“Tsayta”, a word from an Indigenous language meaning “in the mountains”, had its early beginnings at Tsayta Lake Lodge, which is the top lake in the Nation Lakes chain, near Takla Landing.  In the late 1970s, Clarence Hogan and his wife, Nicole, and 3 children moved from Alberta to Vanderhoof, BC, and would spend every summer and fall for several years operating the hunting and fishing lodge at Tsayta Lake.   Having a passion for flying his Cessna 185, Clarence formed Tsayta Aviation Ltd. (“Tsayta Air”) in 1983   and would primarily fly in fisherman, (as this was a fly-in only lodge and Tsayta was a “trophy” lake), as well as hunters in the fall time.  For several years, the main source of revenue depended on tourism, recreation, and forestry.

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     In 1990, Tsayta Air moved its base from Vanderhoof, on the Nechako River, to Fort St. James, on the Stuart River, and the retiring NT Air’s float plane base was purchased.  The flying industry did fairly well at the float plane base for a number of years, and for a period of time Tsayta Air worked along with the Takla Development Corporation.  With the development of several logging roads, over time the tourism industry dwindled.  During those years, there was an additional float plane base in Telegraph Creek, with Rick Woodman operating one of the Beavers, to support the hunting & guide outfitters there.  In addition, a base was acquired at the Dease Lake airport to support mining operations.  The aircraft fleet began to grow.

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     In 2015, Tsayta Air acquired a hangar and office at the Smithers airport and moved its main source of operations there to support the mining industry and other government programs.  In addition to operating Cessna 185s and the de Havilland Beaver, the fleet began to include Cessna 206s, Brittain-Norman Islanders, the Kodiak, and the Turbine Otter. 

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     Clarence has mentored many young and aspiring bush pilots over the years and helped them to accumulate their hours in rugged terrain and develop necessary bush flying experience and skills.  They have learned real hands on flying in a variety of aircraft and weather conditions until they were ready to take the next level.  For some that may mean moving on to the airlines, and for others, on to another adventure flying larger aircraft in another part of the country, or, out of the way places such as Antarctica.   Clarence, and his knowledgeable crew continue to provide the mentorship, support and career development for his pilots today.