West Wind Aviation
A Beechcraft Super King Air at Cambridge Bay Airport
IATA ICAO Callsign
— WEW[1] WESTWIND[1]
Founded1983
Ceased operations2021
AOC #12604[2]
HubsSaskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
Focus citiesRegina, Prince Albert
Fleet size3[3]
DestinationsSaskatoon, Regina
HeadquartersSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
Key peopleMichael Rodyniuk (President & CEO)
Websitehttp://www.westwindaviation.ca http://www.expressairclub.ca

West Wind Aviation Limited Partnership was a Saskatchewan based airline.

Destinations

West Wind hangar in Regina

Under its ExpressAir banner, West Wind formerly offered scheduled service between Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Service in northern Saskatchewan and Nunavut were provided under the Pronto Airways banner. In 2015 West Wind Aviation absorbed Osprey Wings which was established in 1979.[4]

Its main commercial rival was Prince Albert-based Transwest Air which became a subsidiary of West Wind Aviation July 1, 2016, and all scheduled flights are operated by Transwest.

In January 2021, it was announced West Wind Aviation will be merged with Transwest Air and renamed Rise Air.[5]

Fleet

As of February 2020, West Wind Aviation had the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada.[3]

West Wind Aviation
Aircraft Number Variants Notes
ATR 42 3 300 series, 320 series 44/46 passengers.
Beechcraft 1900 n/a 1900C, 1900D 19 passengers, and is versatile enough to land on gravel and pavement airstrips. Not listed by Transport Canada.
Beechcraft Super King Air n/a 200 series 8 passengers, MEDIVAC capable. Not listed by Transport Canada.
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter n/a 300 series 19 passengers. Not listed by Transport Canada.

In addition the Transport Canada site lists a Cessna 414 and three Cessna 401s (one Cessna 401 and two Cessna 401B) with cancelled certificates.[3]

Aviation services

West Wind operates fixed-base operations at the Saskatoon and Regina airports under Shell Canada's AeroCentre franchise.[6] Under the International Air Services brand, West Wind provides airport terminal services to charter and international airlines at the Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg airports.[7] In addition, under the Lancaster Fuel brand, the company provides aviation fuel to smaller airports and private operators in the province.[8]

Accidents

Repercussions

On December 22, 2017, West Wind Aviation's air operator certificate was suspended by Transport Canada. Transport Canada cited the reason in a news release stating that the airline has deficiencies in its safety management system. Transport Canada also mentioned that the airline lost its Operator Certificate in the interest of public safety. "In the interest of public safety, Transport Canada suspended West Wind Aviation's Air Operator Certificate and will not allow the company to resume its commercial air service until it demonstrates compliance with aviation safety regulations".[10]

Transport Canada reinstated West Wind's license to operate on May 8, 2018. Operations have since resumed.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 2023-05-04. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-02-27. West Wind Aviation: WEW, WESTWIND
  2. ^ Transport Canada (2019-08-28), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. ^ a b c "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for West Wind Aviation". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  4. ^ "Osprey Wings". Airline History. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Two northern Saskatchewan airlines rebrand, consolidate to 'stay alive'". Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. ^ "West Wind Aviation – Now You're Getting Somewhere". Westwindaviation.ca. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  7. ^ "West Wind Aviation – Now You're Getting Somewhere". Westwindaviation.ca. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  8. ^ "West Wind Aviation – Now You're Getting Somewhere". Westwindaviation.ca. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  9. ^ "All 25 passengers on crashed Fond-du-Lac flight 'accounted for' but some require air ambulance, RCMP say". cbc.ca. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  10. ^ Canada, Transport. "Transport Canada suspends West Wind Aviation's Air Operator Certificate – Canada.ca". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  11. ^ Canada, Transport. "Transport Canada reinstates West Wind Aviation's Air Operator Certificate – Canada.ca". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

External links

Media related to West Wind Aviation at Wikimedia Commons

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