Flying Freight to NWT and Nunavut: Buffalo Airways

 

Curtiss C-46

Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories is an aviation enthusiast's paradise. Not only the airport with its passenger and freight airplanes but also the floatplane bases within the city’s limits invite visitors to sightseeing flights and airplane spotting. 

Buffalo Hangar

BUFFALO AIRWAYS

Jade-green aircraft paint and thick letters on the fuselage: that's how Buffalo Airways aircraft are known. Buffalo Airways is the largest cargo line in the Northwest Territories that delivers year-round freight to remote Arctic places like Cambridge Bay, Deline, Ft Good Hope, Hay River, Kuflukruk, Norman Wells, and Tulita. 

Curtiss C-46

The Curtiss C-46, one of the cargo planes once belonged to the German Lufthansa.  Buffalo’s Douglas DC-3 flew one of the 1944 Allied landings in Normandy, France (D-Day).  The L-188 Electra aircraft - which carries 33.000 lbs of freight - is another rarity, still in service.  

Elektra & KingAir

But Buffalo Airways also operates Canadair CL-215 firefighting planes.  However, the Naval N3N floatplane, a Noorduyn Norseman, a Cessna A185E, and a Fleet-80 Canuck you might discover in the hangar - they all belong to the founder Buffalo Joe's private collection.  A hangar tour is a delight for all vintage aircraft enthusiasts. Best of all: it's free!

Naval N3N

Oldest Fleet

The cargo airline has the oldest fleet of aircraft of any commercial airline in the world.  It's not uncommon for a Buffalo Airways pilot to fly three different aircraft types. To keep the vintage cargo planes airworthy, they work day and night in the hangar.  

BuffaloAir-DC-3/C-47

The military version - with large cargo doors - of the DC-3, a Douglas C-47 was the first airplane to reach and land at the Northpole in 1952.

The spare parts supply is not easy, because there are usually no parts for the old machines available.  Buffalo Airways does, however, have a large fleet of old, sorted-out aircraft, mainly at its Hay River location, which serves as spare parts shop for its cargo fleet.

Elektra & KingAir100

Today, it is mainly the diamond mines in the Canadian Arctic expanse that account for a large share of the cargo volume.  Importantly, the aircraft can also land on a gravel runway in the far north - even if there are no mechanics, fuel station, or ground power unit there.  For fuel transport, Buffalo has converted some aircraft to tankers.

KingAir90

Passengers to the far north are flown in Beech King Air 90 and King Air 100 aircraft by Buffalo Air.  The Northwest Territories government-owned Air Tractors are also maintained here and flown at firefighter missions. 

Fleet80Canuck

Buffalo Airways doesn't only restore historic planes but has also successfully shipped all cargo in all sizes and weights throughout its more than fifty years of service, using these planes. 
See also the video:

Snowed-In DC-3 

Video

DC-3 Restoration by Buffalo Airways

Plane Savers E1 "First Episode!" 

https://youtu.be/GXKR822cfzI  

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Ice Pilots Freight Flights Over the Arctic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P3SCH5yWoA&list=PLgAfZdKiJiYEJvHGjjlJ0s4GKEJYHTs4A

Local Airlines in Yellowknife:

Canadian North

https://canadiannorth.com/

Fly Summit Air

https://flysummitair.com/

Buffalo Airways
https://buffaloairways.com/

Air Tindi

https://www.airtindi.com/

Great Slave Helicopter

https://www.gsheli.com/

Airlines That Fly To and Out of Yellowknife Airport

Air North

Air Tindi

Canadian North

Buffalo Airways

Kenn Borek Air

First Air

WestJet

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In a Series of Three Editions Explained:

Pros and Cons, Every Day Pilot Life,

Training Possibilities in the UK, Australia

In the USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa,

and the Middle East, and most importantly:

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Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, Amazon, etc.

Also available at Thalia in Europe.

https://books2read.com/u/47glDa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG12NSRX/

Photos of Beautiful Elora, ON, North of Guelph

 

A. J. Casson, one of the Group of Seven painters, called Elora once “Ontario’s Most Beautiful Village.”  It is a charming destination for a weekend trip or a longer stop between Niagara and Georgian Bay, just north of Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo.  Elora’s population is only just around 3,000 people, giving this small village a quaint and quiet atmosphere and a small-town feel.

The first visitors to the area were Roman Catholic missionaries who arrived in the 1600s.  They attempted to turn the Indigenous People into Christians.  The first British early settlers came in 1817.  The Elora Mill – a five-story grist mill was built in 1832.  

In the 1970s, it became the Elora Mill Inn.  After a 27 million renovation, the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa opened in July 2018 and featured 30 rooms and a restaurant, and was voted the #1 spa and wellness destination.  Besides this luxury gateway and spa with its scenic views are several cozy Bed & Breakfast places and Inns, inviting you to stay longer in Elora.

Stunning clifftop views and smooth hills, 19th–century architecture homes, beautiful gardens, and lots of charming little coffee and ice cream shops and restaurants, most with additional outdoor seating and local galleries and stores are inviting visitors.

For me, the most exciting natural wonder is the Grand River Gorge.  To get to these wonderful overviews down to the very steep gorge, take a leisurely walk from downtown via James St and Henderson St.  Walk from Victoria Park towards the "Lover Leap" and overhead the Irvine Creek all the way to the David St bridge.

Several picnic tables and benches invite for a stop under shade trees or to play on the lawns of Victoria Park.  The best time for a quiet and peaceful visit to the Elora Gorge Lookout is early during weekday mornings - at least in the summer.

Riverside trails with safety barriers and scenic overlooks provide hikers with stunning views of the water far below where kayakers and tubers make their way through the rapids.  The Elora Gorge Conservation Area (including a campground) surrounds the Grand River gorge with its 22-meter high cliffs, riverside trails and camping, and kayaking and tubing on the rapids.  The gorge is pretty steep and makes for stunning views with the Grand River cutting through it.  

Tour the 100-acre conservation area and nearby trails and a 20-meter waterfall.  Local outfitters provide all you need for tubing, paddle-boarding, camping, hiking, swimming, and canoeing adventures on the Grand River — you can even zip-line through the abundant foliage.  The Elora Paddle Company on Mill Street rents out canoes and kayaks. 

The Cataract Trailway is the route of a former 47-kilometer railway and links two rivers, following the old Canadian Pacific railroad bed.  It runs through rolling countryside east of Elora, through the historic community of Fergus, and past Belwood Lake to the Forks of Credit Provincial Park at Cataract. 

Don't miss to visit the Saturday Farmers Market in Bissell Park and on Sundays the Flea Market on Geddes St, right downtown.  A one-minute drive or a ten-minute walk brings visitors from downtown to the Grand River Casino if gaming is your thing.

The Elora Center for the Arts is located in a restored, three-story limestone school house, just steps from downtown and across from the Grand River and Bissell Park.  It has a main gallery space where artist exhibitions are featured ongoing throughout the year.  A second gallery and artisan shop features unique and affordable handmade and artist-designed pieces. 

Elora Quarry Conservation Area: This two-acre limestone quarry (Elora's former building material) is encircled by magnificent cliffs up to 12 meters high.  There is a myriad of bicycle paths along the Grand River.  Equally relaxing is a tour through the downtown heritage core with its tree-lined quiet roads and beautiful residential homes.

A train runs in one hour from Toronto to Guelph, but you would have to wait for the bus to Elora.  Coming from Toronto, there is a bus - also a slow connection - to Guelph and then another bus or a taxi to Elora.  Parking is free on all city streets. 

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/644891557788296430

I spent several weeks in this area and in the lovely town of Elora and was smitten by the friendly folks, the stunning heritage architecture, and the well-designed and cared-for lush gardens around every building.  Glad I discovered this gem of a town in Ontario.  Elora is one of the best places to see fall colors in Ontario due to the abundance of leafy trees, especially Mape trees.  A visit in fall is on my bucket list!  I'll be back.

Find out more:

https://eloramill.ca/2021/01/11/voted-1-spa-and-wellness-destination/

https://www.inspirock.com/canada/things-to-do-in-elora

https://roadtripontario.ca/things-to-do-in-elora-ontario/

https://mywanderingvoyage.com/2019/02/24/ultimate-list-things-to-do-in-elora/

https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/elora-gorge-conservation-area

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/644891557788296430

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Au revoir Air Canada...

 

OPEN LETTER to Michael Rousseau Air Canada CEO

Bonjour M. Rousseau,

I am a former commercial pilot, now turned travel writer, and also have been flying on hundreds of airliners for more than 50 years and I am now in my seventies. I can't imagine that you train your pursers to behave to your passengers this way, touching them inappropriately during a flight. At least I have never watched or experienced this by a female purser. 

Flight AC832 19:30 (YUL) to Brussels, arriving at 08:10 Tuesday 20 Jul 2021 - Seat 29D (28C on my boarding pass).

A male purser touched me inappropriately on my butt, in a humiliating, sexist, and chauvinistic way to tell me to buckle up. He could not know if or not I was buckled up as I had a blanket over me. I was sleeping after a very long day (about 19 hrs on my feet) and was glad to have a 3-seat row to stretch out. At around 11 pm (EST) I awoke when I felt hands on my body. 

Both his colleague and the customer service purser (head purser?) declined to tell me his name, but it was the older one of the two male pursers on this flight.

However, this was not the first incident of this kind, I experienced the same on an Air Canada flight (which was on October 13, 2020). So, to me, it seems like it is either the same person or this behavior is "company policy". 

If a male passenger would do this to Air Canada female pursers, he would be arrested and charged, or the flight would be diverted and the person kicked out of the plane.

Why does the inappropriate behavior of your pursers have not consequences? His male colleague whom I asked for the name found it quite ok... And why is it that you know the names of your passengers, but the passengers may not know the names of your employees?

Why I won't fly in the future with Air Canada anymore? 

This was not a single incident, last month I wrote already to you when one of your call center's employee screamed and yelled at me on the phone. You never bothered to answer... And this after I waited for two hours until "Amalia" or "Amelie" answered my call. She also made an error in my booking that caused a disruption/confusion on my flight on July 19th from Montreal to Brussels. Only because I had my laptop with me and could prove that I had a flight confirmation and even an email that same day to check-in online, plus my Visa card receipt, could I catch that flight at the last moment. Sure enough, your Air Canada ground staff blamed me for the error until she saw the proof!

Another female purser humiliated me on a March-18th, 2020, flight home from Frankfurt to Montreal. I had booked this flight long before the Covid lockdown.  By chance, it was the second-last flight before Canada closed air traffic due to Covid, and it was fully packed.  I sat on an aisle seat and a mask-less passenger across me was coughing the whole time.  I asked a purser if they can't do anything, like handing a mask to her as I do not want to be infected with Covid. The purser looked at me in a derogatory way and said: "That's your own risk, why do you fly at all?" It sounded to me like "Why do you fly at all with Air Canada?"  Shortly after that, the passenger had suddenly a mask over her face...

Instead of slighting me, the purser could have said: "I understand your concern, let's see if we have a spare mask for this passenger" or something like that. Why are Air Canada employees so mean, impolite, and vulgar to their passengers???

Money and Time Lost

Due to untrained/less knowledgeable Air Canada employees, I lost a lot of money and time. For example:  Last September a flight from Halifax, NS, to Frankfurt, Germany (with a stop in Montreal) in the evening was canceled and bounced to an early morning flight, taking off at 6 am in Halifax. At that time I was living 200 km from Halifax (in Antigonish) and no bus or train, or even a friend/relative would have been able to drive me at 2 am to Halifax to check in at 4 am. 

I called as I had booked for an evening flight and Air Canada had canceled it (NOT me!) - to offer to board in Montreal as I was there two days earlier. This way, Air Canada could have sold the morning flight to someone else and I could have boarded in Montreal. I talked with three different agents, and they all declined and said that I need to get a new ticket for a flight Montreal-Frankfurt and charged me an additional $160. Only later in Frankfurt, I learned at a German Air Canada service counter that it was not true and the evening flight cancelation was done by Air Canada and I should be reimbursed. 

On another transatlantic flight, arriving late morning in Montreal in March 2020, I was booked on a connecting flight to Halifax at 5 pm! I hang around at the airport and found out that there was a flight three hours earlier to Halifax, which was not even half booked. But it was too late! When I boarded and placed my small handbag into the overhead bin of this Montreal-Halifax flight, my fingers almost stuck: The handle was so filthy, it felt like it had not been cleaned for months. And this in times of Covid! It was just disgusting...

I Have Had Enough!

These are only a few examples of how I have been treated as a customer by Air Canada. My decision to avoid your airline in the future might not come as a surprise... During the last two years, I had only one single positive experience when I met a very nice person from your company on the phone. The rest was only frustration, anger, and lost time/money. 

Please retire this chauvinistic purser from flight AC832 and spend some (or better a lot of ) money on customer service and training - instead of fat bonuses to CEOs.  After all, we are the customers who pay for this all - and want to be treated with respect and politeness.  I will warn everyone and tell my experiences with your companies' employees.  Word of mouth - or word of the mouse - is often mightier! 

Photo Impressions from the Rockies in AB & BC

Spending the Winter on Vancouver Island one year, I had to wait until the
end of April to cross the Rockies and drive back to Eastern Canada.

Impressive Resort in Revelstoke, BC

Huge clouds over the mountains, but the weather held

Not necessary on this day - thank goodness!

The famous Lake Louise hotel still snowed in

The marvelous building style of this Banff restaurant...

Downtown Canmore, surrounded by impressive mountains

Mural, reminding that the West was developed with the help of trains

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Writing Your Way While Traveling Canada

Ottawa Parliament

Once we can travel again...
Being a freelance travel writer and seeing Canada and other parts of the world requires a lot of hard work and creativity, but it certainly can be done. Many writers have chosen to become digital nomads. They are pros at making a full-time living while traveling permanently. 

Writing about your travel experiences is obvious, and probably the most attractive way to earn an income as a location independent freelance writer.  Travel journalism has experienced rapid growth as a result of booming worldwide travel, and the growth of online travel media. However, travel writing is highly competitive and requires patience and dedication to make a living out of it.  Here are the most important tips before going location-independent:
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Your Future Lifestyle
The lifestyle will not suit everyone.  If you are not willing to leave your comfort zone or the safety (and some would say benefits) of your friends, family, or full-time job, then it’s probably not for you.  But if you want to challenge yourself, experience different parts of Canada or the world, and live an extraordinary life, then why not take the leap?

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Where to Find Writing Opportunities Online
Earning money online is not that easy, and a location independent freelance writer must actively find and create work opportunities.  Working as a freelancer is like owning a small business and it’s up to you to market yourself to clients. The good news is that there is plenty of writing work available on the internet – some well paying and others not so much.  Find magazines and websites that relate to those subjects (not only travel media outlets).  If the content of the site is supplied by a range of contributors, email them and suggest an article you would like to write.

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Read the Recommendations of Travel Editors
For a good overview of what editors recommend how to sell travel related articles and posts, check out the list of the "Lost Girls World".

BootsnAll editor, Katie Hammel
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/02/write-for-bootsnall/

New York Times’ deputy travel editor, Monica Drake
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/03/pitching-101-how-to-write-for-the-new-york-times-intransit-blog/

The Expeditioner’s founder and editor-in-chief, Matt Stabile
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/03/pitching-101-how-to-write-for-the-expeditioner/

Galavanting‘s managing editor, Joseph Hernandez
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/03/pitching-101-how-to-write-for-the-expeditioner/

Travel Belles’ publisher and editor, Margo Millure
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/04/pitching-101-how-to-write-for-the-travel-belles/

Go NOMAD‘s general edit Max Hartshorne
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/05/pitching-101-how-to-write-for-gonomad/

Travel Agent senior editor Joe Pike
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2012/02/pitch-travel-agent-magazine/

Recommend‘s managing editor Paloma Villaverde de Rico
http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2012/03/how-to-pitch-recommend/

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Learn the Techniques to Write for Newspapers/Magazines
Write newspaper-style: the inverted pyramid.  This means writing the conclusion first, details later.  GoodDocuments.com gives these tips: “Write with the “punch line” first, starting with the conclusion, rather than building up.  One way to learn to write this way is to write the section first with all the details, and then go back and start it with a lead sentence or two.”

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Edit, Edit, and Edit Even More! 
Use free editing tools such as EditMinion or PaperRater, besides using Grammarly for US English pieces.  Read your article the next day again, get the help of a beta-reader if possible to have another opinion on your article before you send it off to the editor.

Carefully read the last ten (or more) issues of these freelance writing travel websites and magazines before you pitch.  If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can read lots of magazines and newspapers for free.  Study their submission guidelines carefully.  Find out who is the current editor and send your pitch directly to him or her. Use their name in your salutation.  No one wants to be titled "Hey"...


Don't forget:
English language media outlets are covering not only America but half of the world: Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, etc. Make sure you also pitch to the English-speaking media outside of North America!
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Freelancing Platforms
Elance, Freelancer, and oDesk:  tick some boxes for "freelance writing looking for work". Setting yourself up requires minimal investment, clients are already on the site looking for writers, and the platforms handle the financial transactions.  However, these are ultra-competitive platforms, and it’s often a race to the bottom in terms of pay as they are chock full of (mainly ESL) writers who are willing to work for peanuts.  Consider them only a plan B or C to supplement the income that you derive from other sources.  The ProBlogger Job Board is also a popular place to pick up freelance writing gigs (and also lousy paid).
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Well-Paying Magazines and Newspapers
Most periodicals have a travel section.  Consider writing for these magazines with enormous readership numbers (Resource: Alliance for Audited Media), such as:

Huffington Post (43 Million/month)
Salon.com (7,7 Million / month)
Travel & Leisure 950,000 magazine readers/month
Delta Sky Magazine over 5 Million Readers/month
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Wikipedia  provides a list of American and International magazines and their paid yearly circulation:
AARP The Magazine 21,931,184
Better Homes & Gardens 7,624,505
Reader’s Digest 5,241,484
Good Housekeeping 4,396,795
National Geographic 4,001,937
People 3,690,031
Southern Living 2,824,751
O, The Oprah Magazine 2,417,589
—
The National Trust Magazine, UK 2,043,876
Mathrubhoomi, India 1,600,000
India Today 1,100,000
Australian Women’s Weekly, 470,331

Best Paying: In-Flight Magazines
Airline magazines represent a real opportunity for freelance writers.  Despite the current contractions in the airline industry, in-flight magazines still attract many readers, and they are mostly written by freelancers.  The best thing about writing for in-flight magazines is that each one is different.  Some of them – such as Sky for Delta Airlines – feature restaurant reviews, fiction stories, regular columns, and technology articles - in addition to a cornucopia of other topics.  Other in-flight magazines are focused primarily on travel, with in-depth articles on interesting destinations.

Travel pieces are a staple of in-flight magazines, but only when showing the culture and feel of the place. Airline publications also contain articles on technology, business, sports, and food, as well as lifestyle trends. Some in-flight magazines feature celebrity profiles, fiction, humor and many have regular columns.

Air Canada
http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/magazine

British Airways
http://www.bahighlife.com/

Cathay Pacific
http://www.bauermedia.com.hk/

United
http://www.Hemispheres.com

WestJet
http://www.upmagazine.com/write-us

SkyWest (SkyWest Airlines)
http://www.skywestmagazine.com

Hana Hou! (Hawaiian Airlines)
http://www.hanahou.com

A comprehensive list of 101 in-flight magazines from Air Arabia to Wizz Air can be found here (many with links directly to the magazine’s website):
http://www.itravelnet.com/travel-directory/inflight-magazines/
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Write eBooks and Paperbacks
Another way to earn money from writing while being location independent is publishing e-books.  Become an authority in something and write a resource guide or ‘how-to’ book. People respect authorities and will buy books from them if it contains valuable information on a relevant topic.

The benefits of e-books are that each of them generates a small passive income for years to come.  Once a book is published it requires little input - other than being on social media and post snippets of your book and the sales link to it.  Another great option is to post short, enticing blog articles, also with a link to your ebook or paperback. 

Or you buy Google ads:  You might have heard that Google processes over 40,000 search queries every second on average!  There is barely a better place to invest in advertisements.  I am talking about pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.  Her is how it works:

If the keywords you have chosen match what people search for, your paid ad appears next to or above organic Google search results.  When people click on the ad, they will reach your website to learn more or they will order products or services.  You can test the keywords and phrases using WordTracker, Overture Keyword Selector, or Google AdWords Keyword.  Google AdWords allows you also to target specific geographic locations.
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Use Your Blog as Portfolio
A personal blog is a popular pursuit for location-independent freelance writers. In a world where there are more freelance writers than writing assignments, an online profile adds important credibility to you as a writer.  Blogs are simple to create.  WordPress.org and Blogger are two popular platforms. Choose a title, layout, and start writing entries.

Finding topics to write about shouldn’t be a problem for a professional writer.  A blog is a great way to showcase your stories, articles, and examples of your writing.  If you are emailing newspapers, websites, and magazines with story ideas, or contacting potential clients for writing assignments, it is important to show them examples of your work.

Don’t forget to edit your blog articles as carefully as the pieces you write for sale!
Blogs can be monetized, such as through Google’s Adsense, Amazon, BlueHost, and other affiliate links, or selling a product, although don’t expect large earnings soon.  Monetizing a blog requires lots of time and steady work.
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Location Independent
If you are a location independent freelance writer then you can work from anywhere with a decent WiFi connection, but pick an inexpensive place to start. “Find your best place to live, work, and play” The Nomad List of Cities - including many Canadian cities - is a great resource as it breaks down costs and quality of life in a simple table.  This will help you budget for your first few months.

Although one of the biggest fears of becoming location independent is money, it is often cheaper than staying at home. In many nomad hot spots, you can live a great life for less than $900 per month.  By choosing an affordable place to base yourself initially, you don’t need much money to start a nomadic lifestyle – just a plane ticket, a reliable laptop, and enough savings for three months or so for living expenses.  After all, part of the journey involves making money.

Apply for Free Writer Residencies
Most writer's residencies are located in Western Canada. Think Alberta, British Columbia, and even the Yukon. Some of these free residencies are even offering fellowships or even travel grants.  Duration is between two weeks and three months and is granted every year.  So, if you missed this year's deadline, apply later for the following year.  Here are some examples of residencies you might consider for application:

http://www.kalwriters.com/residency/
https://www.stegnerhouse.ca/grantinfo.html
https://www.kogawahouse.com/wp/about-the-house/

https://www.writerstrust.com/programs/berton-house-writers-retreat/

https://www.fogoislandarts.ca/news/news/call-for-applications-fia-residencies-2021-22/


House Sitting
Don't overlook "House Sitting" for free stays (including internet) at private homes. This can be one week, one month, and even longer.  Your chores might be taking in the mail, watering the house plants, or walking the dog while the owners are on vacation or away for business.

Networking and meeting people are crucial in making it as a location independent freelance writer.  If you make the effort to meet people, you’ll come across many potential friends and mentors from all walks of life who might give advice and direct you toward work.  Try working at least some of the time in co-working spaces, and attend e-business meetings (most Nomad cities have both).  You get to know the area, meet with locals, and cook your own meals.

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Whether you are a writer, IT specialist, graphic designer, or an editor, it’s possible to remove yourself from fixed-location work and become location independent, without reducing your income. Many writers enjoy a better quality of life than had they chained themselves to one location.
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More Resources:
http://boostblogtraffic.com/write-for-magazines/
http://money.howstuffworks.com/magazine-writing.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Magazine-Writer-from-Scratch
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-for-magazines/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/5844/
http://goinswriter.com/how-to-get-published-in-a-magazine/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/writing-freelance-for-magazines/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-books/

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