Atikokan, CA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport
CA-0029
-
- ft
CA-ON
Loading...
Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 48.716702° N, -91.266701° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Get an AI-powered summary of traveler experiences at Crystal Lake Airport
Powered by AI web research of traveler reviews and experiences
Researching traveler experiences online...
Loading weather data...
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
The aerodrome was officially de-listed from the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) and other official aviation publications in the mid-2010s. The exact date is not public, but it is estimated to be between 2014 and 2017, coinciding with the closure of its primary operator.
The closure was due to economic reasons, specifically the cessation of operations of its sole registered user and operator, Sapawe Air Ltd. When the air charter company closed down, the water aerodrome was no longer maintained or required for certified operations, leading to its de-registration with Transport Canada.
The site is now a de-certified water aerodrome and functions as private waterfront property. Satellite imagery of the location still shows the docks and shoreline buildings once used by Sapawe Air. However, it is no longer used for any commercial or certified aviation activities. Any use of the lake for floatplane landings or takeoffs would be at the pilot's own discretion and not as a registered aerodrome.
The site was not a traditional land-based airport but was officially registered as the Crystal Lake Water Aerodrome (Transport Canada Location Identifier: CKT3). The identifier 'CA-0029' was a non-official code used in some third-party databases. Its primary historical significance was serving as the main base of operations for Sapawe Air Ltd., a local bush plane airline. For decades, this seaplane base was a vital transportation hub for the Atikokan region, handling operations such as:
- Air charter services for tourists, fishermen, and hunters accessing remote lodges and outpost camps in the Northwestern Ontario wilderness, including areas near Quetico Provincial Park.
- Transportation for mining exploration, forestry, and other resource-based industries.
- General air taxi services for the local community.
- The base primarily handled float-equipped aircraft typical of Canadian bush flying, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and Cessna 185.
There are no known public plans or prospects for reopening the site as a certified water aerodrome. Re-certification would require a new commercial operator to establish a base of operations there and complete the necessary regulatory process with Transport Canada. Given the closure of the previous operator and the existence of the Atikokan Municipal Airport (CYAG) for land-based aircraft, the likelihood of reopening is considered very low.