Isaac Barbeau loves flying bushplanes over the Sault and area.
Barbeau is a Sault native and a graduate of Sault College's Aviation program who now works as the chief pilot for Killarney Air Services.
The Killarney Air Services fleet currently consists of a lone DeHavilland Beaver based at the dock outside the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.
“I love flying this plane. It's such a beast. It has a great engine producing about 450 horsepower and it’s a dream. It's such an amazing aircraft, being able to take off and land in exceptionally short distances,” Barbeau told SooToday.
The DeHavilland Beaver is an outstanding Canadian-designed and built bushplane known for its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities, able to fly in and out of remote areas on land and water.
Beavers were first flown in 1947 and manufactured until 1967.
They are considered the finest bushplanes ever built.
The Killarney Air Services Beaver was first used by the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s. It was later used by Air Dale Flying Service north of the Sault beginning in 1977. Purchased by a private owner in Hawaii in 2014, that sale was never completed and Killarney acquired it in 2024.
It uses floats for takeoff and landing in the summer and wheels or skis in winter.
Unlike many other aviation grads, Barbeau has no desire to work his way up to flying big passenger jets.
“When you work for a bigger airline, you take off and you turn on the autopilot. You make a couple of calls and essentially become a manager. But there's something pure and beautiful about flying a bushplane. When you fly a bushplane it becomes an extension of yourself. To fly that way is so much more engaging.”
Owned by business partners Dave Flaherty and Eric Tremblay, Killarney Air Services - offering sightseeing flights or winging customers to hunting and fishing adventures - took to the air in May.
After college, Barbeau worked out of Sioux Lookout and took clients on charter flights before seizing the opportunity to live and fly from his hometown in August 2024.
“Eric called me up and said, ‘hey, would you be interested in flying out of the Sault?’ I jumped at the opportunity. It's such a beautiful spot. I love it here,” Barbeau said.
Killarney Air Services offers three different sightseeing tours for customers.
“We do a 15-minute tour of the city and we do a 30-minute tour that travels north of town. We go over Red Rock north of the city and over Goulais. You get a good view of the Goulais River. We also have an eastbound tour and go over Robertson Cliffs. That's my favourite part,” Barbeau said.
“Seeing that mountain at Robertson Cliffs is so beautiful. A lot of people say it's so flat around here when they come from down south but then we take them up Highway 17 North and they see those hills for themselves.”
Tours can be booked through the Killarney Air Services website.
“On top of our sightseeing tours we also do charters, fly-in fishing. We have the capability to carry a boat on the side of the plane. Anything up to 59 inches wide and 14 feet long, we can strap on and carry the motor with us and get people into some really remote spots,” Barbeau said.
Business has been good since May.
“The reception for sightseeing has been better than any of us really thought it would be,” Barbeau said.
“It's been about a 50-50 split of people from out of town and locals. A lot of the people from out of town say ‘wow, this is awesome.’ And then a lot of the people from in town say, ‘we've been wanting to do this for years, but haven't had the opportunity.’”
That’s rewarding for Barbeau.
“It's nice to bring that to the area. When I first heard that this is the kind of company that was being started, my goal was to try and make sure aerial sightseeing became a thing around here. I wake up every day hoping I get to take people up who will enjoy that experience.”
Barbeau enjoys not only flight but also interaction with passengers.
“I’m quite a big people person and I’m having an absolute blast. I enjoy chatting with the passengers. It makes my day to see everybody smile when I take off and when I come in to land. I like seeing them enjoy themselves looking down at this beautiful area.”