Make your way down the dock at the Campbell River floatplane terminal on Vancouver Island; the Beaver floatplane sits steps away on the water. The pilot greets you and tosses a pair of earmuffs—as soon as he starts the engine, you’ll need them. Then the plane is taxiing out into the open water. There’s a sudden surge of speed and you rise up from the water’s surface—the Corilair Historic Passenger Participation Mail Flight has taken off.
You are now part of the Corilair crew going about the daily business of delivering people, supplies and mail via floatplane to coastal BC’s remote communities. Passengers from the world over fly on these mailruns, usually 90 minutes to three hours en route. The breathtaking scenery of coastal BC stretches out below—an endless row of snowcapped mountains, waterways, inlets and islands painted green by a sea of trees. Hey, is that a grizzly bear down there?
The Corilair is the only Canada Post-contracted floatplane operator flying the mail to five off-the-grid sites, all dating back to the pioneer settling of coastal BC: Port Neville, Blind Channel, Stuart Island, Refuge Cove and Surge Narrows.
Time for your first stop: Refuge Cove, home to about 25 families and the only fuel dock in Desolation Sound. You make a quick mail drop, chat with some local residents and then it’s off to Surge Narrows. Last, you touch down in Big Bay, a perfect lunch stop thanks to a gourmet restaurant and delectable bakery.
