BC news round up - week 9 2026

A round up of aviation news in BC/YT and with major airlines who serve BC.  As the first post, this will go back further than future posts which I intend to be weekly.  All photos my own unless stated.

If anyone has any news or photos - particularly from elsewhere in BC or Yukon - please comment or send to me via email cangloballog@gmail.com

NEW DELIVERIES

Feb 28th ... C-GMJI ... Boeing 737-8 MAX ... Air Canada [Montreal YUL]

Feb 27th ... C-GWJQ ... Boeing 737-8 MAX ... WestJet [Calgary YYC]

Feb 27th ... C-FEVX ... Airbus H130 ... Le Fevre Air Services [Victoria YYJ]

Feb 25th ... C-GWJN ... Boeing 737-8 MAX ... WestJet [Calgary YYC] (this reg used to be on a 700)

Feb 20th ... 295512 ... Airbus CC-295 Kingfisher ... RCAF 442 Squadron [Comox YQQ]

EXPORTS

Feb 23rd ... C-FKTU ... DHC 3 Turbine Otter ... Sealand Aviation [Campbell River YBL]

Feb 19th ... C-FJXL ... Beech 1900C ... Skylink Express [Toronto YYZ]

Feb 19th ... C-FJXO ... Beech 1900C ... Skylink Express [Toronto YYZ]

Feb 19th ... C-GKGA ... Beech 1900C ... Skylink Express [Toronto YYZ]

Feb 9th ... C-GKHL ... Kamov KA-32A11BC ... VIH Helicopters [Victoria YYJ]

Feb 2nd ... C-GFWP ... MD Helicopters MD520N ... Fireweed Helicopters [Whitehorse YXY]

C-FJXL & 'XO with Skylink Express [Toronto YYZ] which remained in this paint of their former operator Keewatin Air through the remainder of their lives.  While not technically part of this blog as based in Toronto and parked in Hamilton [YHM] when Skylink ceased operations in Mar 24.  They were however based at YVR operating to Kelowna and Kamloops for UPS until shut down along with a couple of Caravan's to Victoria and Nanaimo.  These flights have now been taken over by CMA.  All three have been returned to the USA registered to Raytheon.

C-GKGA painted in the final corporate livery, only a couple of aircraft ever received it.  Parked outside the pentagon terminal at Signature West now use by Summit Air

How C-GKGA looked when it first arrived in the very basic livery of Canadian Regional carrier Prince Edward Air who were taken over by Cargojet

The VIH Kamov fleet have been involuntarily grounded due to difficulty in securing spare parts.  It has been exported to South Korea where it is in widespread service with various government agencies.  

ACCIDENTS

Feb 28th ... C-GRDN ... Rutan Vari-Eze ... Private [Boundary Bay ZBB] ... Burns Bog, North Delta ... forced landing, pilot and sole occupant evacuated with minor injuries

Built in 1983, seen at the 2016 Boundary Bay Airshow when there was a large static displauy of GA types (the nose wheel intentionally retracts to allow access to the cockpit).

Feb 13th ... C-GYGK ... Aerospatiale AS350B2 AStar ... High Terrain Helicopters [Nelson Heliport HT4] ... near Mount Kubin, Nelson ... rolled over on an unplanned landing on an incline, two occupants survived with injuries

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Feb 28th ... WestJet celebrate their 30th anniversary (actually 29th) starting out with three 737-200's.  Since then they have served over 88,000,000 guests, operated over 900,000 flights and served over 50 destinations from YVR.  In that time WestJet Link in partnership with Pacific Coastal using Saab 340B's, ULCC Swoop and dedicated -800F's have come and gone, Sunwing Airlines have been acquired and became the largest operator of the now retired 737-600.

C-GBWS one of 13 -6CT models delivered on 28th Apr 2006 and retired 24th Mar 2021, it has since been partially scrapped in Marana [MZJ]

C-GPCI Saab 340B+ operated on a franchise agreement by Pacific Coastal Airlines.  Originally delivered to Mesaba Airlines for Northwest Airlink on 19th Nov 1996 and later Delta Connection, US Airways Express and PAL Airlines of St Johns [YYT].  Joined Pasco on 8th Feb 2018 and returned to them with a plain blue tail upon the end of the agreement on 26th October 2024.

C-FTWJ -804 BCF originally delivered to Britannia Scandinavia in Mar 2003.  Converted to freighter in China and faced many certification issues with Transport Canada which seemed to really kill off the Cargo program with the delays.  The aircraft is currently stored in Tucson [TUS] since 12th Apr 2025.  This reg was also worn by a -200 and -700.

C-GWJT -2H4 (ADV) was delivered to Southwest Airlines being retired 1st Oct 1996, joining WestJet on 20th Dec 1996.  It was retired in Oct 2003 and  I never saw them in service at YVR as they had just been retired when I moved here, but it is seen here in Dec 2006 when it had been handed over to BCIT as an instructional airframe.  It originally went into the former CP Britannia hangar WestJet still have today for maintenance before being moved over Russ Baker Way to their purpose built facility.  This reg was re-used on a now retired -700.

C-GISM -8 MAX delivered new to Swoop on 4th Aug 2022 and has now been merged into parent WestJet 12th Oct 2023 when the ULCC brand was closed down and is still awaiting re-paint.  Swoop never served YVR other than diversions and one off subs, but was found at Abbotsford [YXX] and Kelowna [YLW].

C-GOWG -86J in the original Sunwing Airlines livery.  It was delivered to Air Berlin on 25th Aug 2010, joining Sunwing on 24th Apr 2012 and was frequently seasonally swapped with Czech carrier Smartwings.  It remains with WestJet since 20th Jun 2025 when merged together in their final livery awaiting repaint.

Feb 27th ... British Airways announce the 787-10 will replace the 777-200ER at the Gatwick base from 2029 which presumably will serve YVR should the summer seasonal route remain by then

Feb 27th ... YVR advise taxiway AR (between new taxiway A to south terminal ramp) will be closed  from March 1st until mid April for construction of the extended cargo apron opposite the south terminal viewing platform.

Feb 24th ... Brandon noted WestJet's first two 737-10 MAX C-GOAA and C-FMWY at Renton, they will be the launch operator.

Photos taken by Brandon Siska at the Boeing factory in Renton [RNT].

Feb 24th ... Alpha Aviation announce cancellation of the annual Boundary Bay airshow

Feb 24th ... new Air Canada A321XLR sited test flying in Hamburg [HAM].  Scheduled to fly AC315/316 from Montreal [YUL] Aug 1st - Sep 7th (currently 77W).

D-AVZG to become C-GXLR taken in Hamburg - photo taken by Flickr user Tobias Gudat

Feb 23rd ... Air Canada Mexico increases include YVR - MEX increasing to 11x week & PVR increasing to 2x weekly - both will be operated by Rouge 737-8.

Feb 22nd ... Air Canada's 47 strong 737-8 MAX fleet officially begins transition to Rouge with first aircraft already complete and will received a configuration change from 16J/153Y to 12J/165Y.  Livery will remain unchanged with addition of a small operated by Rouge sticker between the main cabin door and cockpit.  The Rouge A321 fleet will be taken over by mainline and the A319/320 will be retired.

YVR routes being transferred:

Cancun [CUN] Mar 19th, Edmonton YEG Mar 5th, Huatulco HUX Apr 12th, Kelowna YLW Mar 5th, Las Vegas LAS Apr 17th, Los Angeles LAX Apr 19th, Mexico City MEX Apr 26th Miami MIA Apr 15th Puerto Vallarta PVR Apr 2nd and San Jose del Cabo SJC Apr 13th.

An artists impression is seen in this article https://paxex.aero/air-canada-rouge-737max-configuration/

Feb 21st ... ex Pacific Coastal Saab C-GPCQ is now 5Y-HIL with Hilaac Air of Somalia operating for Hilaac Air Express Kenya in full former Pasco livery.

Image of 5Y-HIL Saab 340A taken by Jubbaland TV on Facebook.  Delivered to Crossair on 7th Jan 1986 and served with a few carriers until joining Pasco on 29th Nov 2006 until 22nd Nov 2024 and was stored in YVR until 10th Mar 2025 when it went to Kenya, home is now Nairobi Wilson [WIL].  Video from Somali Spotter on Facebook at Mogadishu [MGQ] https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CHRgUGbw1/

Feb 20th ... WestJet swap 6 on order 737-10 MAX for 2 787-9 DreamLiner's.

Feb 11th ... Air Canada order 10 firm + 10 options A350-1000 to enter service second half 2030.  As a replacement for the A330, presumably it will show up at YVR at least on domestic rotations.

Image provided by Air Canada in their press release

Feb 8th ... last ever departure from YVR to Kelowna of KF Aerospace Convair 580, later departed to Red Deer [YDF] purchased by Buffalo for parts.  Just one stretched 5800 remains with the ATR 72-500.

C-GKFF in the final livery operating for Purolator Courier from Victoria [YYJ], Kelowna [YLW] and Kamloops [YKA].  Delivered new to new Pan Am as a piston 340 way back in 1954.  72 years constant service - well done old girl...

Feb 2nd ... Summit Air take over the pentagon terminal building at Signature West as a dedicated terminal with a Dash 8-300 and ARJ-100 serving Terrace YXT for Newmont serving the Red Chris and Brucejack mines.  2nd -300 C-FHIG taken on lease from Avmax (though not the 2nd 300 they have operated in the past).  This aircraft is now stranger to YVR having been with CMA as C-GRUR.

C-FHIG with black nacelles of previous operator Fly Angola, second image as I saw it as such when stored with lessor Avmax in Calgary [YYC] last summer.  Originally delivered to Brymon Airways as G-BRYI even before they were a BA franchisee on 26th Mar 1991.

Previous operator before Angola was CMA as C-GRUR

INTERESTING VISITORS - foreign registered and rare bizjets and non scheduled visitors

Feb 27th ... XA-JCV ... Hawker 800XP ... Aeroservicios AOV [Toluca TLC]

Feb 26th ... XA-GSS ... Cessna 680A Citation Latitude ... Aerolineas Executivas [Toluca TLC]

Feb 24th ... N417NL ... Bombardier Challenger 850 ... Cirrus Aviation [Las Vegas Henderson HSH]

Feb 23rd ... N82BD ... Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 ... U-Haul [Phoenix PHX] 

Photo taken by King Hui

Feb 23rd ... D-AERO ... Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 ... VistaJet Germany [Hamburg HAM]

Photo taken by King Hui

Feb 22nd ... XA-HSS ... Canadair Challenger 601-3A ... Performance Air SAPI [Toluca TLC]

Feb 22nd ... 9H-VJR ... Bombardier Global 6000 ... VistaJet Malta [Malta MLA]

Feb 20th ... N410DM ... Cessna 560 Citation V ... JMP Aircraft Services [Wasilla WWA]

Feb 18th ... N211HS ... Gulfstream G700 ... Howard Schultz (Seattle BFI]

Feb 18th ... N703CD ... Hawker 900XP ... Cirrus Aviation [Las Vegas Henderson HSH]

Feb 14th ... XA-ESE ... Gulfstream G450 ... Cosmopolitan Air Transportation [Toluca TLC]

Feb 14th ... A7-CHF ... Gulfstream G700 ... Qatar Executive [Doha DOH]

Feb 14th ... PR-GVI ... Gulfstream G650ER ... EMS [Campo dos Amarais CPQ]

Feb 12th ... VP-CMB ... Gulfstream G550 ... Premium Jet [Tel Aviv TLV]

Feb 12th ... 144618 ... Bombardier CC-144C Challenger ... RCAF 412 Squadron [Trenton YTR]

Feb 10th ... XA-IDD ... Pilatus PC-12/45 ... Aeroservicios Azteca [Monterrey MTY]

Feb 9th ... XA-ALV ... Gates Learjet 35A ... Personas Y Paquetes Por Aire [Guadalajara GDL]

Feb 8th ... N971GS ... Cessna 501 Citation I/SP ... ED Santos & Assoc [Wilmington ILN]

Feb 8th ... N777MX ... Cessna 650 Citation III ... DBR Fly [Denver Centennial APA]

Feb 1st ... XA-GCH ... Gulfstream G550 ... Comercial Aerea [Chihuahua CUU]

Honorable mention to Pitt Meadows [YPK]

Feb 24th ... C-GNPS ... DHC 6 Twin Otter 300 ... Air Tindi [Yellowknife YZF]

The new base at Pitt has seen the Dash 7 for glass cockpit mods by Maxcraft, but this is the first time I have seen one of their Twin Otter's there.  One reg all it's life which started in 1978 with Austin Airways and with Tindi since 1991

Feb 24th ... C-GSFB ... Beech 76 Duchess ... Vayu Aviation [Kamloops YKA]

Thank you for reading.  Please follow my blog and share with any who may be interested.  I will seek to do this once a week.