Alfred Beebe Caywood
Alfred Beebe (Alf) Caywood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 January 1910 |
| Died | May 23, 1991 (aged 81) |
Alfred Beebe Caywood (January 22 1910 – May 23, 1991) foresight and high standards not only benefited the company he led, but indeed the entire aviation community. In his own words, he took the romance out of bush flying and turned it into a viable business, complete with balance sheet. He played an integral role in the development of Canada's atomic age. There is no doubt that he contributed greatly to Canadian aviation[1].
Early Years
Alfred Beebe (Alf) Caywood was born January 22, 1910 at Oelrich, South Dakota, USA and moved with his family to Edmonton, Alberta in 1911. He received his education at Oliver, Westmount, and McDougall schools. After receiving a diploma from the McTavish Business College in 1925 he worked up to comptroller of a mine in the Coal Branch. Later he worked with Alberta Land Titles and Provincial Income Tax.
Inter-war Years
He struck out prospecting in 1933 to British Columbia, northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. During this period he became impressed with the use of aircraft to reach remote areas and also to investigate favorable prospects by means of aerial observation. With this as an incentive, he received his private pilot's certificate early in 1937 under the able tutorage of Moss Burbidge. He joined the staff of Canadian Airways as a mechanic's helper, becoming one of their pilots in 1938. He was associated in those early years of flying with Wop May, Punch Dickins, Walter Gilbert and Jack Moar.
Flying regularly over unmapped country he actually covered the area which he had walked over as a prospector. Caywood instituted the filing of sketch maps of the locations where various prospectors, trappers, etc. had been left so that they could be picked up at a later date. He added to these sketches of major routes showing predominant characteristics of the areas for the guidance of others. With the forming of Canadian Pacific Airlines, he became a mainline captain on all of their routes in the Yukon, Alaska and the Northwest Territories.
Caywood joined Eldorado Mining and Refining in 1944 to form their Air Division as part of the Manhattan Project. He set up an air service to resupply the uranium mine at Port Radium on Great Bear Lake, which was of vital importance to the Allied cause. His acquisition, for Eldorado, of the first Douglas DC-3 to be licensed commercially in Canada enabled Caywood to expand what was known at that time as "bush service". He initiated the first extensive use in Canada of the DC-3 for freight and passenger haulage, Douglas Aircraft Division called it "a saga of what dedication, determination and ingenuity can accomplish under the direst maintenance and flying conditions." During this time he broke many new records for tonnage, mileage and initiated the use of pallets for air freight.
Caywood recognized the importance of both preventive and corrective maintenance for his small fleet of aircraft and his standards of excellence resulted in a very safe and efficient operation, even in severe weather conditions. Under his direction, Eldorado's per-ton and per-passenger costs were the envy of the aviation industry. In 1958, when the subsidiary company Eldorado Aviation was formed, Alf Caywood became its President and General Manager.
Caywood retired from Eldorado in 1965 to live in Victoria, British Columbia. During his retirement he has served as aviation consultant for the World Bank. Alfred Beebe Caywood died on May 23, 1991.
Honours and legacy
References
- ^ Oswald, Mary, They Led the Way, Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, 1999
Bibliography
- Oswald, Mary, They Led the Way, Wetaskiwin: Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, 1999. ISBN 0-9684843-0-1