Wilfred Leigh Brintnell, Canadian pilot and businessman,
following service as a pilot instructor in the First Wolrd War, worked for
the Ontario Provincial Air Service (1924-27) and Western Canada Airways
(1927-31) before establishing his own company -- MacKenzie Air Service -- at
Edmonton in 1931. Its primary purpose was to fly uranium concentrate
from Great Bear Lake to world markets by way of Edmonton but the air service
soon began flying passengers. The Cooking Lake Airport provided
important access at this time, and quickly opened up northern Canada.
Leigh Brintnell and Stan McMillan stand in front of their Bellanca
Aircruiser
with the first load of uranium concentrate brought out from Great Bear Lake.
From 1932 to 1940 Mackenzie Air Service successfully
provided both regular and unscheduled transport into the Northwest
Territory. The airline's principle aircraft were Bellanca Aircruisers
and later Noorduyn Norseman.
Noorduyn Norseman flown by MacKenzie in 1936
Early in 1936, Mackenzie Air Service, quick to realize the importance of reliable air-ground-air communications, installed modern two-way radio equipment in all of their aircraft. This equipment was capable to transmitting to and receiving from NWT&Y Radio System ground stations while in flight. This was one of the first uses of aircraft radios in Canada.
In 1940 MacKenzie Air Service was sold to Canadian
Pacific to be absorbed into the newly-formed airline.
Promotional Materials and Timetables
1 June,
1938
Luggage Label
