ABOUT

West Coast Wild offers private flight experiences along the west coast, with a focus on accessing remote areas and providing a clear, uninterrupted view of the landscape from above. The approach is straightforward, safe flying, flexible routes, and a more personal way to experience the coast.

MEET YOUR PILOT

JOSH HARTIKAINEN, COMMERCIAL PILOT
Josh Hartikainen is a fully licensed commercial pilot with a floatplane rating and extensive experience flying along British Columbia’s wild west coast. With hundreds of hours navigating remote inlets, open ocean, and backcountry lakes, he brings a calm, safety-first approach paired with a deep respect for the environment he flies through.
Born in Tofino, Josh spent his early years at Cougar Annie’s Garden, where his connection to the coastline first took shape. Having lived between the coast and the mountains of the Kootenays, he developed an instinctive understanding of both landscapes.
​
That lifelong connection carries into every flight, offering not just a journey through the air, but a perspective shaped by genuine familiarity with the land and waters below.

COLLABORATIONS

JONQUIL CROSBY, M.E.S., R.P. BIOLOGIST
Jonquil Crosby is a Registered Professional Biologist with over 20 years of experience across coastal and interior ecosystems in British Columbia, as well as in Alberta, Ontario, and internationally.
Since 2020, she has worked closely with the West Coast Wild Air team, contributing to a range of environmental and aerial research initiatives. Her work includes amphibian surveys, Roosevelt elk research, badger tracking, and offshore marine mammal monitoring.
​
Jonquil has held senior roles within First Nation governance, worked as a private watershed biologist, and contributed to international research with the Smithsonian Institution. Through her work with WCW, she completed a three-year offshore marine mammal survey along the west coast of Vancouver Island, with all aerial imagery captured in collaboration with WCW pilots.

PASSENGER CAPACITY

The floatplane holds up to 3 passengers, with an additional rear child seat available.
​Dogs are welcome, please contact Josh directly for inquiries. 

PRICING

Minimum flight 1/2 hour $475 plus GST
All other flights based on Hourly rate of $930 plus GST