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 20 March 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: Kamloops Airport, Kelowna International Airport, Prince George Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Victoria International Airport.Fleet
As of September 2019, KF Cargo/KF Maintenance and Engineering has the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada.| Aircraft | No. of aircraft | Variants | Notes |
| Beechcraft Duke | 1 | Beechcraft A60 | Operated by Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter |
| Beechcraft Premier I | 2 | Beechcraft 390 | Both operated by Kelowna Flightcraft |
| Cessna 180 | 1 | – | Operated by Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter |
| Convair 580 | 5 | Convair CV-340 | Operated by Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter |
Leasing
KF Cargo leases out McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Boeing 737, and Convair 580/5800 aircraft. KF Cargo's leasing operations has the distinction of developing the world's first Boeing 737-300 Quick Change aircraft.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 737-300 Quick Change aircraft to Canadian North
Historical fleet
The airline previously operated a diverse range of aircraft including Aero Commander, various Beechcraft, Bell 206 helicopters, Boeing 727, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, various Cessna aircraft, Convair CV-440 Metropolitan, Convair CV-580, de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, Douglas DC-3, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Fairchild F27, Grumman Gulfstream I, Helio Courier, Howard 500, Israel 1124, Israel 1125, Mitsubishi MU-2, Piper Aircraft, Robinson R44 and Taylorcraft DC65.Accidents and incidents
- On 13 January 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 9 July 1981, Howard 500 C-GKFN, operated by Kelowna Flightcraft for overnight freight operations, crashed shortly after takeoff from Toronto International Airport. Fatalities: 3 crew.
- On 7 September 1976, 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
Primary maintenance bases include John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and Kelowna International Airport with a satellite base at Vancouver International Airport.