| Airline: | Ontario Central Airlines Nunasi-Central Airlines |
| Icao: | NUN |
| Callsign: | NUNASI |
| Founded: | 1947 |
| Commenced: | 1957 |
| Ceased: | 1991 |
| Bases: | Kenora Airport |
| Fleet Size: | 22 (1963) |
| Destinations: | Ball Lake Airport, Red Lake Airport |
| Key People: | Don Watson Barney E. Lamm Rex A. Kiteley Stanley Matthew Deluce |
Ontario Central Airlines was a Canadian airline headquartered in Kenora, Ontario. It was founded in 1947 and served the Kenora District. It operated a wide range of aircraft, ranging from outdated passenger planes like the Douglas DC-3 to small bush planes like the Noorduyn Norseman.
The airline was renamed Nunasi-Central Airlines in 1984 and Nunasi-Northland Airlines in 1987. It ceased operations in 1991.
Ontario Central Airlines was founded in 1947,[1] starting with two Fairchild 82 aircraft.[2] Founded as a charter airline, Ontario Central introduced its first scheduled services in 1957, having purchased a Beechcraft 18 (CF-KIA). The first two routes were from Kenora to Winnipeg, Manitoba and return, and from Kenora to Fort Frances, Atikokan and Fort William and return. These services were discontinued in the summer of 1958.[3]
In 1963, its president was Barney E. Lamm and its vice president was Rex A. Kiteley. In 1976, the airline was bought by entrepreneur Stanley Matthew Deluce.[4]
A large number of Ontario Central Airlines' aircraft were Noorduyn Norseman bush planes. One specific Norseman, CF-OBE, was completely metalized using metal from the wings of another Norseman, CF-UUD, thus making it one of two all-metal Norseman planes, the other being CF-UUD. CF-OBE suffered substantial damage while attempting to land at Birch Lake Lodge, 120 kilometers north of Red Lake, in 2004. As of 2005, the wreckage is still ashore at Birch Lake Lodge.[5]
In December 1984,[6] Ontario Central Airlines was renamed Nunasi-Central Airlines.[7] Nunasi-Central Airlines was allocated the ICAO Code NUN and used the callsign NUNASI.[8] In 1987, Nunasi-Central Airlines was renamed Nunasi-Northland Airlines.
Nunasi-Northland Airlines ceased operations in 1991.[9] Several of its former aircraft survived into the 21st century, and some are now in the hands of private collectors and other airlines. Others are on display in aviation museums, such as CF-AXL, a Fairchild 82 that is currently preserved at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.
The airline operated amphibious flights from Kenora, Ball Lake, and Red Lake in Ontario. The airline also engaged in aerial advertising and pest control services.[10]
Ontario Central Airlines operated a maintenance facility in Redditt. It was a former Canadian National Railway roundhouse that was extensively modified to fit the needs of the airline. The switch yard was used as a landing strip for wheel aircraft after the tracks had been pulled. the inflow to Corn Lake was dredged, and a control dam was constructed at the outflow of Ena Lake to ensure an adequate water depth for the landing of amphibious aircraft, which were then towed by a dolly to the roundhouse for maintenance.
Over its 44-year existence, Ontario Central Airlines and its successors operated the following aircraft in its fleet, many of which were surplus military aircraft:
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Last retired | Notes | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairchild 82 | 2 | 1947 | 1954 | First aircraft purchased | ||
| Noorduyn Norseman | 25 | 1947 | 1986 | Highest number of planes in the fleet | [11] | |
| Stinson Reliant | 1 | 1954 | Unknown | [12] | ||
| Beechcraft 18 | 4 | 1957 | 1990 | [13] [14] [15] | ||
| Cessna 180 | 5 | c. 1963 | After 1970 | |||
| Piper PA-18 Super Cub | 1 | c. 1963 | After 1970 | |||
| Piper PA-23 Apache | 1 | c. 1963 | Unknown | |||
| Grumman G-21 Goose | 3 | c. 1963 | c. 1984 | [16] | ||
| Curtiss Wright C-46 | 6 | Unknown | Unknown | [17] | ||
| Douglas DC-3 | 5 | c. 1965 | 1991 | [18] [19] [20] [21] | ||
| Consolidated PBY-5A Canso | 1 | 1965 | 1992 | Former RCAF aircraft; airworthy as of 2001 | [22] | |
| De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter | 2 | 1977 | 1986 | [23] | ||
| De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver | 1 | 1981 | 1985 | [24] |