Comments 1,276 to 1,325 of 1,839
1975
For some weeks in early spring 1975 we flew CH-135s from Alert down along the coast to a place known only as Ho Hum Bay restocking batteries and working out on that thick, old ice, supporting Defence Research Establishment (Pacific), I think. Dropped by Fort Conger, Cape Aldrich, Hazen Lake. Drilled holes through the ice and tried to get the char to bite at something. The char had more luck than we had!
In those days the station consisted mostly of ATCO huts. Comfy enough for the time we were there. I hear it is different now.
What a surprise!
I was in Montreal on Sunday 6 June, riding in the Tour de l'Isle bicycle ride. (I'm a cyclist and a pilot.) So, I was riding along Boulevard Gouin with about 25000 other cyclists, enjoying the river and the neighborhood, when suddenly this lot full of seaplanes appeared on my left. I almost fell off the bike! I couldn't believe it. What a neat seaplane base!
My suggestion to the operators - sign up to get one of Montreal's wonderful Bixi public bicycle stations at the base. Central downtown is an easy 15 km from the base, and Montreal is an extremely bike-friendly city. For those who haven't experienced Bixi, these are public bike stations. You put in your credit card, pay $5, and take a bike. Ride to wherever you're going, return the bike to the nearest Bixi rack (they're everywhere), and pick up another one for your return trip.
Nordair
Flew in many times, B737-200 and Lockheed L188. Short runway, often icy. No overuns at either end.
Hi John
Hi John, Craig Finnigan here. I lost your phone # and havn't forgotten you!
Call me or e-mail. cell 250-740-7579
craig@mclarenlighting.com
Friendly Service
Visited this airport briefly to pick up a friend. The fueler was very friendly, even though he was missing the hockey game to be there for me. The runway is at an angle; 0.65% up if landing on runway 26 (though it seems a lot more than that when landing). The airport is staffed with FSS who was also friendly. I presume the whole place is one big friendly Alberta town - next time I'll spend more time and find out for sure.
Kaslo Airport.
Runway is longer than Nelson's runway and plenty of room to expand.
Currently 1- 3 bay hanger is for sale! Ask Kul Nijjar.
No good!
The aircraft parked here are so overgrown their landing gear is now part of the landscape. It looks like this was once a field with a Cessna population that is long gone. The runway is no longer a runway and is simply a road into the gas station. Too bad, it would have been fun!
Fuel
This little airport is a short flight north of North Bay, Ontario, on the east side of Lake Temiscaming. I believe it is the westernmost public airport in Quebec, or at least, very close.
I called today to ask about a Hope Air flight next week. The person who answered was very friendly, and he confirmed that 100LL is available for $1.60/litre tax included (not an unreasonable price for northwestern Quebec). You have to give notice if you want fuel, but the person was very friendly, and said he had no objection to waiting around a few hours if my arrival time wasn't certain. We spoke in French, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to get service in English.
Fuel enquiries: +1 819 629-4936
re: How much is Landing Fee CYQB?
If you are a light general aviation airplane, there are no landing fees. I go there every month or so and do pay a dime in landing fee. However, after one day at one of the FBOs, parking will run around $25/night, worth a phone call to double check.
Enjoy this beautiful city!
How much is Landing Fee CYQB?
Anyone know? I have looked all over and I cannot find what the landing fee will be in CYQB. I am in the states and would be traveling there in June. Thanks
re: PPR and stay in the middle
whoops! make that SE of field :-)
Fuel Stop
My 30 minute fuel stop turned into a 1 1/2 hr stop. The Snowbirds were there and all wanted to look at my Velocity, great bunch of pilots. Did not realize that the Tudor only has a 1 1/2 hr duration, even with belly tank. Main comment was "You came all the way from Ottawa without stopping?". Brandon has some of the friendliest people in that part of the country.
re: No french? no UNICOM
Reply to @anjp: I've never had any response from Maniwaki Unicom in either language. :)
It's true, though, that staff at FBOs for many smaller Quebec airports often don't speak English, or speak very little.
PPR and stay in the middle
as prev post states, there can be some low & soggy spots so stick to to the exact middle of the strip. Also keep in mind the high tower (flashing) SW of field. Don't extend your downwind too far for 35 :-)
Weird wind
Been here a few times (always in the spring/summer months) and have found the wind to be odd. There's a some trees and a few bumps in the North ground that may contribute to this. A couple times wind has been dead on one side and 10-15 kts on the other (measured via dual windsocks installed at aerodrome). But don't let that discourage you.... great airport!
No french? no UNICOM
Been here a couple times and could never get the UNICOM to respond to my english... Other pilots in the circuit speaking french do receive a response. What can you do :-)
Visual games on 28
Great airport, watch for visual tricks when you come in on 28. The water is low and so is the grass before the strip starts....but the threshold is higher. Keep an eye out for skydiving traffic. The buildings you see on former 04/22 comprise a skydiving school.
Comment problems?
Dave, did you make some change to the comment system recently? It seems like in the last few days, every comment by a non-logged in person is repeated three times.
fly in
When is the next fly in?
fly in
When is the next fly in?
fly in
When is the next fly in?
No services
There are no services on site at the airport. According to the web site, you can order a taxi by calling 250-495-7004.
Large aircraft
I was driving by Muskoka airport one day last week when I observed an aircraft , a variant of a Boeing 757, with the colours and loggo of the United States Government, Air Force 2 I beleive. Very impressive. Probably something to do with the upcoming G8 summit.
Boston Brook airstrip
Nice private strip built in 1952 for aerial spray against spruce budworm. In the 1970's, the place was home for over 200 people from May to July and aircrafts ranging from Gruman TBM avengers to Ayres Turbo Thrushes. Great to fly in and out off!
No landing fee
Waterloo has eliminated its landing fee for planes with a maximum gross weight under 3,000 kg (6,614 lb).
Shut down on weekends
This is a great little airport!
Unfortunately, the City of Elliot Lake has decided to close the FBO on the weekends, with a $75 callout charge if you need fuel, and no airside access for transients. I doubt they understand how this will drive away the tourism the city so desperately needs (with its uranium mines closed for almost 20 years), especially during the busy summer season from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving -- I imagine the Stone Ridge Golf Club, which picks up patrons at the airport when they fly in to play, will be especially unimpressed.
The decision also means no METAR from Elliot Lake on the weekends (a problem for people flying along the north shore of Lake Huron), and no local civil weather (Weather Channel, etc.) for the people of Elliot Lake on the weekends.
Tomvale
It is a PPR airport. What a pain. I would use it if it was more accessable.
Mattawa Airport
Located in a convenient place. Gincor which produces dump truck bodies and other things is 1 km up the road or less. Flown in there many times for parts. Saves many hours of driving. The airport is a typical grass strip. Long enough for experienced pilots with moderate performance aircraft.
re: New Runway Construction
Reply to @mculshaw:
Hey Mark,
do you have a schematic for the airport that you could email to me at jcslats@yahoo.com? Thanks in advance.
re: Closed
Reply to @bcrosby: Have landed there 3 times on fishing trips to Lady Evelyn Lake. Was planning another this year and discovered the closing. John was a good man. He even flew out to the camp in his C180 and took us fishing on a remote lake about 40 miles W of our camp. (Island 10) It was a poor day of fishing but like they say "It sure beat not fishing". Enjoyed it. I had an old '64 Mooney M20E.
Info
(from @flander) Wind sock located at the south end of runway 34. no fuel available Tel: (306) 854-2277
flight from edmonton to Athabasca tomorrow 9:45 am?
Do you know of any flights at this time?
Thanks,
e
re: Facilities
That is, the runways have been resurfaced since the Google photo with all the cracks.
Facilities
Nice paved runways, only place around here where you can buy fuel with a credit card. $50 after-hours callout fee. $65 after 11 pm.
Billy Bishop - isolated from town
Nice enough airport but not if you are hungry or wish to spend some time and money in Owen Sound. No courtesy car, no bicycles. Pay for cab is only way in and back. Typical Canadian airport, town ignores it as a tourism draw. Good news is that Wiarton "CYVV" is nearby and they get it, car, bicycles, food and friendly.
Hangar Space
Good hangar space available for light and medium sized aircraft with Trillium Aviation Corp.
Friendly airport
Flew here for a Hope Air flight today. Everyone at the airport was friendly, especially the security guard.
There are two aviation fuel suppliers at Val-d'Or, Valpiro beside the terminal and Petro-T at the south end of the runway, but only Petro-T has 100LL. There's a little Casse-Croute (snack bar) in the terminal, but I'm not sure if it's always open. Since there were no scheduled flights due, the FSS guy let me park right in front of the terminal for an hour: the Petro-T truck drove up and fueled my plane a few minutes after I called.
The phone number for Hangar-Q (Petro-T) is 819-874-7000.
Be prepared to speak French: outside of Montreal and Gatineau, it's not a safe assumption that most francophones can speak English as well.
General information which might be usefull
Owned and operated by the Springfield Flying Club. Communications frequency is 123.2 , uncontrolled. Friendly airport with lovely clubhouse . Coffee pot usually on and people to talk to. Fuel is available , both Avgas and Mogas. A variety of small aircraft including many advanced ultralights. Ski flying is popular off of groomed snow runways in the winter time. Telephone number is (204) 222-0079
re: Supply / demand
I flew a Cessna 150 in and out of YYZ many years ago when flying ops were moved from the BFC to YZ's north end due muddy runways in the spring.
re: Supply / demand
I flew a Cessna 150 in and out of YYZ many years ago when flying ops were moved from the BFC to YZ's north end due muddy runways in the spring.
re: Some Information...
Reply to @bcrosby:
I used to fly into King City in the winter with a friend who owned a J-3 Cub on skis. Great fun.
re: Cute little airport
Reply to @bcrosby:
Oh it's not that narrow. A DH 125 landed and took off from there many moons ago. There's been; a MU 2, a Piaggio, Twin Otters, Queen Airs, a Lockheed 10A belonging to Air Canada, T 28 Trojans and Harvards to name a few have been into Guelph. Friendly staff and a nice restaurant with good food. The Tiger Boys also have an active museum on site.
re: Ultralight friendly and safe
Reply to @Paraman:
I'm flying PPG out of there quite a bit too now. Great airport. Give me a shout if you want to fly. I live local and can be there with short notice. jlea1@cogeco.ca
Free Wifi!
YOW now offers free WiFi to everyone in their departure areas. With short security lines and free WiFi, the airport really beats the crap out of bigger ones like YOW and YUL. Customs lines can be long in rush hour, but are pretty good the rest of the time.
Orangeville Airport
I got my PPL license there in 1971 with Townsend Air Service. It was also a Lake Amphibian distributor. Not sure what year it closed. Elton Townsend moved the operation to Muskoka Airport.
Prairie Jewel
A great place to fly to, situated on highway 24 which runs to Calgary to the north and Lethbridge to the south. Right next to the Vulcan airport is the golf club which boasts a great 18 hole course and you can take a short walk across a couple of fairways from the airport and have breakfast or lunch at the club house (spring thru fall only). Vulcan is a growing agricultural community about 90 minutes southeast of Calgary Alberta and lots of retired Calgarians are moving here to escape the hustle of the big city. The main part of town has shops and other restaurants to choose from. Population is about 3,000.
Runway
Bassano airport has a new re-surfaced runway 07/25 and is a great place to land, it has a pilots lounge with pay phone and washrooms. This airport is just off the Trans Canada highway. It also now has a flying school which just opened this year (2010). The town is only a short distance from the airport and has a couple of great restaurants to choose from. The local flying community and town puts together an awesome airshow each summer. This small farming community has some of the friendliest people around.
re: Hawke Field
Reply to @prattsoplenty: Thanks - I've changed the status of the airport to show that it's operational, and added a "private" tag.
re: Hawke Field
Reply to @david: I think it is just closed to the public. The owner has a very nice collection of airplanes including a couple of Harvards, a Waco bi-plane and others that he keeps there.
Collective Challenge
🔗 Fri, 18 Jun 2010
— @AwakeAndUnafraid at Red Deer Regional Airport, Canada
Spent some time here in autumn 1978 for a helicopter competition. Fun