Buffalo Airways to start Reality TV show
Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:35 pm
Here's the article from the Yellowknife newspaper. Buffalo Airways operates many DC-3s, DC-4s, C-46s, and L188s, as well as many smaller types all over Canada's north.
Airline focus of reality show pilot
Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, February 22, 2008
YELLOWKNIFE - After viewers worldwide tuned in to Ice Road Truckers, a series filmed in and around Yellowknife, the NWT has become a lot more interesting to film and television producers.
The latest attempt at getting the Northern city on TV is a project by Omni Films, a film company out of Vancouver. Last week, director Lionel Goddard was in Yellowknife at Buffalo Airways filming the pilot episode that, if successful, will turn into a series about the airline.
Lionel Goddard of Omni Films shoots footage of mechanic Curtis Dyson at Buffalo Airways on Wednesday. - Laura Power/NNSL photo
Mikey McBryan of Buffalo Airways said the series is expected to have the same tone as a show like American Chopper, and will be geared towards an American audience.
"We got the exact dynamic here, like it's eerie how close it is," he said.
Buffalo Airlines, which flies regularly between several towns within the NWT, uses older, rare airplanes such as DC-3s and DC-4s, which McBryan said are "basically obsolete except for in Alaska and Northern temperatures."
The vintage 1940s aircraft fly better in lower temperatures, making it possible for the Northern airline to fly low in the territory. Though they are of interest to many people, McBryan said the filmmakers want to concentrate on the people at the airline.
"They're interested in the people, like the physical people who actually have the guts and the ability and the drive to actually operate these aircrafts," he said.
Goddard, after spending some time filming last week, said the characters of the airline employees - who come from all over - will make people want to watch the show.
"We think that once people meet the crew of this airline they'll just fall in love with it like we have," he said.
He also said the program will be able to teach Canadians about what goes on in the North.
"People have no idea what type of work is going on here," he said. "The rest of the country has become a very safe and secure world but up here, life still happens."
Now that the pilot episode is being produced, the next step is to get broadcasters in both the US and Canada interested in the show, said Goddard. But he predicted that the show will be "an easy sell."
"We think it's got all the ingredients of an exciting series," he said.
Airline focus of reality show pilot
Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, February 22, 2008
YELLOWKNIFE - After viewers worldwide tuned in to Ice Road Truckers, a series filmed in and around Yellowknife, the NWT has become a lot more interesting to film and television producers.
The latest attempt at getting the Northern city on TV is a project by Omni Films, a film company out of Vancouver. Last week, director Lionel Goddard was in Yellowknife at Buffalo Airways filming the pilot episode that, if successful, will turn into a series about the airline.
Lionel Goddard of Omni Films shoots footage of mechanic Curtis Dyson at Buffalo Airways on Wednesday. - Laura Power/NNSL photo
Mikey McBryan of Buffalo Airways said the series is expected to have the same tone as a show like American Chopper, and will be geared towards an American audience.
"We got the exact dynamic here, like it's eerie how close it is," he said.
Buffalo Airlines, which flies regularly between several towns within the NWT, uses older, rare airplanes such as DC-3s and DC-4s, which McBryan said are "basically obsolete except for in Alaska and Northern temperatures."
The vintage 1940s aircraft fly better in lower temperatures, making it possible for the Northern airline to fly low in the territory. Though they are of interest to many people, McBryan said the filmmakers want to concentrate on the people at the airline.
"They're interested in the people, like the physical people who actually have the guts and the ability and the drive to actually operate these aircrafts," he said.
Goddard, after spending some time filming last week, said the characters of the airline employees - who come from all over - will make people want to watch the show.
"We think that once people meet the crew of this airline they'll just fall in love with it like we have," he said.
He also said the program will be able to teach Canadians about what goes on in the North.
"People have no idea what type of work is going on here," he said. "The rest of the country has become a very safe and secure world but up here, life still happens."
Now that the pilot episode is being produced, the next step is to get broadcasters in both the US and Canada interested in the show, said Goddard. But he predicted that the show will be "an easy sell."
"We think it's got all the ingredients of an exciting series," he said.
Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:07 pm
Hey that sounds exciting.
I'd love to see that make it onto television. There are A LOT worse shows on television, but I won't mention any of those shows because I don't want to acknowledge their existance.
-David
I'd love to see that make it onto television. There are A LOT worse shows on television, but I won't mention any of those shows because I don't want to acknowledge their existance.
-David
Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:53 am
I hope they're wrong about the American Chopper "vibe"... 
Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:01 pm
They need to go and film the life of an air tanker pilot/ mechanic. You would see some interesting and some boring stuff, but it would be good to watch. We could have the famous Mr. Kraus on the tube! 
Scott......
Scott......
Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:50 pm
RNDMTRS4EVR wrote:They need to go and film the life of an air tanker pilot
Now that would make for some interesting TV! I think it might "fly"
well with the public, too, because of the dangerous nature of the profession (and we know how the public loves to watch dangerous stuff on TV). Reality shows are the rage right now, which might also help.
I'd love it because I love big props!
Cheers!
Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:10 pm
RNDMTRS4EVR wrote:They need to go and film the life of an air tanker pilot
Buffalo also has 5 or 6 CL-215s for firefighting in the summer. I know at least one of the DC-4s is also equipped for firebombing. I hope that aspect isn't missed in the show, because I agree it would make it a lot more interesting!
Been to Buffalo Airways once....
Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:24 pm
Been to Buffalo Airways once....One of their office.
It's right beside AirSpray in Red Deer Alberta.
Bill ( the owner ) is quite a character.
He was nice & let me ran around and snap pics in the middle of the winter.
It's right beside AirSpray in Red Deer Alberta.
Bill ( the owner ) is quite a character.
He was nice & let me ran around and snap pics in the middle of the winter.
Re: Been to Buffalo Airways once....
Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:36 pm
Michel Lemieux wrote:Bill ( the owner ) is quite a character.
Joe (McBryan).
Meaning Dan ???
Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:18 pm
Meaning Dan ???
Just curious
Just curious
Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:59 pm
The guy that owns Buffalo Airways is Joe "Buffalo Joe" McBryan. He's a real good guy - an antiquer of the first order - and has stuff squirreled away that you almost can't imagine.
Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:57 am
Several comments:
1) I hope they film it in HD.
2) Which channel is it going to be on? I would guess either Discovery, TLC, or the History Channel.
3) Did any of you catch that article a little ways back about the first female pilot at Buffalo? She was young and very attractive. I can see her being the focus of the show for "eye candy" (translation, ratings).
4) Awesome, I can hardly wait to watch it!
1) I hope they film it in HD.
2) Which channel is it going to be on? I would guess either Discovery, TLC, or the History Channel.
3) Did any of you catch that article a little ways back about the first female pilot at Buffalo? She was young and very attractive. I can see her being the focus of the show for "eye candy" (translation, ratings).
4) Awesome, I can hardly wait to watch it!
Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:59 am
Dan Jones wrote:The guy that owns Buffalo Airways is Joe "Buffalo Joe" McBryan. He's a real good guy - an antiquer of the first order - and has stuff squirreled away that you almost can't imagine.
Anything, you're at liberty to talk about?
Joe McBryan
Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:47 am
Go to my website http://www.RuudLeeuw.com
Select Propliners
You'll see links to my 2006 and 2007 visits
And you'll know what he means...
Ruud
(There is also a link to my 2006 visit to Yellowknife - 2 pages)
Select Propliners
You'll see links to my 2006 and 2007 visits
And you'll know what he means...
Ruud
(There is also a link to my 2006 visit to Yellowknife - 2 pages)
Re: Joe McBryan
Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:23 am
RuudLeeuw wrote:Go to my website http://www.RuudLeeuw.com
Select Propliners
You'll see links to my 2006 and 2007 visits
And you'll know what he means...
Ruud
(There is also a link to my 2006 visit to Yellowknife - 2 pages)
I didn't see anything specifically relating to Buffalo. Which link in the propliners section?
Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:25 am
Also, your propliner link takes you to the airport page, not the propliner page. I finally found the propliner page by clicking on the skytruck link. 