# North Coast Air Services > defunct airline (Canada) **Wikidata**: [Q101817599](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101817599) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/north-coast-air-services ## Summary North Coast Air Services was a defunct regional airline based in Canada that operated from 1951 until its dissolution in 1993. Headquartered in the port city of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the airline utilized Prince Rupert Airport as its primary hub. Over its four-decade history, the commercial organization operated a diverse fleet of aircraft tailored for regional and coastal transport. ## Key Facts - **Entity Type:** Defunct regional airline and business organization. - **Inception:** 1951. - **Dissolution Date:** 1993. - **Headquarters:** Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. - **Airline Hub:** Prince Rupert Airport. - **Country:** Canada. - **Callsign:** NORTH COAST. - **ICAO Airline Designator:** NCC. - **Aliases:** Northcoast, Northcoast Air Services. - **Fleet (Historical):** - **Bristol 170:** 1 aircraft (operated May 11, 1966 – May 16, 1969). - **Grumman G-73 Mallard:** Operated until 1980 and 1988. - **de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver:** Operated (dates unspecified). - **Curtiss C-46 Commando:** 2 aircraft (operated 1976 – 1982). - **Douglas DC-3:** 1 aircraft (operated 1970 – 1975). - **Fairchild F-11 Husky:** 1 aircraft (operated until 1987). - **Cessna 180 Skywagon:** Operated (dates unspecified). - **Cessna 185 Skywagon:** Operated until 1981. - **Cessna 310 / 320:** 1 aircraft (operated 1981 – 1983). - **De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter:** 1 aircraft (operated starting in 1986). ## FAQs **Where was North Coast Air Services based?** The airline was headquartered in Prince Rupert, a port city located on Kaien Island within the North Coast Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. It maintained its operations hub at the Prince Rupert Airport. **What type of aircraft did North Coast Air Services operate?** The airline operated a diverse fleet of aircraft over its 42-year history. This included larger transport planes like the Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas DC-3, amphibious aircraft such as the Grumman G-73 Mallard, and smaller utility planes including the Cessna 180 Skywagon and the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver. **When did North Coast Air Services operate?** The airline was established in 1951 and continued its commercial aviation operations until it was dissolved in 1993. ## Why It Matters North Coast Air Services played a significant role in regional connectivity for the North Coast of British Columbia for over four decades. Operating out of the strategic port city of Prince Rupert, the airline provided essential air transport infrastructure in a rugged coastal region. The organization's sustained 42-year operational history demonstrates its importance in linking remote communities and supporting the economic activities of northwestern Canada. Its reliance on specialized aircraft like the amphibious Grumman G-73 Mallard and rugged bush planes underscores the specific logistical challenges the airline overcame to provide continuous service in the Pacific Northwest. ## Notable For - Operating continuously for over 40 years as a regional carrier in British Columbia. - Maintaining a diverse fleet tailored for coastal environments, including amphibious aircraft (Grumman G-73 Mallard) and classic bush planes (de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter). - Serving as a key aviation entity headquartered in the major port city of Prince Rupert. - Utilizing historically significant aircraft models such as the Curtiss C-46 Commando and the Douglas DC-3 for regional transport. ## Body ### Location and Base of Operations North Coast Air Services was situated in Prince Rupert, a port city on Kaien Island within the province of British Columbia, Canada. Prince Rupert lies within the North Coast Regional District on the Pacific coast, situated next to the Prince Rupert Harbour at coordinates 54.312194444444, -130.32708333333. Founded by Charles Melville Hays on March 10, 1910, the city had a population of 12,220 according to the 2016 census and covers an area of 54.93 square kilometres. The airline specifically utilized the Prince Rupert Airport as its central hub for flight operations. ### Corporate Classification and Identifiers The airline functioned as an economic entity and juridical person classified as a regional airline and business. In professional aviation contexts, it was identified by the ICAO airline designator "NCC" and used the callsign "NORTH COAST." It was also known by the aliases "Northcoast" and "Northcoast Air Services." ### Fleet History and Aircraft Operations Over its operational lifespan, North Coast Air Services operated a varied fleet of ten distinct aircraft models to support its regional routes: * **Bristol 170:** 1 unit was operated for exactly three years, from May 11, 1966, to May 16, 1969. * **Grumman G-73 Mallard:** Amphibious aircraft operated with recorded service ending around 1980 and 1988. * **Curtiss C-46 Commando:** 2 units were operated from 1976 to 1982. * **Douglas DC-3:** 1 unit was operated from 1970 to 1975. * **De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter:** 1 unit began operation in 1986. * **Fairchild F-11 Husky:** 1 unit was operated until 1987. * **Cessna 310 / 320:** 1 unit was operated from 1981 to 1983. * **Cessna 185 Skywagon:** Operated until 1981. * **de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver:** Operated (specific dates unavailable). * **Cessna 180 Skywagon:** Operated (specific dates unavailable). ### Historical Timeline and Dissolution The airline was established in 1951. It provided aviation services from its Prince Rupert hub for over four decades before ceasing operations. The organization was officially dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 1993. ### Media and Records The airline maintains an archival footprint, categorized under the Wikimedia Commons category "North Coast Air Services," which includes an image of a Bristol 170 aircraft from the airline's fleet. The entity has a sitelink count of 1 across Wikipedia language versions.