Asbestos Airport

Primarily economic reasons tied to the decline of the local asbestos industry. The airport was heavily supported by and served the Jeffrey Mine, once the world's largest asbestos mine operated by the Johns-Manville company. As global demand for asbestos plummeted due to health concerns, the mine's operations drastically scaled back and eventually ceased. This eliminated the primary source of corporate and logistical air traffic, making the airport economically unviable for the community to maintain.

The site is no longer used for aviation. Satellite imagery clearly shows the paved runway is still intact but marked with large white 'X's, the standard visual indicator for a permanently closed runway. The land has been repurposed for industrial use as part of the 'Parc industriel de la Chaîne'. The former runway and apron areas are now used for industrial storage, including large piles of wood chips for local industry, vehicle parking, and as a space for driver training courses.

Asbestos Airport was a private aerodrome whose history is intrinsically linked to the Jeffrey Mine. Its primary function was to support the mine's extensive operations. It handled corporate and executive travel for the Johns-Manville company, facilitated the urgent transport of parts and equipment, and served as a vital logistical link for the town's main industry. Additionally, it was used by the local general aviation community for private and recreational flying. Its existence was a symbol of the town's industrial prosperity during the peak of asbestos production.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been successfully integrated into the local industrial park, making its redevelopment for aviation highly unlikely. The region is adequately served by other airports, such as Sherbrooke Airport (CYSC), which is approximately 50 km to the southeast. The economic basis for a local airport in Val-des-Sources no longer exists.