Airport Hubs
Our two primary bases—CYLW and CYVR—power CWH’s charter, utility, offshore, and SAR operations across British Columbia.
CYLW Kelowna (Hub)
Interior base for mountain ops, medevac, wildfire support, and Okanagan charter runs.
Hub profile
- Role
- Interior operations & training hub
- Best for
- Confined areas, ridge lines, remote pads, night ops
- Typical missions
- Charter hops, medevac transfers, utility support, SAR patterns
- Recommended aircraft
- Light/medium single & twin (pilot choice)
Suggested routes
- CYLW → local helipads — short charter & training circuits
- CYLW → remote lakes / camps — confined area approaches & departures
- CYLW → mountain staging areas — ridge crossings and wind planning
- CYLW → regional fields — medevac-style transfers (time & fuel planning)
Tip: Keep hover checks tight—density altitude and winds can make the interior “spicy.”
Training focus
Hover control, slope landings, confined areas, mountain weather awareness.
Dispatch notes
Expect short-notice missions, scenic hops, and utility tasking.
Community ops
Great meet-up hub for training nights and mountain group flights.
CYVR Vancouver (Hub)
Coastal base for city shuttles, offshore operations, and maritime SAR along the Salish Sea.
Hub profile
- Role
- Coastal operations & event hub
- Best for
- Coastal winds, low ceilings, urban approaches, deck/ship practice
- Typical missions
- City shuttles, offshore runs, harbor patrol, SAR coastal searches
- Recommended aircraft
- Light/medium twins for offshore realism (pilot choice)
Suggested routes
- CYVR → city helipads — shuttle style hops and pattern work
- CYVR → coastal staging points — weather decision-making and alternates
- CYVR → offshore / maritime areas — “rig run” profiles and deck landings
- CYVR → SAR sectors — creeping line, expanding square, shoreline searches
Tip: Treat coastal visibility like a mission constraint—plan alternates and fuel margins.
Training focus
Low-ceiling procedures, coastal navigation, crosswinds, urban landings.
Dispatch notes
Frequent short shuttles + longer offshore legs; weather often drives planning.
Community ops
Ideal for ATC nights, group shuttles, and SAR event scenarios.
Choose a hub. Launch a mission.
Start at CYLW for interior mountain ops, or CYVR for coastal city and offshore flying—then build your CWH flight history one mission at a time.
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