Air Tindi is a Canadian airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was established in 1977 as a charter airline operating in the Northwest Territories and Northern Alberta. Since then, Air Tindi has become one of the most trusted and respected names in aviation in the North.
The Air Tindi story began in 1977 when two friends, Bob Engle and Dave Durocher, pooled their resources and expertise to create a charter aircraft company in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. They named their company Air Tindi, an Inuit word meaning “big country”.
At the time, Air Tindi was a small operation with just two aircraft, a Piper Navajo and a Cessna 185. Despite its humble beginnings, the airline quickly grew in popularity and by the 1980s, Air Tindi had expanded its fleet to include a Beechcraft King Air 200 and a Cessna Citation II.
The airline continued to grow throughout the 1990s, adding a number of turboprop aircraft to its fleet and expanding its service to destinations throughout the Northwest Territories, Northern Alberta, and parts of the Yukon. Air Tindi also established a base in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and opened a maintenance and repair facility in the city.
Over the years, Air Tindi has been involved in several notable events. In 1989, the airline was involved in a tragedy when a Piper Navajo carrying six passengers crashed near Fort Smith, killing all six people on board. In 2002, the airline was subject to a federal investigation after a Cessna 185 crashed in Northern Alberta, killing two people.
Despite these tragedies, Air Tindi has been able to move forward and continue to grow. In 2009, the airline launched its first jet service with the arrival of a Hawker 400XP jet. This marked a major milestone in the company’s history, as the jet enabled Air Tindi to expand its service to more distant destinations.
In 2013, Air Tindi acquired Summit Air, a charter airline in Yellowknife, which further expanded the company’s reach and capabilities. This acquisition allowed Air Tindi to offer a wider range of services, including passenger and freight charters, air ambulance services, and even sightseeing tours.
Today, Air Tindi operates a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, including jets, turboprops, and helicopters. The airline has grown to become one of the most trusted names in aviation in the North and has become an important part of the Canadian aviation landscape.
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