KF Cargo

Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter trading as KF Cargo and Kelowna Flightcraft trading as KF Maintenance and Engineering is a cargo airline based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It operates long term cargo charters for couriers and freight companies, forest fire patrols, and aircraft sales and leasing in Canada and worldwide. It also provides maintenance and aircraft manufacturing services.

History
KF Cargo is a subsidiary company of KF Aerospace, which was established as Kelowna Flightcraft on March 20, 1970 and the cargo subsidiary was established and started operating in June 1974. It is wholly owned by Barry Lapointe Holding.

Destinations
KF Cargo operates air cargo services to the following destinations:


 * John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Hub
 * Kamloops Airport
 * Kelowna International Airport Hub
 * Prince George Airport
 * Vancouver International Airport Hub
 * Victoria International Airport

Current fleet
As of September 2019, KF Cargo/KF Maintenance and Engineering has the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada.

Leasing
KF Cargo leases out Convair 580/5800s. KF Cargo's leasing operations has the distinction of developing the world's first Boeing 737-300QC.

The company has leased aircraft to several Canadian passenger airlines including Harmony Airways, Greyhound Air, Roots Air in the past and also in the United States to IFL Group Inc. Currently, KF Cargo leases its Boeing 737-300QC to Canadian North.

Historical fleet
The airline previously operated a diverse range of aircraft including:


 * Aero Commander
 * Beechcraft aircraft
 * Bell 206
 * Boeing 727-100F
 * Boeing 727-200F
 * Boeing 737-200
 * Boeing 737-300
 * Boeing 737-400SF
 * Boeing 737-800
 * Boeing 757-200
 * Cessna aircraft
 * Convair CV-340
 * Convair CV-440
 * Convair CV-580
 * de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
 * Douglas DC-3
 * McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F
 * Fairchild F27
 * Grumman Gulfstream I
 * Helio Courier
 * Howard 500
 * Israel 1124
 * Israel 1125
 * Mitsubishi MU-2
 * Piper Aircraft
 * Robinson R44
 * Taylorcraft DC65.

Accidents and incidents

 * On January 13, 1999, a Douglas DC-3 (C-GWUG) crashed into Mount Parke, Mayne Island while on a domestic cargo flight from Vancouver International Airport to Victoria International Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots, the only occupants, were killed. Investigation revealed that the flight was being operated under visual flight rules at night, in contravention of Canadian Aviation Regulations.


 * On July 9, 1981, a Howard 500 (C-GKFN), operated by Kelowna Flightcraft for overnight freight operations, crashed shortly after takeoff from Toronto International Airport. Fatalities: 3 crew.


 * On September 7, 1976, a Douglas C-47 (C-GKFC) was destroyed by fire after an emergency landing near Brocket, Alberta. All 26 people on board escaped. The aircraft was on a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight from Vernon Regional Airport, British Columbia to Lethbridge Airport, Alberta.

Bases
Pilot bases include Kelowna International Airport, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport.

Primary maintenance bases include John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and Kelowna International Airport with a satellite base at Vancouver International Airport.