At Tofino Air: your plane is waiting
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, October 16 2006
I’ve been looking forward to this: a flight from Silva Bay to the south terminal at Vancouver YVR.
It’s starts, of course, with a call to dispatch/reservation and operations manager Graeme Ireland, who is always on top of things, in his friendly, reassuring South African accent. You never have to ask twice about the wind or worry that he is going to get something, anything, wrong.
Booked, the Tofino flight experience includes arrival in his jam-packed office at the end of the dock at the resort marina, his ear to the phone, attention diverted for a few seconds from the computer screen where columns of customer’s names are meticulously listed.
“How’s business?” I ask.
“So far this year, growth has been 15 per cent, which is excellent, nice, steady,” Ireland replied. “When we started we hoped for a five per cent increase annually.”
The “start” for Ireland was the same day as pilot Klaus Horky, February 14th, 1997. Their longevity speaks volumes. Currently the other full-time pilot is Sean Evans.
Three flights are scheduled daily (including weekends), but more are added when there’s a demand. The first, at 7:35 am, is the only one guaranteed non-stop in order to get passengers to their office in Vancouver by 8:30.
The other flights stop at DeCourcey and Thetis Islands, when required.
Tofino has three bases, including Sechelt and Tofino, all currently about the same size. The latter is often busy with scenic flights including whale watching, particularly during Humpback migration. Glaciers are another attraction along with Hot Spring Cove.
But charter flights are available at all three locations, for those who wish to set their own course, or fly on their own schedule.
The most recent news is the acquisition of a DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter, which has been completely refurbished, right down to the floats, including the turbine engine and upholstery. When all of the seats are in place it will accommodate up to 14 passengers and is utilized in all three bases, when required.
The Otter brings the Tofino Air fleet to eight aircraft, including four DeHavilland Beavers (seven passengers) and three Cessna 180s (three passengers).
The “new” plane has been here several times, including about a month ago when there was a large wedding on the island and a new course at the Haven.
Flying 99 passengers to a very large wedding on Gabriola in one day is a record here.
Ireland says population growth is one reason for the constant increase in business, along with disenchantment with BC Ferries. Tofino is far more reliable. Most of the new business is by referral.
The growing company’s customers, he said, are: “a mixed bag: doctors, loggers, tourists, government workers, consultants, engineers, boat school students, island residents and their visiting families and friends who place high value on their time.
“Some passengers fly as much as every weekday because it’s cheaper than also keeping an apartment in Vancouver.
“As well, there are children, dogs and cats and items for courier,” he added.
When Ireland arrived he wrote in the Sounder: “Tell us what you want and we will do our best to provide the service.”
Obviously he has delivered “We have concentrated on punctuality and quality of service,” he reported. “Ninety-nine per cent of the time there is a plane waiting at the dock when passengers arrive 15 minutes before flight time.”
Ireland knows all about juggling aircraft and passengers without over-booking or otherwise disappointing folks who are flying. He was a general manager for South African Airways for more than a quarter century, supervising an area of operations which included Taiwan, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
As well, he earned a medal of honour from the government of the Republic of China for outstanding service to the Chinese community, and others as a marksman and ballroom dancer.
Also no stranger to being very busy, he raised four sons with his wife, Jenny, a native of Durban, South Africa, as well.
They built Phantom Creek Horse Riding Stable on Gabriola and in his spare time he manages a boat charter service, based at Silva Bay. “The worst day of fishing is better than the best day at the office,” is its motto.
My favourite Tofino Air story is mounted on the wall of the office and was published April 28, 2005, when Gabriola resident Rob Hill made his 2,000th flight with the company, a relationship which began in January, 2001.
Researching that story, I learned that about 1,700 Beavers were made in the 1940s and ‘50s with legendary short take-off and landing capabilities and were used in 60 countries. Recognized in 1987 as one of the 10 most outstanding engineering feats in Canada in the 20th century, more than 400 still live and work in Canada.
Like Tofino Air the plane has earned a reputation for hard-working, dependability and a flight on one is a thrill for many.
The paint on the controls is hand worn and there is the reassuring, comforting and unmistakable tick of a DeHavilland Beaver, flying at 500 feet, 120 mph, on unleaded regular gas, arriving in less time than a trip on the MV Quinsam, but offering an eagle eye view of some of the best scenery on the planet.
The price of a Tofino Air flight from Silva Bay to the South Terminal is $67 plus taxes; return is $134, plus taxes. Call, 250-247-9992 or 1-800-665-2359 (toll-free in North America), or log onto TofinoAir.ca
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