FROM
OUR ARCHIVES
Airport
Activities from 2000 or earlier
From
its Abbotsford Fraser Valley base, Campbell
Helicopters serves Canada's forests
by
Jerry W. Bird
...When
he launched his career a few decades ago, Bruce
Campbell probably hadn't the faintest idea of being
in the helicopter business, or even in the aviation
industry. So how did he end up getting totally
involved with a helicopter fleet operation,
fighting forest fires across Canada? In his other
life, that which occurred prior to 1987, Bruce was
an aspiring Canadian banker, starting off in
Montreal, Quebec with the Bank of Montreal, then
moving on to Toronto, Ontario, where he became
Senior Vice President, Corporate Credit.
He later returned west to BC's Lower Mainland in a
similar capacity. Being born and raised in
Chilliwack, 20 minutes east on the Trans Canada
Highway from Abbotsford Airport, Bruce was familiar
with this airport's strategic location, its
history, huge potential and various claims to fame.
Since forming Campbell Helicopters, which occupies
a large Quonset -style building that overlooks
Abbotsford Airport's busy runway area, he has been
involved in Seismic work and even Heli-skiing.
However, the main thrust of company operations is
in the fire fighting industry, where helicopters
play a major role
Forest Fire Web Sites www.ciffc.ca
/ Canadian
Wildfire
Network
Integrated
Fire Fighting Force
Campbell's fleet of helicopters, on call
throughout the hot dry season, is manned by a crew
of pilots that closely resembles a United Nations
force of tried and true veterans; their leader is
Operations Manager Adolf Hahn. Some pilots were
with the Canadian and US military, while others
began their careers in the armed forces of Germany,
South Africa, Vietnam and a variety of other
countries.
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