Preparation of Beaver Island emergency aircraft, 1974

Summary

In March 1974, the Beaver Beacon reported preparations to bring the island’s first emergency evacuation airplane to Beaver Island. Jim Janda had traveled to Tucson to retrieve the surplus Beaver aircraft; at the time of publication it was in Fremont for insignia, wing, and fuselage numbers and was expected on the Island in two or three weeks.

The published operating rules made medical evacuation of critically ill or injured people the primary use. They also provided for air searches, assistance to the Coast Guard and sheriff’s department in emergencies, approved volunteer pilots, no-fee medical evacuation, and emergency-or-maintenance-only flights.

The May–June 1974 Beaver Beacon later confirms that the aircraft reached the island and entered emergency service: it reports a first medical evacuation on June 18 and a second on June 24. Those flights are recorded separately as First medical evacuation by Beaver Island emergency aircraft, 1974 and Second medical evacuation by Beaver Island emergency aircraft, 1974.

Evidence and limits

This is a preparation and policy report. The March report itself does not provide a registration, manufacturer serial number, owner, complete pilot roster, medical organization, or later operating record; the later May–June report supplies the first two service episodes but does not resolve those remaining fields. The Boat Company’s separate offer to make a vessel available when weather prevented flying is recorded on the source’s page but is not treated as proof that the aircraft and company formed one legal organization.

Added 1 August 2026 · revised 3 August 2026. Recent changes