Company profile: The Reliance Airways Story

As an air charter service Reliance Airways Ltd. has an interesting history that combines many generations and families of Canadian bush pilots.
Reliance Airways Ltd. was originally created by veteran bush pilot Al Louttit in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. They provided air service to remote towns, villages, prospectors, fishing and hunting lodges. Al had flown in Canada’s north for over 40 years and his son Sean followed his father’s career in aviation. Sean went on to fly exciting missions with Ken Borek Air including recent rescue flights to the South Pole.

 

In the early 1980’s Glen Wettlaufer started outfitting with Andrew Lake Lodge & Camps.

Flying a Cessna 180 on floats Glen serviced camps and guests were flown with Loon Air from Fort Smith. Loon Air was operated by Billy Bourque. Both men worked hard building their businesses and their sons’ took an early interest in outfitting and aviation.
 

Glen Wettlaufer, 1999

Tom, Ivan, Dan and Pierre - Team Reliance 2003

Both Dan Wettlaufer and Ivan Bourque acquired their commercial pilot’s licenses in the mid 1990’s and have carried on in their late fathers’ footsteps. Dan purchased Reliance Airways Ltd. from Al Loutitt in 2002.

In 2008 Reliance Airways entered into an agreement with Northwestern Air Lease Ltd. to sell (2) C-206 aircraft. Since then both companies have worked together on air charter operations.

In 2010 Ivan Bourque re-opened Loon Air and helps us with flights out of Fort Smith.

Reliance Airways operates air services from Fort Smith, NWT for tourist outfitters, resources companies and government agencies.
 

info@relianceairways.ca

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