Since stepping back from the airline's daily management, McBryan has not retired to a quiet life. Instead, he has channeled his energy into his long-standing passion: . He is actively working to train the next generation of northern pilots to fight wildfires. His company has acquired a two-seat training version of the Air Tractor AT-802 (Fire Boss) and a sophisticated flight simulator.
In November and December 2015, Transport Canada suspended Buffalo Airways' Air Operator Certificate.
To close the loop on the search query "what happened to Joe McBryan": He did not die. He did not retire to Florida. He is still in Yellowknife, likely yelling at someone about a radial engine. what happened to joe mcbryan
Despite stepping back from the office, Joe has not hung up his wings. He remains an active pilot, frequently seen flying the airline’s vintage fleet.
He is renowned for maintaining the world's most unique fleet of WWII-era aircraft, including the DC-3, DC-4, and C-46 Curtiss Commando [7]. Since stepping back from the airline's daily management,
While Joe’s heart belongs to vintage piston-driven aircraft, the company has integrated newer technology. They recently added a jet-engine Boeing 737-300 freighter to their fleet to handle larger cargo volumes more efficiently.
Joe, for his part, denied everything. He produced his own medical reports and affidavits from pilots and mechanics who swore he was still sharp. He insisted this was a simple case of greed: his children wanted to sell the valuable real estate and assets of Buffalo Airways, while he wanted to keep flying vintage planes. His company has acquired a two-seat training version
McBryan's fleet became a signature of the airline—a collection of legendary . At its core were the Douglas DC-3, the Curtiss C-46 Commando, and the Lockheed L-188 Electra, aircraft dating back to World War II and the 1950s.
“I don’t remember much of December at all. They put me under. But my wife tells me they called the family in to say goodbye. I saw a light, but I told the light, ‘Not today, I’ve got freight to haul.’”
Based on reports and updates as of early 2026, here is the full story of Buffalo Joe’s later years, his battles with health, and his status with the airline he built. The Legend of "Buffalo Joe"