 Page One Page Two Page Three Page Four Page Five Page Six History Main Page  Obviously, he was also a
tough
entrepreneur
and
wheeler-dealer |
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Story by Jack Meadows Published with kind permission from West Coast Aviator Magazine ...continued from page three Water bombing is a loose term often inaccurately applied. As Art's son, David points out, it is important to be reminded to distinguish between water bombing as done by Martin Mars, Cansos and later Canadair amphibians, pumping vast quantities of plain water each time, and the more selective dropping of smaller quantities of specially formulated retardant (often also containing fertilizer) by smaller aircraft. This latter technique is usually prevention or containment rather than dousing. Although Skyway's initial experiments with the Stearmans had used only water, it is the latter process which the company was to develop so successfully.  There were numerous trial droppings on the taxi track to the east of the north end of the Langley runway. In this way the special tankage, valves and doors were developed and the best dropping techniques and accuracies learned.By now, Skyway Air Services Ltd had as Percy Lotzer delights in saying, a larger fleet of aircraft than Air Canada - even though individually rather smaller. Essentially, it was in three parts: the flying school under Ed Batchelor, with an offshoot seaplane training base at Fort Langley; the spraying and bombing service under John Anderson and the administration under Percy Lotzer. Peter Deck was operations manager. Art Seller coordinated and guided this conglomerate. It is a measure of the man and his personality that he did so not only successfully and as one company, but with the continuing respect and affection of everyone. Getting people to work together in this way "was his biggest asset", says Lotzer. |
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Obviously, he was also a tough entrepreneur and wheeler-dealer. His son, David, says of him that he would question and probe carefully every new idea put to him but when he made his decision he would stick to it and support the author. He says also that he was a fair shooter as both a parent and as a businessman. The Mayor of Langley said of him that he always drove a hard bargain but when you had a deal it was very fair and he would never go back on his word. |
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