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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1365.PDF
August ifh, 1949 FLIGHT 129 A newly delivered Beaver and, in the background, a Norseman, awaiting their crews for the flight to their operating base. BUSH FLYING IN MANITOBA that the Vedettes had all been disposed of and replaced by four new cabin aircraft. During the early days of the service the Manitoba Government made it a policy to be completely self-con- tained. It took on the best available maintenance staff and built up a workshops and stores organization so that it was able to handle almost any type of repair work that happened to come along. It is significant that there has not been a single fatal accident in the history of the concern. In the course of its duties difficult times have been experi- enced. The great forest fires which broke out during the dry summer of 1940 caused much overwork and strain on the part of the organization. Naturally, too, the second world war placed a further strain and drain on personnel. During the same year a system whereby aircraft were to be based at the various survey camps was inaugurated to help relieve the pressure of work. It proved extremely satis- factory and, used in conjunction with a radio network set up at about the same time, helped considerably in giving early warning and protection against forest fires. Thus the Manitoba Government aircraft took a leading place in Canadian aviation. An extension of duties followed expansion and several new forms of employment were found. Some of the work is worthy of description in more detail. In connection with fire fighting, for instance, the Air Service Patrol now keeps a full-time lookout for out- breaks and, when spotted, radios back to base where men are immediately directed to the exact location. In some cases where direct overland approach is impossible, the Service will fly in men, supplies and equipment, and in the event of fire-fighting parties being temporarily cut off the aircraft are able to direct operations from the air. Very valuable work is done in a quite different field, namely, transplanting beavers to areas where they are scarce. These animals are taken by air, in such machines as the Fairchild Husky, the Norseman, the D.H. Moth, or latterly the D.H. Beaver, all of which types are in active service with the Manitoba Government Air Service. The animals are contained in wire cages and are released over the side of the aircraft after it has landed on a stretch of water close to the area to be stocked. A some^ what similar type of work is the '' planting'' of young fish. These have to be carried in specially designed tanks with oxygen supplied to the water. In this case they The Director of Manitoba Government Air Services, Mr. J. Uhlman, seen with his pilot and mechanic, transmits instructions by radio.
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