Ginger Coote Airways


Ginger Coote Airways is a defunct passenger and charter airline that was based in Vancouver, British Columbia and often used Wells Harbor at Lulu Island as a base, 1938-1942.
GCA was owned and operated by Canadian Russell L. "Ginger" Coote, who learned to fly as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps Canada during World War I. Post-war, Coote became part-owner of Bridge River & Cariboo Airways and eventually became the airline's president. In 1938, the airline changed its name to Ginger Coote Airways.
Employees of the airline included Coote as a pilot and co-director; his father, Andrew Coote, as co-director; and Margaret Fane Rutledge as a radio operator. At times, Rutledge also dispatched and served as a co-pilot. Coote also hired Russ Baker, who later founded Pacific Western Airlines, as a pilot and to restore a de Havilland Moth. GCA often flew from Vancouver, British Columbia to Zeballos, British Columbia. Other destinations included Edmonton, Prince George, and Whitehorse.
In 1941, Coote sold the airline, and in 1942 it was absorbed into Canadian Pacific Air Lines, along with several other smaller airlines.

Historical fleet