Our History

The Air Service was started In the early 1950s, by Red Swanton who founded Clearwater Air Service in Nestor Falls, providing essential air transportation for trappers, fishermen, miners, and loggers.Operating from Green’s Camp with aircraft such as a Waco and a Fox Moth, Red transported sportsmen to remote lakes including Kay Lake and Kishkutena. In summer months he flew fishermen locally, while winters often took him north to the Northwest Territories. Red was also among the pilots who flew the Distant Early Warning (D.E.W.) Line, contributing to the construction of North America’s first early-warning defence system.

In the early 1960s, Red sold the charter operation to Ralph Showalter, where it be​came known as Northwestern Flying Service, continuing the tradition of reliable northern aviation. The company changed hands a few more times up until 1987 when the Pope family acquired the business changing the name to Northwest Flying Inc. We have our own hangar with a dedicated AME on staff who takes exceptional pride in maintaining our fleet of 5 aircarft. Several of our pilots have been with the company for many years and are among the most experienced in the business.

Northwest Flying base late 60’s