Leslie George Kerr

Leslie George (Les) Kerr was born in Langley, British Columbia, on May 15, 1928. He obtained his Private Pilot's Licence in 1948 and a Commercial Licence in 1952. He managed his family's ranch at 100 Mile House prior to joining Skyway Air Services in 1952 as an agriculture spray pilot. He managed various divisions at Skyway for both aerial application and aerial fire fighting before being promoted to Chief Pilot in 1963. In 1965 he was appointed Operations Manager for the Aerial Application and Fire Control Division, which, at the time, was operating Boeing Stearman and Grumman TBM Avengers.

In 1969 he formed his own company, Conair Aviation Ltd. He acquired the Aerial Application and Fire Control Division of Skyway Air Services, successfully combining experience, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in a true pioneering effort. This culminated in the development of a world renowned, state-of-the-art, aerial application business.

Kerr and his company have many firsts to their credit. He was the first Canadian owner and operator of the Douglas A26 Invader, and through the use of innovative technology and unique operational strategy, brought the two-engine aircraft safely into aerial fire fighting. He successfully introduced the Douglas DC-6B as a heavy lift fire fighting and spray aircraft. During his years as President and CEO of Conair, a series of aircraft were modified as fire fighting and spray aircraft. The Grumman Tracker was outfitted with an improved retardant delivery system designed, developed and installed by Conair. Realizing that turboprop aircraft would eventually replace aircraft powered by reciprocating engines, Conair launched the Fokker F-27 and Turbo Firecats. Both types of aircraft have been fully certified and are in production and use in Canada and abroad.

In 1976 Kerr foresaw that helicopters with fixed ventral tanks and water pump-up systems were a natural complement to fixed wing fire suppression aircraft. This led to the purchase of Frontier Helicopters and to the development of many innovative Conair design systems to aid aerial delivery. Today, over fifty Conair-designed delivery systems are in operation on six different helicopter types in Canada, Europe, South America and Australia. During his tenure as President and CEO, the company aggressively marketed their aircraft and Canadian special-purpose aviation products throughout the world, generating over fifty million dollars in annual sales. By the time he left Conair in 1995, Kerr oversaw the operation of the company's fifty fixed wing aircraft, forty helicopters and four divisions: Conair Aviation Division, Conair Europe, Frontier Helicopter Division, and Aerospace Division.

In the field of land-based airplanes and helicopters, Kerr's contributions to aerial applications have given Canada superiority in a technology that is vital to the protection of the world's forests. Clearly a visionary leader in the development and operation of both rotary and fixed wing special purpose aircraft, he has earned national and international praise for his efforts, attested by an extensive list of honours and awards.

The past Minister of State Transport, when describing the influence and contributions of Kerr to the National Advisory Committee on Review of Air Regulations had this to say:

"You can be justifiably proud of your lasting contribution to the creation of a slimmer, more responsive and efficient Canadian regulatory system, which will help increase our competitiveness and prosperity to the benefit of all Canadians."

Kerr has contributed much to his community, province and country, by serving as a director or member for numerous municipal, provincial and national committees and associations. He was a Director for the British Columbia Aviation Council and was President of that organization in 1980-81. He has served as President and Director of the Abbotsford International Airshow and as a Director for the B.C. Trade and Development Corporation.

In 1983 Kerr accepted, on behalf of Conair, the Robert S. Day Award from the B.C. Aviation Council. In 1990 he received the Award for Dedication to Wildland Fire and Suppression from the North American Forestry Commission and Fire Management Study Group. The British Columbia and Yukon Transportation and Industry Association named him Man of the Year for 1991. In 1991 he received the Brigadier-General William Mitchell Medal from the International Northwest Aviation Council (INAC).

In 1992 Kerr was awarded one of Canada's highest aviation honours, the Trans-Canada (McKee) Trophy. The B.C. Aviation Council awarded him a Lifetime Achievement in Aviation Award in 1995.

From 1992 to 1995, Les Kerr was Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron at Comox, BC, followed by another three years as Honourary Colonel for the same squadron. This has been one of his long term interests.

Leslie George (Les) Kerr was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1999.