In an operation rarely seen, Billings Flying Service this week turned heads in Yellowknife when they were called upon by well-known operator Buffalo Airways (as seen in the show Ice Pilots) to retrieve one of the company’s CL-215s that became stranded after an incident during recent aerial firefighting operations in Yellowknife during one of the worst fire seasons in recent years for Canada when the aircraft struck a submerged log during a dip.
The aircraft was able to be limped ashore by its skilled crew to prevent further damage while companies gathered and planned for several weeks on how to best recover the aircraft.
Billings Flying Service, along with assistance from Acasta Heli Flight. Airborne Solutions and the team at Buffalo Airways were able to secure the aircraft to be lifted from the incident location after the aircraft’s engines were removed and the aircraft was made safe to be transported to a nearby location.
The Buffalo Airways CL-215 will now be repaired, with the hope of returning the aircraft to service soon.
Check out the video of the operation from Sherwin Media
