, the airline was still able to operate. Inside the about that.” adventure flight tours, leasing a single-engine DHC-2 hotel, West Coast used a vacant concierge desk as its But Baxter underestimated the vastly Beaver as well as using the Twin Otters outside check-in counter. “The desk was made of marble,” says different cultures of the two airlines. scheduled flights. With the increased business, the Baxter, “and on several occasions, some of our frequent He tells Airways that Baxter was a stable KEN DONOHUE airline needed more aircraft. It had several Twin Otters customers would comment to me, while sitting in the operation that was comfortable with its A former Baxter Aviation Beaver at Victoria. sitting in a hangar, so an overhaul program was begun hotel’s high-backed leather chairs, that this was the to put these into service. best airport waiting lounge.” By 2004, Baxter had grown West Coast to an airline As this was a temporary arrangement, Baxter talked that carried 300,000 passengers a year with a fleet of with the owner of Harbour Air—who Baxter describes a dozen floatplanes. But with the city playing host to as a fierce competitor—suggesting that in the interests the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games he of both companies they should work together to find saw lots more opportunity. That year he bought the a long-term solution. The Convention Centre will company outright. “The game has become much bigger house the international media during the 2010 Winter and if we didn’t grow and expand, we wouldn’t remain Olympic Games. Once the Games are over, both West competitive,” he explains. Coast and Harbour Air will move to that location. In November 2004, Baxter was told to move his Both airlines, along with Baxter Aviation, Vancouver operation because the airline was sitting discovered a sliver of land wedged between residential on land that was earmarked for the new Vancouver developments and the Convention Centre and set up a JOHN WEGG JOHN AIR WEST COAST

A West Coast Air DHC-6-100 in 2002 before the company really West Coast Twin Otter in current colors at the Vancouver AIR WEST COAST took off. Harbour terminal. Vancouver Harbour is one of the world’s most scenic aerodromes.

44 March 2010 Airways 45 Mountain lakes, hidden from the Strobe lights and loud noises over all From Sea to Sky mortals driving below on the radio frequencies are used to warn highway, pool in the most unlikely pilots who come too close. We pass of places. We push farther north over with plenty of room to spare, and the mountains become more but I wonder if anyone inside the he road from Vancouver to Depending on demand, West Coast rugged. Weathered by time, some gondolas is unnerved about seeing Whistler, BC, aptly named the Sea has the option of using the Beaver of the peaks are sharp like knives. an airplane flying toward them. to Sky Highway, twists and turns or Twin Otter on the route; however, Looking to the east, all I see to Most of the passengers have like a slithering serpent. It starts Capt Sheehy says the latter type is used the horizon are mountains, covered their noses pressed against the Tout hugging the mountainside as it follows almost exclusively. West Coast is the only in a white frosting of snow and ice, windows, and while I saw these Howe Sound, before snaking inland past scheduled operator on this route, and dominated by Mount Garibaldi. same mountains on the way up, towering glacier-topped mountains. I’ve while more and more locals are taking Coming up with a word to describe I still marvel at the stark beauty driven the road many times. In fact on a advantage of the service, most of the this peak, with its summit at 8,700ft below. After flying over Vancouver recent trip, I almost drove off the road, passengers are from tour groups. (2,651m), is difficult; ‘magnificent’ we descend to 500ft (150m) as I couldn’t stop admiring the scenery. It Our airplane crosses the mainland and ‘glorious’ are a good start. over the Gulf Islands. We zigzag looked as if the ocean and mountains had of British Columbia at the Robert’s Bank About 20mi (30km) south of through Active Pass, a narrow been plucked from a postcard. Superport, a combination coal and Whistler we begin our descent. channel between Mayne and On this particular trip to Whistler I container shipping terminal located in The village of Whistler is nestled Galiano Islands, the same route left the driving—or rather the flying—to the Vancouver suburb of Delta. Not far between Whistler and Blackcomb that the ferry between Victoria Capts Steve Sheehy and Tyler Simpson. away is Vancouver International Airport, Mountains, which together are and Vancouver takes. I see eagles West Coast Air operates one of the world’s most scenic so to stay clear of inbound and departing traffic we perennially voted as amongst the best ski destinations in circling above the treetops, and we meet the ferry at the scheduled flights with its seasonal service between Victoria overfly the field. the world. As we pass the village, we have a good view southern end of the pass. and Green Lake Water Aerodrome (YWS/CAE5) at the The sparkling glass towers of downtown Vancouver of the downhill ski run and Whistler sliding center, both An hour after we left Whistler, our floatplane drops into world-renowned resort town of Whistler. appear on our right. We pass over the iconic Lions Gate venues for the Winter Olympic Games. Victoria Harbour, and as we taxi to West Coast Air’s terminal, With four other passengers going to Whistler on Bridge (First Narrows Bridge) as a freighter passes beneath. North of the village is our destination, Green Lake I hear a passenger say, “Wow! What a flight…beats five the one-hour flight, the cabin of the Twin Otter feels The 6,000ft (1,829m)-long span, which opened in 1938, Aerodrome, which from the air looks…well, very green. We hours on the road!” Indeed it does. Ken Donohue Q spacious. I’m told that we’ll have a dozen Australian links downtown with the communities of North and West pass the lake before turning back for the recommended tourists on the return. Vancouver. Here the dozens of peaks of the North Shore southbound approach and landing. There is a designated Except for a passenger ferry from Port Angeles, Mountains, some more than 5,000ft (1,500m) rise steeply takeoff and landing area, and Capt Sheehy explains that Washington, Victoria’s Inner Harbour is void of large from the waterway, serving as a natural barrier between there are few hazards in the lake, apart from boaters and marine traffic; however, the water is full of activity the city and the wilderness. water skiers, both of which are present during our landing. with small boats, kayakers, and other seaplanes, which As the mountains loom in front of us, we climb to West Coast Air uses a dock at the Whistler Air terminal, means pilots need to be alert when taxiing to the harbor 6,500ft (2,000m) and pass between Cypress and Grouse and because the former does not have any local staff, the entrance for takeoff. Because the aircraft was late arriving Mountains, two of Vancouver’s popular ski destinations. As pilots are provided with a passenger manifest in Victoria for from Vancouver, our scheduled departure was delayed by we penetrate the wall of mountains, it is as if someone has the return flight. With the alpine scenery and fresh air, this about 20 minutes. Now, with the takeoff area clear, the draped a rich, green blanket over the forested landscape. is the perfect destination, not only for travelers, but also for pilots push forward on the throttle the pilots. “I shouldn’t tell people how great it is,” admits levers—which on the Twin Otter are Sheehy, “pilots are always fighting to get this route.” located on the center ceiling panel. The turnaround at Whistler is scheduled for 30 minutes, In less than ten seconds, we are off but because of our delay we the water and, after a right turn, are only on the water for 20. climb away from the capital. We fly With our expected passengers over Esquimalt, home to Canada’s onboard, Capt Simpson unties Pacific Naval Fleet, and then cross the aircraft from the dock, pops the Saanich Peninsula, a fertile back inside, and we taxi out for patchwork of farms stitched together a northbound departure. by nature. As we climb, we fly toward As the floatplane settles into a Whistler’s latest attraction, the cruising altitude of 4,500ft (1,400m), Peak 2 Peak Gondola, more than we cross over the southern Gulf 1,430ft (435m) above the valley Islands and Strait of Georgia. floor and stringing across some West Coast Air started this service 2.5mi (4km) between Whistler in 2007, which runs from May to and Blackcomb Mountains. The September, although because Green gondola is equipped with a Lake freezes over in winter the start of warning system that uses radar to

the season can be delayed. KEN DONOHUE PHOTOS: alert aircraft to the obstruction.

46 March 2010 Airways 47 (continued from page 45) into a downtown Vancouver Airport,” emphasizes considered off-peak fares, but the margins aren’t high Strait of Georgia. Our descent into Vancouver took us Baxter. “We don’t want it to be simply floatplanes and we don’t want to mess around with the fares,” over famed Stanley Park, and we followed a company Baxter proudly shows me the airline’s route map, on docks.” admits Ring. “We believe the fare is reasonable, Beaver to the watery landing spot. which includes flights between Vancouver and Comox, Today West Coast Air flies 11 Beavers and six Twin considering that in the last ten years the cost of a ticket West Coast Air is a great little airline with a proud on north-central Vancouver Island. According to Otters, and it is the latter type that Baxter believes between Vancouver and Victoria has only increased by history of providing twin-engine floatplane service Baxter this service has been well received by people separates West Coast from its competitors. “We have less than $20.” along the coast of British Columbia. As the airline and businesses in the Comox Valley, who appreciate continued a 37-year tradition of twin-engine aircraft As part of its commitment to service, the airline continues to seek new opportunities it has a bright the direct link into downtown Vancouver. The airline on BC’s coast, and we take that tradition seriously.” recently opened a revenue center located in an office future indeed. Q also offers summer seasonal service between Victoria All operations are conducted under VFR (visual building a short distance from its Vancouver base. This and Whistler, which passes through some of the flight rules). This means the last flight of the day in consolidates the call centers that previously existed world’s most spectacular scenery. “Visitors can fly winter is at 1545, and in summer service is extended to at each base. Before, staff would be taking telephone up to Whistler and then choose to take the train or 1900. “Our winter hours are really eight to four, which reservations and then would have to run to the check- bus back to Vancouver, and enjoy different modes of limits our market,” explains John Ring, the airline’s in counter. “There’s a difference between selling to our transportation,” says Baxter. The Victoria–Whistler VP operations, who previously worked for Air Canada customers and servicing them,” says Ring. flight’s duration is 55 minutes. In contrast, by car and for 38 years. “We’ve looked into the cost of outfitting When Airways sampled a 30-minute flight from ferry, this trip would take upward of five hours (see our aircraft with instruments for night flying, but it Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (Coal Harbour From Sea to Sky). wouldn’t be a big benefit, because most of the business Seaplane Base, IATA: CXH/ICAO: CYHC) to Victoria A Vancouver–Seattle service has been discussed traffic tails off in the evening.” Inner Harbour Airport (YWH/CYWH), Captain Rusty with Seattle-based Kenmore Air (Airways, May 2004); West Coast faces stiff competition on many of its Miller was in command of the 18-seat DHC-6 Twin however, Baxter was unable to secure customs routes, especially between Vancouver and Victoria, Otter. After going through some pre-flight checks, processing at the current base. West Coast is hopeful where there are hundreds of weekly flights offered by he turned and, looking back into the passenger that it will be able to proceed with that plan once a three major companies: West Coast Air, Harbour Air, cabin, gave the obligatory safety briefing: five customs office is housed in the Vancouver Convention and International (formerly Helijet Airways— emergency exits, life jackets under the seats, and a WEST COAST AIR WEST COAST Centre. “With the move into a permanent home at Airways, September 2001). Despite the competitive fire extinguisher in the cockpit. It felt like a flight the Convention Centre, we want to develop this nature, West Coast rarely offers seat sales. “We have with a close friend. The two 550hp (410kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turbines came to life and the floatplane taxied away from the dock. We were soon skimming along the surface of the water, and Fast Facts - West Coast Air with a light load of six passengers it wasn’t long before we were airborne. IATA: 8O ICAO: YWZ The cruising altitude was 2,500ft (750m), IATA/ARC: 222 Radio: Coast Air and the route took us over the top of Vancouver Suite 2310 Tel: +1 604 606 6800 International Airport and across the Strait of 1177 West Hastings St Fax: +1 604 688 9165 Georgia and the Gulf Islands. Some inhabited, some Vancouver BC not, the islands are stunningly beautiful. It looks V6E 2K3 as if someone sprinkled a bag of emeralds into the Canada sea. We met the coast of Vancouver Island above Website: www.westcoastair.com the Saanich Peninsula, which we followed before passing overhead Victoria’s hard-to-miss, baby blue- Scheduled points served: Chatterbox Falls, Comox, colored Johnson Street Bridge, then splashed into Earl’s Cove, Nanaimo, Richmond, Sechelt, Vancouver the harbor. Because of the height of the bridge and (Harbour), Victoria, Whistler (seasonal) the short distance to the landing spot, the rate of descent increases from 500fpm to 1,000fpm. FFP: The Loyalty Club I returned to West Coast’s modest Victoria terminal about 30 minutes before my return flight. Founded: 1946 (West Coast Air Services); Complimentary beverages and newspapers are 1995 (as West Coast Air) available to passengers. There is no requirement for Start date: January 25, 1996 passenger screening; however, for 60 days around the Ownership: Rick Baxter CEO: Rick Baxter 2010 Winter Olympics, held between February 12 and Employees: 150 28, the airlines operating harbor-to-harbor service will be required to implement security checks. West Fleet Coast hopes that this will be a temporary measure, as Type Nº Seats Engines has been promised. Jim Devlin commanded the flight DHC-2 Beaver I 11 Y6 PW R-985 to Vancouver, with 16 passengers on board. Once DHC-6-100 Twin Otter 5 Y18 PWC PT6A-20 KEN DONOHUE airborne, we followed the island’s scenic coastline DHC-6-200 Twin Otter 1 Y18 PWC PT6A-20 Spectacular views of Vancouver are guaranteed on every West Coast Air flight. before turning to the north and tracking across the

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