. This move was a specific requirement from Transport Canada to allow the airline to resume flights. Continued Flying:
For fans of the long-running reality TV show Ice Pilots NWT and admirers of Canadian aviation history, few figures loom as large as Joe McBryan, affectionately known as "Buffalo Joe." As the founder and president of Buffalo Airways, based out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, McBryan became a household name for his uncompromising, old-school approach to flying, his passion for vintage World War II-era aircraft, and his often-fraught relationship with regulators.
His nickname is "Buffalo Joe." He earned it when his airline was contracted to fight fires protecting a herd of buffalo in the Northwest Territories.
The story of Joe McBryan is inseparable from the story of Buffalo Airways. In 1970, a young pilot named Joe McBryan purchased the small, family-run Buffalo Airways from legendary Arctic aviator Bob Gauchie. At the time, it was just a single Douglas DC-3 plane. From these humble beginnings, "Buffalo Joe" built an empire. Through sheer grit and determination, he expanded the airline into a vital lifeline for the remote communities of the Northwest Territories, flying crucial supplies, food, and even performing countless medical evacuations.
The airline faced another six-week grounding in 2021 due to administrative deficiencies. McBryan maintained his pilot status throughout these corrective periods while his son, Mikey McBryan, took on more management responsibility. Health and Licensing: what happened to joe mcbryan
What Happened to Joe McBryan? The Legacy of "Buffalo Joe" and the Future of Buffalo Airways
When Joe finally discovered the theft in 2013, it was a death blow. He had to shut down heavy-haul operations, lay off almost all staff, and sell off his fleet of iconic trucks to pay debts.
Yes, as of 2025, Joe McBryan is alive and active in aviation. He was recently recognized as a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, which confirms he is alive and being honored for his contributions.
Though Joe remains the face of the company, his children have taken on significant leadership roles to ensure the airline's longevity: His nickname is "Buffalo Joe
He was widely respected for his gruff but endearing personality and his deep dedication to preserving aviation heritage. His legacy includes not only the airline he built but also the generations of pilots he mentored and the history he worked tirelessly to keep alive in the skies.
Joe McBryan , the legendary founder of Buffalo Airways and star of the reality TV show Ice Pilots NWT , continues to be a central figure in Northern Canadian aviation. As of , he remains the owner and president of his company, though his role has evolved significantly due to regulatory challenges and a shift toward training the next generation of pilots . Current Status and Recent Developments
Within weeks, Joe filed a lawsuit against his children, the board members, and the company. His statement of claim alleged Joe claimed that his children had plotted behind his back, manipulated the board, and stolen the company from him. He argued that he was still perfectly capable of running Buffalo Airways and that the claims of mental incapacity were a pretext for a power grab.
As of June 2026, Joe McBryan is still active in the North, living in Yellowknife, and continuing to oversee the legacy of the company he founded in 1970. While he has faced scrutiny from authorities and health checks typical for someone of his age, he has not retired from the industry. He remains an iconic, often contentious figure whose focus remains on ensuring that Buffalo Airways continues to operate. If you are interested, I can also: Find the for Buffalo Airways. Tell you more about the specific aircraft they fly. At the time, it was just a single Douglas DC-3 plane
(which includes many Ice Pilots fans and some former employees) argues it was a cold-hearted betrayal. They point out that Joe built Buffalo Airways from nothing. They argue that the "mental decline" was exaggerated, that Joe was simply old-school and abrasive, and that his children were impatient to cash in. They note that Mikey had chafed under his father’s authority for years on the TV show, and that this was a long-planned power grab.
My father, Buffalo Joe McBryan, is hopping on the King Air today.
1. Stepping Down from Management (The Transport Canada Dispute)
But the more nuanced answer is that Joe McBryan became a tragic figure—a classic story of a titan who built an empire but couldn't hold onto it. He joins the ranks of founders like Steve Jobs (forced out of Apple) or Tommy Walker (displaced from his own creation), but with the added sting that his successors were his own blood.