My father, Buffalo Joe McBryan, is hopping on the King Air today.
: His son, Mikey McBryan , took on a more prominent role as General Manager, handling much of the public-facing and logistical side of the business. Recent Career & Flying
: He spends significant time focused on Buffalo's secondary courier and passenger hub in Hay River and operations in Lockerbie.
What happened to Joe McBryan is a classic tragedy of the frontier. He was a man built for a world that no longer exists. In the 1980s and 90s, his cowboy mentality—fix it with duct tape and fly through any storm—was celebrated. But aviation safety has no room for cowboys.
Inspectors found:
to meet contemporary cargo demands and efficiency standards. Legacy and Public Profile Ice Pilots NWT
: To get the airline back in the air, regulatory consultants indicated that a personality clash existed between McBryan’s old-school piloting culture and government bureaucrats.
He remains the sole owner of Buffalo Airways, which is still operated as a tight-knit family business with his children—Mikey, Rod, and Kathy—holding key executive positions. The Battle with Transport Canada Buffalo Joe Could Lose His Pilots Licence
But behind the TV magic, the seeds of destruction were already planted. Joe ran his airline like a feudal kingdom. His son, Mikey McBryan, was the general manager. His daughter, Julie, handled logistics. And his estranged wife, Margo, was a silent shareholder. The family business was a pressure cooker. what happened to joe mcbryan
—better known as ""—is the heart and soul of Buffalo Airways . For decades, he’s been the face of rugged northern aviation, piloting vintage WWII-era aircraft across the unforgiving Northwest Territories. But lately, fans have been asking: What happened to Joe?
: He remains a revered figure in northern Canadian history, recognized for single-handedly keeping the spirit of golden-age aviation alive in the harshest environment on earth.
This is where public opinion divides sharply.
: Industry consultants noted that the reality show Ice Pilots NWT often highlighted McBryan’s confrontational attitude toward federal bureaucrats, making the dispute deeply personal. My father, Buffalo Joe McBryan, is hopping on
┌──────────────────────────────┐ │ Transport Canada Audits │ └──────────────┬───────────────┘ │ ┌──────────────▼───────────────┐ │ 2015: AOC License Suspended │ └──────────────┬───────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────────────┴─────────────────────┐ │ │ ┌───────────────▼───────────────┐ ┌───────────────▼───────────────┐ │ Structural Adjustment │ │ Operational Shift │ │ • Joe steps down from Mgmt │ │ • Cargo routes prioritized │ │ • Professional CEO hired │ │ • Passenger "Sked" ends │ └───────────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────────┘
His son, Mikey McBryan , has taken on the role of General Manager and serves as the primary face of the company’s operations and media presence (including the Plane Savers series). What Happened with Transport Canada?
As of early-to-mid 2026, despite rumors and "fake news" that frequently circulate online, and remains a part of the aviation community in the North, according to posts from his son, Mikey McBryan.
, affectionately known as “Buffalo Joe,” is the legendary founder and president of Buffalo Airways , an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. He became a global celebrity as the star of the hit reality television series Ice Pilots NWT , which aired from 2009 to 2014. What happened to Joe McBryan is a classic