Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Apr 30/99) - At 31-years-old, Carl Falsnes is set to embark on a new phase of life with his father Olav.

The two men, with long histories in Northern aviation, have become the new management in flight operations and maintenance at Arctic Wings, taking over from the previous owners, the Carmichael family.

Though the Carmichaels will still be somewhat involved with the company, it will be less hands-on than the past.

"We all came to the conclusion we should all work together and Fred said he's not 18 any more," Carl says with a laugh.

"Fred will be here. He will fly but he doesn't want the headache of it all so he'll work with us."

Olav was director of maintenance at Aklak Air for more than a decade before moving to the same position at Arctic Wings and then at Beau Del Air.

Carl has similarly put in many years of aviation service in Inuvik, starting with Aklak Air and later being the first hired pilot at Arctic Wings in 1992.

He moved south to work for a larger carrier for one year. Then Carl returned North with the intention of fixing up a plane and starting a company.

"I got so busy flying around here, that my plane ended up on the pole in front of the hospital," he says.

Carl was rebuilding the engine on the landmark Cessna 170 which is now a monument atop a pole by the Western Arctic visitors centre. His original plan was that it be used in his company, Northern Service Air Link, a company Carl has owned for the past few years.

He got busy with other work and realized he wouldn't be leaving Inuvik and the GNWT offered him cash for the plane.

That was the clincher.

Though no major change is definite in the short term at Arctic Wings, Olav says more twin engine and float plane service is likely in the future.

The company has two Cessna 207s and two Cessna 206s.

So far, there are four scheduled flights a day to Aklavik. And plans for three scheduled flights a day to Fort McPherson are on the horizon for the three pilots in addition to both Carl and Olav.

"We went to start rebuilding it," Carl says of Arctic Wings.

"It had Navahos, Islanders, (and) small mid-size piston engine twins."

Carl's partner, Darina Falsnes, is active with the company helping manage the administration side of the business and Carl says Judi Falsnes may help out when she is not active in her other businesses.

"It's going to be a family business," he says.

"Just like it has been with the Carmichaels."