Final episode of Ice Pilots NWT to air Wednesday night

The final episode of Ice Pilots NWT will air Wednesday night on the History Channel.

The reality TV program about Buffalo Airways in Hay River, N.W.T., premiered in 2009 and ran for six seasons.

Buffalo Airways general managerMikey McBryansays the company has enjoyed tremendous publicity thanks to the show. He says heeven gets recognized in the streets of France.

But for tonight's finale, the well-travelled McBryan is staying close to home.

"I'm going towatch it with all my friends and family that were here in Hay River way before there was a TV show," he said.

"The funny thing is, out of 73 episodes, when you take away the premieres, I've probably only watched an episode maybe three or four times with my father. Usually, a lot of times, he gets mad."

Thefinale is airing on the 79th anniversary of Buffalo's famous DC-3 planes.

One of the company's DC-3s made a quick return to Hay River Wednesday morning after its left engine caught on fireshortly after takeoff.

With their heightened depiction of Northern derring-do,shows likeIce Pilots and Ice Road Truckers have attracted many tourists to the Northwest Territories.

But thoughthe programsmay dramatize life in the North, free publicity is free publicity, says the president ofYellowknife's visitorscentre.

"I've heard that people are concerned that it glorifies the more dangerous aspects of air travel," said Colin Dempsey.

"But I think, all in all, any awareness that we can raise is good. I know I've seen people going through the Calgary airport with their Ice Pilot gear head to toe."

McBryansays the company has two full-time staff members dealing mostly with merchandising.

"The unfortunate thing is that airplanes cost a lot of money, so when an Electra blows a starter at 20 grand, that's a lot of T-shirts to sell to cover that," McBryan said.

"If the T-shirt company was its own separate store, it would be really good. But it's just part of this huge monster. All the money goes back into making sure the C-46 fliesup the valley every day."