Prior to the Pacific Western Air 737s into Castlegar how large were the predecessor airliners into that difficult airport? I cannot find too much that goes back to the sixties and early seventies. I knew that the early days were hell for the airlines with cancellations due to the weather.

Did any Vickers Viscounts or Vickers Vanguards fly to Castlegar? Other Turboprops like Convair 640, Bristol Brittania, Canadair CL-44 or Lockheed Electra? How about piston engines like Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6 or DC-7s?

I know they are no longer "airliners" but Convair 580'a & Lockheed Electra Air Tankers both operate out of Castlegar during fire season.

I have learned that CPA operated a DC6 from Vancouver through Castlegar to YYC and back to YVR. Later starting in 1969 B.C. Airlines Limited flew a Nord 262 turboprop into YCG. Then PWA bought B.C. Airlines and continued to operate the Nord 26 until mid 1971. PWA flew a Convair 640 turboprop to Castlegar and then the Boeing 737-200. I suppose that makes the DC-6 the largest scheduled airliner in the pre - 737 era. I heard but cannot confirm that a jet larger than the 737 once made an unscheduled landing at YGC but I guess that will stay folklore and mystery.

Canadian Pacific DC-3s, DC-6Bs & Convairs. Here's some schedules:

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/com ... p66-09.jpg

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cp62/

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cp59/

ghYHZ wrote:

Canadian Pacific DC-3s, DC-6Bs & Convairs. Here's some schedules:

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/com ... p66-09.jpg

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cp62/

http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cp59/

Very cool. Thanks for the blast from the past.

Interesting thread. Here is an article that appeared in the local news recently about the problems of weather at Castlegar and steps to be taken to remedy much of the situation:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4251044

It is possible that an Air Canada B727-200 has visited YCG as a charter flight during an election campaign.

Neat ; is the727-200 the largest airliner that could land there? I imagine it had little or zero stowed cargo and less than full PAX capacity. I wonder if a bigger airliner could land with no PAX and minimal fuel? I guess an emergency landing would always have less than optimal weight consideration.

HJM wrote:

It is possible that an Air Canada B727-200 has visited YCG as a charter flight during an election campaign.

I ran this question on an internal AC pilot forum, and no one remembers such an operation. Having flown election campaign aircraft in the past, they are flown to a very rigid schedule. That being the case, I would be surprised that YCG would be considered as a campaign stop, as the weather minima required would make it less than a sure thing. Especially during the days of 727 operations equipped with only VOR/ADF/ILS.

aristoenigma wrote:

Neat ; is the727-200 the largest airliner that could land there? I imagine it had little or zero stowed cargo and less than full PAX capacity. I wonder if a bigger airliner could land with no PAX and minimal fuel? I guess an emergency landing would always have less than optimal weight consideration.

Technically, with a 5000' runway, I would guess that with the right load, just about anything could fly in there. If an emergency arose, there are better options than YCG close by.

I believe in the 1990's an Air Canada DC-9 made a campaign stop in YCG for the Liberal party.

longhauler wrote:

aristoenigma wrote:

Neat ; is the727-200 the largest airliner that could land there? I imagine it had little or zero stowed cargo and less than full PAX capacity. I wonder if a bigger airliner could land with no PAX and minimal fuel? I guess an emergency landing would always have less than optimal weight consideration.

Technically, with a 5000' runway, I would guess that with the right load, just about anything could fly in there. If an emergency arose, there are better options than YCG close by.

I suspect you are right about any type getting in with the right load but getting out would likely be an issue with some aircraft, even with an empty plane.

Here is a link to a 1983 Flying article referencing Pacific Western Airlines. It mostly talks about 727-100 in the arctic but has a reference to 737-200 ops into YCG. I can't imagine anything bigger going in there simply because of the complexity of the approach and the fact there is a large mountain in the way on takeoff.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=8BVI6sNpT4wC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=pacific+western+airlines+727-100+castlegar&source=bl&ots=IBhbrCU5qN&sig=-0ZCj0aMU9nU5q-PM31Fi9IJTfg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjA_7X69u3VAhWLj1QKHW4OBJYQ6AEIWzAK#v=onepage&q&f=false

cumulushumilis wrote:

Here is a link to a 1983 Flying article referencing Pacific Western Airlines. It mostly talks about 727-100 in the arctic but has a reference to 737-200 ops into YCG. I can't imagine anything bigger going in there simply because of the complexity of the approach and the fact there is a large mountain in the way on takeoff.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=8BVI6sNpT4wC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=pacific+western+airlines+727-100+castlegar&source=bl&ots=IBhbrCU5qN&sig=-0ZCj0aMU9nU5q-PM31Fi9IJTfg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjA_7X69u3VAhWLj1QKHW4OBJYQ6AEIWzAK#v=onepage&q&f=false

As already mentioned, Canadian Pacific operated the DC-6B to YCG for some years on their milk-run route between YVR and YYC. Until flights to AMS began including stops in YYC, that was CP's only flight to YYC for quite a few years. The DC-6B replaced the Convair 240 if memory correct.

I flew on that DC-6B flight once all the way YYC-YVR just for fun one day, on a 50% youth standby fare when I was around 18. It would have been about 1965 as I moved to YVR in 1966. I lived in Edmonton and remember flying on the Pacific Western "Airbus" service from the now closed downtown YXD airport in Edmonton to YYC. That was also a DC-6B then, and connected to the CP DC-6B that left at 1330 per a 1965 timetable after turning around from the eastbound flight. It stopped first at Cranbrook, then the old airport right in the middle of the town next to the CPR tracks, then the short hop to Castlegar. The next stop was either Kelowna or Penticton (it stopped at Penticton 4 days a week and Kelowna 3 days a week). Can't remember where it stopped that day. Then on to YVR. Then nonstop back to YEG on AC, probably on a Viscount.

Although not as heavy as the 737-200, the DC-6B was over 5 feet longer (105'7" vs. 100'2") and the wingspan was over 14 feet greater (117'6" vs. 93').

longhauler wrote:

HJM wrote:

It is possible that an Air Canada B727-200 has visited YCG as a charter flight during an election campaign.

I ran this question on an internal AC pilot forum, and no one remembers such an operation. Having flown election campaign aircraft in the past, they are flown to a very rigid schedule. That being the case, I would be surprised that YCG would be considered as a campaign stop, as the weather minima required would make it less than a sure thing. Especially during the days of 727 operations equipped with only VOR/ADF/ILS.

IIRC, the year was 1984, the Progressive Conservatives lead by Brian Mulroney used a chartered Air Canada B727 around the country. It may be that YCG was not the airport but YXC instead.

Viscount724 wrote:

As already mentioned, Canadian Pacific operated the DC-6B to YCG for some years on their milk-run route between YVR and YYC. Until flights to AMS began including stops in YYC, that was CP's only flight to YYC for quite a few years. The DC-6B replaced the Convair 240 if memory correct.

I flew on that DC-6B flight once all the way YYC-YVR just for fun one day, on a 50% youth standby fare when I was around 18. It would have been about 1965 as I moved to YVR in 1966. I lived in Edmonton and remember flying on the Pacific Wstern "Airbus" service from the now closed downtown YXD airport in Edmonton to YYC. That was also a DC-6B then, and connected to the CP DC-6B that left at 1330 per a 1965 timetable after turning around from the eastbound flight. It stopped first at Cranbrook, then the old airport right in the middle of the town next to the CPR tracks, then the short hop to Castlegar. The next stop was either Kelowna or Penticton (it stopped at Penticton 4 days a week and Kelowna 3 days a week). Can't remember where it stopped that day. Then on to YVR. Then nonstop back to YEG on AC, probably on a Viscount.

Although not as heavy as the 737-200, the DC-6B was over 5 feet longer (105'7" vs. 100'2") and the wingspan was over 14 feet greater (117'6" vs. 93').

I suppose Air Canada /Trans Canada Airlines never flew any milk run to YCG in those days. Not profitable or maybe protected by the Canadian Government. I wonder had they would they have flown in with a Vickers Viscount or even a Canadair North Star?

aristoenigma wrote:

Viscount724 wrote:

As already mentioned, Canadian Pacific operated the DC-6B to YCG for some years on their milk-run route between YVR and YYC. Until flights to AMS began including stops in YYC, that was CP's only flight to YYC for quite a few years. The DC-6B replaced the Convair 240 if memory correct.

I flew on that DC-6B flight once all the way YYC-YVR just for fun one day, on a 50% youth standby fare when I was around 18. It would have been about 1965 as I moved to YVR in 1966. I lived in Edmonton and remember flying on the Pacific Wstern "Airbus" service from the now closed downtown YXD airport in Edmonton to YYC. That was also a DC-6B then, and connected to the CP DC-6B that left at 1330 per a 1965 timetable after turning around from the eastbound flight. It stopped first at Cranbrook, then the old airport right in the middle of the town next to the CPR tracks, then the short hop to Castlegar. The next stop was either Kelowna or Penticton (it stopped at Penticton 4 days a week and Kelowna 3 days a week). Can't remember where it stopped that day. Then on to YVR. Then nonstop back to YEG on AC, probably on a Viscount.

Although not as heavy as the 737-200, the DC-6B was over 5 feet longer (105'7" vs. 100'2") and the wingspan was over 14 feet greater (117'6" vs. 93').

I suppose Air Canada /Trans Canada Airlines never flew any milk run to YCG in those days. Not profitable or maybe protected by the Canadian Government. I wonder had they would they have flown in with a Vickers Viscount or even a Canadair North Star?

AC/TCA had no traffic rights to those points. They were a CP monopoly for many years, until they were transferred to Pacific Western around 1969 as part of a deal that gave CP somewhat more access to the Canadian transcon routes where their rights had previously been very limited.

Viscount724 wrote:

aristoenigma wrote:

Viscount724 wrote:

As already mentioned, Canadian Pacific operated the DC-6B to YCG for some years on their milk-run route between YVR and YYC. Until flights to AMS began including stops in YYC, that was CP's only flight to YYC for quite a few years. The DC-6B replaced the Convair 240 if memory correct.

I flew on that DC-6B flight once all the way YYC-YVR just for fun one day, on a 50% youth standby fare when I was around 18. It would have been about 1965 as I moved to YVR in 1966. I lived in Edmonton and remember flying on the Pacific Wstern "Airbus" service from the now closed downtown YXD airport in Edmonton to YYC. That was also a DC-6B then, and connected to the CP DC-6B that left at 1330 per a 1965 timetable after turning around from the eastbound flight. It stopped first at Cranbrook, then the old airport right in the middle of the town next to the CPR tracks, then the short hop to Castlegar. The next stop was either Kelowna or Penticton (it stopped at Penticton 4 days a week and Kelowna 3 days a week). Can't remember where it stopped that day. Then on to YVR. Then nonstop back to YEG on AC, probably on a Viscount.

Although not as heavy as the 737-200, the DC-6B was over 5 feet longer (105'7" vs. 100'2") and the wingspan was over 14 feet greater (117'6" vs. 93').

I suppose Air Canada /Trans Canada Airlines never flew any milk run to YCG in those days. Not profitable or maybe protected by the Canadian Government. I wonder had they would they have flown in with a Vickers Viscount or even a Canadair North Star?

AC/TCA had no traffic rights to those points. They were a CP monopoly for many years, until they were transferred to Pacific Western around 1969 as part of a deal that gave CP somewhat more access to the Canadian transcon routes where their rights had previously been very limited.

Thanks Viscount. Was there a period of years that AC/TCA, especially after WW2, flew to points that were eventually exclusive to CP Air? I read that Penticton had early service from both TCA and CPA. Was there a date that the Canadian government drew the lines on territorial protection?

When I saw the title, I honestly thought this was an airport in Ireland...until I saw the YCG. Had me completely fooled, not to mention confused

I recall it is referred to as 'Cancel-gar'
Only flew into it once on a Dash 8 - quite an exciting approach..
.. I heard the issue was climb performance in the event of a missed approach.. especially if icing is involved or loss of an engine..
There is a lot of 'cumulo-granite' surrounding it..