This former Department of Lands and Forests Turbo Beaver in Ontario was one of three of the type acquired by AirWest in 1978.The aircraft would be re-painted in AirWest's new colors only to suffer an unfortunate accident. After a forced landing, it was recovered by helicopter but dropped from altitude during the move. The remains were sold in 1984 and rebuilt in the USA as N4603U only to disappear.

Former Province of Ontario, Department of Lands and Forests Turbo Beaver (1968 - 78), C-FOEY was with AirWest / Air BC only a short time. Bought by department store Eaton's in 1981, the aircraft went to the USA as N227N in 1999. Based in Washington state ever since, the registration is current at the time of uploading.

At the great DHC-2 website of Neil Aird the location is quoted as Vancouver Coal Harbour. Photo by Kenneth I. Swartz

AirWest's newest Twin Otter in the airline's then new colors never entered service. It was instead sold to Air Inter Gabon as TR-LZO via Bannock Aerospace in December 1980. The aircraft is current at the time of uploading with Isle of Scilly Skybus as G-CBML from June 4, 2002.

Looking brand new in AirWest's latest colors, this Twin Otter first flew in November 1967. It had already worked in the Caribbean for nine years (registered N591MA, VP-VDC and C6-BDC) before coming to AirWest in 1976. The airline was renamed Air BC before the end of 1980; C-GGAW going to West Coast Air in 1996, the aircraft crashed at Vancouver Harbor on November 1, 2000. An engine failed on take-off causing a loss of control at low altitude. All 17 on board escaped uninjured before the aircraft sank. Recovered for investigation, the wreck was sold to Erwin Aero Industries for parts in 2007.

US Navy Grumman JRF-5 Goose 87744 (cn B-138) served 1945 - 52. The US Department of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service flew it as N779 1954 - 64 before the the amphibian was converted to a McKinnon G-21C Turbo Goose (new cn 1203) and sold to the Government of British Columbia as CF-BCI. Airline service was next with Air West / Air BC 1973 - 84 before uprated engines changed the aircraft to a G-21G and the it was sold to Crown Forest Industries. To Peninsula Airways (PenAir) in 1991 as N660PA , it disappeared on a flight from Anderson Bay to Unalaska in Alaska on August 11, 1996.

Airwest Airlines of Vancouver imported this Cessna 180J, C-FAWH, in 1984 for charter services. It's seen here at the Airwest's old wooden dock in the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver Harbour. In the 1980s, C-FAWH was privately-owned and based in Prince George, BC until exported to the USA in November 1986.

AirWest took delivery of three yellow-painted Turbo Beavers on wheels in late 1977 that had recently been retired by Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources (C-FOEM, C-FOEX and C-FOEY). The aircraft were outfitted with floats and repainted in AirWest colours in 1978 for use on charter and scheduled flights from Vancouver Airport and Harbour. C-FOEX was photographed at the AirWest seaplane dock in the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver Harbour in March 1979. C-FOEX was delivered new in 1967. In 2022, it was flying with Kabeelo Airways Ltd., Ear Falls, ON.

In September 1968, this former Qantas DHC-3 Otter, CF-XRI, was ferried across the Pacific from Australia to join the fleet of Airwest Airlines in Vancouver, BC. For most of the 1970s, this was the only DHC-3 Otter operating daily scheduled flights into Vancouver Harbour with its distinct engine sound distinguishing it from the more common Cessna 180/185s, DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-6 Twin Otters. AirWest was one of several coastal airlines acquired by the Jim Pattison Group to form AirBC in the early 1980s. C-FXRI now flies as a Vazar DHC-3 Turbo Otter powered by a PT6A turboprop with Osprey Wings.

Built for TABA (Transportes Aéreos Buenos Aires S.A.) in 1968, the airline failed before delivery and this Twin Otter was delivered to Mexico as XA-BOQ in November 1970. AirWest acquired the aircraft in 1978. Pictured after refurbishment and painted in their new color scheme, the airline would be renamed Air BC in October 1980. With occasional temporary leases to other local airlines, it remained in Air BC's fleet until 1996 when it was sold to West Coast Air Services. Next to J R S Sky Inc in 2011, it's current flying skydivers around the Eastern US as N137JR at the time of uploading.

Built in 1964 as N5589T. This was cancelled in Apr-1964 when it became CF-PVI. Somewhere between 1974 and 1982 it was reregistered as C-FPVI and as such it is still current in 2022.

Shipped to Australia in Apr-1958 where it was registered VH-WAZ in Aug-1958 with Qantas Empire Airways. In Sep-1960 it was reregistered as VH-SBT with TAA-Trans Australia Airlines. In Aug-1968 it went to Canada to become CF-XRI. In Dec-1980 it was reregistered as C-FXRI. Somewhere in the late 1980s/early 1990s it was converted by TC Aviation to a DHC-3T Vazar Turbo Otter with a PT6 turbine engine.

Accepted by the British AF as FP495 in May-1942 as a Goose Mk1A. In 1945 it went to the US Navy as 66351. In Apr-1947 it became civil as NC1200V (registered as a G-21A). In Jan-1949 it became N1200V. In Jan-1965 it went to Canada as CF-RQI. Retractable McKinnon wingtip-floats fitted in 1965. It sank in an accident 29-Sep-1972. After rebuilt it became N62121 by 1975. To ZK-ENY in Oct-1977, DQ-FDQ in Oct-1982, back to ZK-ENY in Dec-1984, becoming VH-ENY in Jan-1989 and in Oct-1990 HS-TOM. In 1995 it was sold to Germany where it is under long-time restoration in Landsberied, last noted in 2020.

Built in 1962 as N2637Y. Later that year it was exported to Canada as CF-NZJ. In Feb-1992 it was reregistered as C-FNZJ. It is still going strong in 2022.

Flying the first two years with several commuter airlines in the USA as N4714 and N242GW, this Twin Otter was bought by Bannock Aerospace in 1969 and registered CF-AKM. Time Air operated it until Air West acquired the aircraft in 1977. Merged into Air BC, the it was damaged in a training accident in June 1987 and was sold to Ashe Aircraft Enterprises for re-build. Many leases followed and the registration changed to C-FASQ in 2005. It's current on the Canadian register with Robinaircraft Holdings at the time of uploading.

This Otter was originally shipped by sea to De Havilland Australia at Bankerstown in April 1958. Assembled and delivered to Qantas Empire Airways August 21st, it remained in Australia until sold 10 years later. Ferried back to Canada for AirWest August 17, 1968, C-FXRI is flying in Saskatchewan with a turbine engine at the time of uploading.

Delivered to Australia in 1960a and was registered variously A95-205 / VH-PGL with the Australian Air Force / ANARE - Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition. Sold in Canada as CF-AWA for Air West, the aircraft later flew with Air BC and Baxter Aviation. Harbour Air acquired it in 2012 and in 2020 had it flying again with a PT-6 turbine conversion.

A Beaver originally delivered to Max Ward June 5, 1954 during Wardair's bush flying days. The aircraft was with Air West / Air BC 1969 to 1982 after which it was put up for sale.

One of a trio of Turbo Beavers acquired by AirWest from the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources in 1979. All were sold within a couple of years. Pictured withdrawn from service as the aircraft was registered to Eaton's Canada, a large department store chain, in February 1981.

Pictured in the new Airwest color scheme, the airline would change their name to Air BC in 1980 as several coastal British Colombia airlines merged together. This Twin Otter would fly on with several other BC airlines until coming to an untimely end in July 2007. It was destroyed when it crashed on takeoff from the gravel airstrip at Muncho Lake, BC and was consumed by a post crash fire.