A former Bearskin employee named Ethan Hodgson told us that while strange as it may be, these Neons have actually been used in other hubs for Bearskin aircraft, while the Sioux Lookout in Ontario is another excellent example. He also noted that the airline had been using it since the early 2000s and that they had frequent problems with the transmission. When one would finally give up, the mechanics would obtain another transmission, pick it up in the engine bag, and send the little horrors back to the tarmac.
So just why did Bearskin use these Neons instead of proper tugs? We think it has something to do with the size of Bearskin’s average flights. The regional aircraft uses only one aircraft model: the Fairchild Metroliner. This means that at most a single flight can carry a maximum load of only 19 passengers. Why spend $ 30,000 on a tugboat when a cheap ’90s Dodge Neon will do the work for the cost of a sawmill and some blades?
“They were a lot of fun!” Hodgson tells The ride. “I once went way too fast and strapped on a piece of ice, there I was on the apron spinning in circles with nothing to hold on to but just the steering wheel. I think they have seat belts not long after. not implemented. “
Unfortunately, although the Neons were able to tow up to two luggage carts, they were not up to the load of the Metroliners to the runway. Instead, Bearskin apparently used some GMC Sierras from the 1990s to do the job, which was a significantly cheaper alternative.
But despite the oddly strong inflection, Bearskin seems to be a little self-conscious about his love for Neons. A promotional video about cargo loading on its website features a tractor that slides a Coca-Cola instead of these chopped up eco-buses, which is upsetting because we’d rather have the latter.
Or maybe it’s because you simply will not find these Neons on the taxiway anymore. Hodgson said many, if not all, of the places where Bearskin operates have since retired to the Neons and invested in more proper equipment.
Maybe one day someone will run into someone in a Canadian junkyard, and when they wonder what it was used for in his previous life, they can learn the glorious story of Bearskin’s Dodge Neons.
We reached out to Bearskin Airlines to learn more about the trusted Neons, and we’ll update this story when we hear back.
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