Frederick James Carmichael

Frederick James Carmichael has spent over 60 years in Northern aviation in the course off which his accomplishments have made him a legend. He is well known as an aviation entrepreneur, search and rescue pilot, mentor for aspiring aboriginal youth, pioneer aboriginal commercial pilot and contributor to community life in the Northwest Territories.

He was born at Aklavik, Northwest Territories in 1935. His mother was a descendant of Gwich’in Chiefs, his father, a long-time trapper, was the first elected member of the Territorial Council representing the Mackenzie Delta.

Carmichael’s urge to fly began when he was 12 years old, watching an aircraft land at his parents’ bush camp near Aklavik. He worked on the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) to earn enough money to take flying lessons. While taking flying lessons in Edmonton, he upgraded his education, receives private pilot’s licence in 1955 and became the first Aboriginal pilot from the Arctic region.

In 1956 he purchased his first airplane, a Stinson Voyageur with wheels and skis for $2,600.00. He flew it back to Aklavik, using the only aids available to him, a map and a compass. Thus, he began a lifetime in aviation. He became known for his involvement in mercy flights, regularly volunteering to search for lost or desperate people.

In 1958 he earned his Commercial licence, which he holds to the present time. From the mid 1950’s to the 1960-’s he volunteered time to build airstrips in Aklavik and at Reindeer Station, 80 kilometres south of the Arctic Ocean. He then invested time and money to build an airstrip at Inuvik with volunteers to help him.

In 1959 he obtained a Specialty Licence for aerial patrol and began operating Reindeer Air Service Ltd. flying personnel and supplies to support a government reindeer-herding project in the Mackenzie Delta, locating stray reindeer and carrying herders to round them up. He moved to Inuvik and in 1960 obtained a charter licence. The business grew to a fleet of 15 aircraft consisting of single-engine aircraft and twin-engine Douglas DC-3, Curtiss C-46 and Beechcraft 18 aircraft.

Business was not easy flying in northern Canada, with stiff competition from larger companies. He faced uphill battles with the Canadian Transport Commission in the late 1960’s when he applied to operate larger aircraft. In the 1970’s he sold various parts of his company, Reindeer Air. He spent the next several years flying for Kenn Borek Air Ltd., then decided to start his own charter company again, in partnership with the Dene-Metis of the Mackenzie Delta. He bought Aklavik Flying Services from Mike Zubko, one of his original mentors and close friend.

In the 1990s he operated his air tourism business, Arctic Nature Tours Ltd., for several years, showing the country he loves to visitors from around the world. He also worked as a commercial pilot for his son Frank, who owned and operated Arctic Wings and Rotors Ltd. in Inuvik.

Carmichael contributed much to community life in the NWT. He is a founding member of the Inuvik Aviation Council, and has served for many years on various boards, and as an aviation consultant. He served as Grand Chief and president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council for eight years. he was one of the first members of the Northern Air Transportation Association (NATA), based in Yellowknife. He many awards include installation as a Member of the order of Canada in 2009, a lifetime membership in NATA, Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2013.

Fred Carmichael, aviation pioneer, successful entrepreneur and father of four children, lives in Inuvik with his wife Miki O’Kane.

Frederick Carmichael was inducted as a Member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2016, in a ceremony held at Ottawa, Ontario.