Berland Airport

Economic and operational reasons. Berland Airport was a private aerodrome operated by Shell Canada Ltd. to support its remote natural gas operations, specifically the Berland River Gas Plant. The closure was a direct result of shifting operational needs, the potential decommissioning of the facility it served, or a change in logistics strategy that made maintaining a private airstrip economically unviable.

The airport is officially closed and abandoned. Recent satellite imagery confirms the runway outline is still clearly visible but is unmaintained, with vegetation encroaching on the surface. The site is not used for any official aviation activity. The adjacent industrial plant and infrastructure appear to be in a state of suspension or decommissioning.

The airport's significance was purely industrial. It was a critical piece of private infrastructure for Shell Canada's activities in a remote, heavily forested region of Alberta. It was not a public airport. Its primary function was to facilitate the transport of personnel (engineers, workers), time-sensitive equipment, and supplies to and from the Berland gas field. The 4,000-foot gravel runway was suitable for rugged, STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capable aircraft commonly used in supporting resource extraction in northern Canada.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening. The airport's existence was tied exclusively to a specific industrial project. A reopening would be contingent on a new, large-scale industrial operation commencing in the immediate vicinity that would require the support of a fixed-wing airstrip, which is considered highly unlikely.