 Page One Page Two Page Three Page Four Page Five Page Six History Main Page  One result of Art Seller's
efforts was
that, with
the advent
of the
Avengers,
Langley
airport had
become
too small
for Skyway |
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Story by Jack Meadows Published with kind permission from West Coast Aviator Magazine ...continued from page four From 1960-65 the business thrived. The demand for airline pilots helped to keep the flying school busy. It now had some twin Apaches and was giving IFR training. Just as busy were the Avengers which flew East each spring for New Brunswick spruce budworm control and back again in June ready for the B.C. forest fire season. At its peak, Skyway employed a hundred people for a fleet of 70 aircraft.  One result of Art Seller's efforts was that, with the advent of the Avengers, Langley airport had become too small for Skyway. The flying school remained, with its seaplane offshoot at Fort Langley, but the spraying and bombing sections moved to Abbotsford. First No. 1 Hangar was bought then number 3 as the company continued to grow. In 1965, Seller's activities had been recognized and he was awarded the BC Aviation Council's Robert S. Day Trophy.From 1965, the general economic conditions led to a downturn in the flying training demand. However, the spraying and bombing business was as busy as ever and Art Seller was looking at ex military twin-engine Grumman Trackers as possible replacements for the Avengers. However, in 1968 he suffered a stroke and decided to divest himself of the business. The following year, the Abbotsford operation, the spraying and retardant bombing part of his business, was sold to a consortium led by Les Kerr, whom he had taught to fly and who had become a spray pilot with the company. The Skyway name stayed with Seller, Les Kerr's new company was named, Conair Aviation. To Art Seller's delight it continued to grow and prosper at Abbotsford under its new management. Today, having in turn divested itself of the crop spraying business, Conair is world famous for its water/retardant bombing services and techniques and related aircraft and equipment development. Under current President, Barry Marsden, it continues as a leader in its important specialist field. |
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Art Seller continued to operate the Skyway flying school at Langley, with its Fort Langley offshoot. He soon passed his medicals and got his license back. A natural pilot, the love and joy of flying never left him. Earlier, he had started a glider and sailplane operation which only lasted a few years. Percy Lotzer says that in a turn, he could be looking all over the sky, but the ball on the slip indicator would never leave centre. Son David says he taught him to fly by the seat of his pants, took the fighter pilot's view that instruments are only there for very occasional reference. David reckons he is a better pilot for that. |
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