In June 1955, Canadian Pacific Airlines inaugurated a regular scheduled service between Vancouver and Amsterdam via the polar route. The Company had a wealth of northern experience which was of immense operational value on the polar route. In addition to its overseas services, C.P.A. has operated regular flights for many years to far northern parts of Canada and some of the group of companies which amalgamated to form C.P.A. in 1942 had arctic experience dating from the days when commercial aviation was in its infancy. One aspect of navigational experience which has helped its navigators on many occasions has been the map reading talents of the former bush pilots who show an astonishing ability to locate themselves visually over country which is mostly water, and where one lake looks much like every other lake.