Flying in ground proximity: Thirteen case studies of aircraft flight routes in Canada, 1918--1926

Aviation today is an integral part of Canada's transportation and communication network. Within the Canadian consciousness there is a connection between the role of aircraft and the development and exploration of Canada's Northern landscape. However, aviation is a relatively new technology and it has not always provided the same type or level of services.; This thesis investigates the genesis of aircraft's functional role in Canada and the impact of aviation on the construction of a Northern frontier during the formative years following the First World War. To facilitate the investigation the thesis reconstructs the spatial limits of where flights were occurring in relation to Canada's North and examines flight patterns including actual routes utilized throughout Canada from 1918 until 1926. Three key themes are examined to shed light on the factors contributing to the pattern and processes observed: geography, administration and technology.; Through the analysis of the routes and locations of flights it is evident that aircraft were following existing transportation corridors, waterways and railroads, throughout Canada. This reliance on ground based reference tied aircraft to existing areas of development and restricted their role in opening up the Canadian North during this time period.