Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Apr 26/02) - A familiar face flying a familiar plane touched down in Inuvik last week, reuniting some friends, family and machinery all with a special Delta connection.

Cecil Hansen, the first Inuvialuit pilot, landed on the runway at Mike Zubko Airport at the controls of Canadian North's Spirit of Yellowknife.

His family and friends gathered at the airport to say hello quickly before the plane was unloaded and refuelled for turnaround to Calgary, where Hansen now lives.

He started his flying career not far from where he parked the 737 on Monday.

"I started flying for Fred Carmichael in 1969," Hansen recalled. "I've known him all my life and he ran a good business."

"I think he thought I might make a good contribution to the airline, so he invited me to become a pilot."

After a year-and-a-half of lessons in the air and on the ground, Hansen had earned his wings.

He stayed on with Carmichael until 1973 when he flew south to work with Gateway Air in Edmonton.

"From there I went to work with Dome Petroleum in 1976," he said.

Hansen flew the very same 737 he brought back to Inuvik on Monday.

"I flew this airplane in 1980 for Dome," he said. "It was brand-new then."

With Dome, he flew the corporate executives back and forth from Calgary to Tuk.

"We had almost daily service to Tuk and three days a week during winter," he said.

In 1988, Hansen went to work with bush pilot Max Ward at Wardair. In 1990, he flew to Australia with Ansen where he stayed for 10 years.

He's been back in Canada with Canadian North for three months and was happy to touch down on the familiar tarmac again.

For young people considering aviation as a career, Hansen offers the following advice:

"Try hard; it's more luck than good management, but it helps to work hard and learn your trade," Hansen advises. "Eventually people will recognize you for what you are, but you still have to be lucky."