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Since the turn of the century, the White Pass Company, with its pioneering railroad and steamboat operations, had been the lifeline of the Yukon. By the early 1930's air travel was beginning to take its share of the passenger traffic from these traditional modes. In June 1934 the arrival of the company's first airplane, an amphibious Loening Keystone Commuter {nicknamed the "The Duck"} announced the expansion into air service. Bearing U.S. registrations, the Loening amphibian and the new Ford Trimotor were based in Skagway. The following year a Whitehorse-based air division was established under the banner of the British Yukon Navigation Company {B.Y.N.Co.}, the Canadian.subsidiary of the White Pass Company. Fairchild 82 CF-AXC was the first of the White Pass {B.Y.N.}aircraft to bear Canadian registration marks.
For the next six years, the B.Y.N Company operated a variety of aircraft, serving communities throughout the Yukon, and competing fiercely with Northern Airways, and Grant McConachie's Yukon Southern Air Transport. In 1942, after a series of setbacks, including three tragic crashes, the B.Y.N. Co. sold its entire air division to Yukon Southern, which, before the year was out, merged with nine other airlines to form Canadian Pacific Airlines.
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White Pass Airways amphibious LoeninJune, 1935
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
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White Pass Airways began their commercial air service in June, 1934 with this amphibious Loenin Keystone commuter, nicknamed "The Duck", and shown here on the Yukon river Dawson City. The pilot was Vern BookwaterA.H. Fraser Photo
R.B. Cameron Collection
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BYN Company Ford Trimotor1936
Whitehorse, Yukon Canada
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The White Pass Airways Ford Trimotor (left) and the BYN Fairchild 82 on the Yukon River ice at Whitehorse. * Note the freight sheds and shipyards in the backgroundA.H. Fraser Photo
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Passengers waiting to board the BYN Ford1936
Mayo, Yukon Canada
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Passengers waiting to board the B.Y.N. Ford Trimotor CF-AZB at Mayo, Y.T.8
Ev Wasson with the Fairchild1936
Mayo, Yukon Canada
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Ev Wasson with the Fairchild 82 CF-AXC at Mayo, Y.T.Claude Tidd Photo
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BYN Company pilot Ev Wasson & Fairchild1936
Mayo, Yukon Canada
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B.Y.N. Company pilot Ev Wasson (on ski pedestal) and Fairchild 82 CF-AYC, preparing to board passengers, on the Stewart River ice at Mayo, Y.T.Claude Tidd Photo'
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The BYN Company Ford Trimotor1938
Whitehorse, Yukon Canada
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The B.Y.N. Company Ford Trimotor at Whitehorse. The venerable aircraft hauled freight and passengers between Yukon communities from April 1936 until August of 1940, when it suffered irreparable damage in the company hanger and had to be put out of service.Eccles Collection.
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BYN Pilot Norm Buck Stone with Ford1939
Whitehorse, Yukon Canada
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