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Helen Healey’s journey took her to numerous destinations where she encountered people of all walks of life.
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Helen Healey’s journey took her to numerous destinations where she encountered people of all walks of life.
Photo submitted
Local family who loves aviation
Published 2:37 PDT, Thu June 5, 2025
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In 1956, Helen Healey packed up all that she had and travelled to Vancouver in search of a new life. She wanted to see the world, staying in Revelstoke briefly before signing up for training with the Canadian Pacific Airlines. Her training encompassed aircraft safety, food and beverage service, grooming, first aid, wet ditching; a water emergency technique, and addressing the public among other things.
Healey’s career spanned various aircrafts, from the DC-3 to the Boeing 747, taking her to many destinations including Amsterdam, Honolulu, Mexico City, Fiji, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, and many more. Though the journey was tough with many diverse situations such as transporting prisoners, stretcher patients, infants in incubators and unaccompanied children, it was the friendships along the way that made it worth it.
Notable flight experiences include the time on an international flight from Honolulu to Vancouver when the aircraft they were on had lost an engine forcing them to return to Hawaii. Another notable flight experience includes the time on a flight from Toronto to Vancouver when Harry Belafonte boarded their flight.
Healey would go on a break after eight years to have her daughter, before returning to Pacific Western Airlines.
Healey’s daughter, Rebecca would go onto live her life attending cadets in the RCAF Squadron 655 Richmond where she would eventually meet the love of her life in a man named Dallas Chisholm. The two would eventually get married where Rebecca, would study dental hygiene at Camosun College in Victoria, while Dallas would study at the University of Victoria. Dallas would eventually work as an instructor and air traffic controller for NAV Canada, coordinating the safety and efficient movement of aircrafts in domestic and international airspace.
Healey’s extended family is also in the aviation business, meet Captain Kevin Phillips. Phillips is married to Chandra Chisholm who is related to Dallas Chisholm, husband of Rebecca. Kevin is a captain for Helijet, they offer year round charter services throughout BC’s north coast, from Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Sandspit, Vancouver, and even Victoria.
Helen Healey’s journey in aviation is a testament to the profound impact of following one’s passion, her adventures have developed into links to her extended family’s love for aviation. From her early days of air travel to memorable encounters with people of all kinds, Healey’s experiences encapsulates the spirit of exploration and service. It’s safe to say the sky is the limit for this local family as they uphold their family’s commitment to flight.
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