Meet one of Canada’s few First Nation owned airlines. Operating in some of the most challenging aviation conditions in the world, they are a lifeline for remote Indigenous communities. From the small airport they own and operate in northern Manitoba, meet the people who are the backbone of this airline. A young Indigenous pilot, fresh out of flight school, takes off on her first test flight.

Follow a Missinippi medivac flight crew along their 13-day rotation. Flying around the clock, the schedule is tough on pilots and paramedics, but especially for single moms. An injured young child is flown to Winnipeg for medical treatment.

For northern Manitoba’s Missinippi Airways, flight safety is their number one concern. Flying air ambulance, passenger and cargo flights through harsh weather and gravel runways is tough on pilots…but also their planes. When one of their medivac planes suffers a mechanical issue, Missinippi’s maintenance team comes to the rescue.

At this small First Nation owned airline, the next generation of pilots are reshaping this once male dominated industry. Born out of necessity three decades ago, Missinippi Airways has grown to become one of Manitoba’s largest air ambulance providers. After starting her career flying passengers to and from Pukatawagan, a pilot tries to earn a seat on Missinippi’s medivac program.

Flying through harsh weather is routine in this part of the world but when winter approaches, and the fog rolls in, pilots and passengers are at the mercy of mother nature. At this time of year, keeping their runway open and planes in the air is a constant challenge for Missinippi’s runway crew. With low lying fog grounding their flights, two pilots must decide if it’s safe to fly passengers to Pukatawagan.

At this small First Nation owned airline, success depends on developing pilots who can handle the unique challenges of northern aviation. However, that’s not easy to do when you’re competing against the lure of the big airlines. One medivac pilot undergoes his annual flight certification while two dispatchers in Winnipeg get promoted to the flight line.

For Manitoba’s Missinippi Airways, developing new pilots is a year-round challenge. As a small northern carrier, it takes a team effort to train pilots and keep their fleet in the air. After being called up from dispatch to the flight line, one pilot is injured on his flight up to Grace Lake. Another pilot takes his flight test to certify as a Captain on the airlines’ Navajo program, flying passengers to and from Pukatawagan.

In northern Manitoba, flying through bad weather and poor visibility is part of life. However, when the first winter storm hits their Grace Lake terminal, Missinippi Airways encounters a whole new set of aviation challenges. With passengers and freight backing up thanks to heavy snow, a medivac crew is brought in to help with the problem.

For northern Manitoba’s Missinippi Airways, maintaining their Grace Lake runway is essential to keeping their passenger and medivac fleet in the air. When the deep freeze arrives in this part of Canada, planes and machinery start to break down. With heavy snow in the forecast and their runway grader not in operation, the ingenuity of Missinippi’s maintenance crew is put to the test.

As one of Canada’s only First Nation owned airlines, leadership from the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation oversee Missinippi’s operations. However, managing this airline’s rapid growth falls squarely on the shoulders of senior management. With their medivac air program reaching new heights, Missinippi Airways has outgrown their current head office while working to rebrand their fleet.

Many new pilots head north to Missinippi Airways as their gateway to the big airlines but for some more experienced pilots, Missinippi is a way to move back home. As deep cold halts railway service to Pukatawagan, Missinippi’s passenger service becomes a lifeline for the community. A new medivac crew flies together on their first thirteen-day rotation from Missinippi’s new hangar at the Winnipeg International Airport.

At northern Manitoba’s Missinippi Airways, medivac pilots must do much more than fly a plane. When injuries or illness affect their medivac crews, someone is always trained and ready to take their place. A young pilot works her way up from the airlines passenger program to become one of Missinippi’s youngest medivac Captains.

For this small northern airline, adapting to change is a constant challenge, but some changes are bigger than others. With the departure of one of the airline’s key managers, others find an opportunity for advancement. A new First Officer arrives from Brazil and gets a crash course in the unique challenges of northern aviation.