Celebrations as Greenland’s very own airline turned 50

Air Greenland

The Canso Catalina moving in water

The Canso Catalina on the ramp in Nuuk in the 60s

The Catalina ramp in Nuuk was abandoned in 1967

The Catalina in Sisimiut

The Canso Catalina on a calm winter’s day

A Catalina taking off in Nuuk in 1964

Take off at the harbour in Nuuk in April 1965

The view from the cabin

A Catalina landing in Sisimiut was a great attraction

The Catalina could also land on the ground; here, in Kangerlussuaq

A washing trip close to Kangerlussuaq

Canso Catalina

The first Canso Catalina flight in Greenland took place in 1958, but it was for KGH, which had chartered it from the Canadian company Eastern Provincial Airways, EPA. When Greenland Air took over domestic flights in 1962 it also took over the Canso and Otter aircraft previously used by KGH. There was a wet lease arrangement which included aircraft, crew and maintenance. The Catalinas stayed in Greenland until the Sikorsky S61N arrived in 1965.