Coal Valley Airport

Economic reasons. CA-0097 was a private aerodrome that existed solely to support the Coal Valley surface coal mine. In 2018, the mine's owner, Westmoreland Coal Company, ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy protection. With the mine shut down, there was no longer a need for the airport, leading to its decommissioning.

The physical airstrip remains intact and visible in satellite imagery. However, it is no longer a registered or certified aerodrome with Transport Canada. The gravel runway is likely used as a service road or an equipment staging area for the ongoing care, maintenance, and reclamation activities at the mine site. It is not open to any form of air traffic.

Coal Valley Airport was a crucial piece of infrastructure for one of Alberta's largest surface coal mines. Its primary purpose was logistical, serving as a hub for fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) workers, transporting management and specialized contractors, and facilitating the rapid delivery of critical parts and supplies to the remote location. It also played a vital role in emergency medical evacuations. The airport consisted of a single gravel runway (designated 10/28, approximately 4,500 feet long) capable of handling turboprop charter aircraft such as the Beechcraft King Air and de Havilland Twin Otter.

Possible. In 2022, the Coal Valley Mine was acquired by CST Canada Coal Limited, which has announced plans to restart mining operations. If the mine returns to full production, it is highly probable that the new owners will seek to have the airport recertified and reopened to support their FIFO workforce and logistical needs. As of now, there has been no official confirmation or timeline for the airport's reactivation, and its future is entirely dependent on the successful restart of the mine.