Deception Airport

The airport was closed for operational and economic reasons related to the expansion of the nearby Raglan Mine. The original Deception Airport was a small, likely gravel or ice airstrip suitable only for smaller STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft used during the mine's exploration phase. To support full-scale mining operations, a much larger, all-weather airport was needed to accommodate larger passenger and cargo aircraft like the Boeing 737. The new Kattiniq/Donaldson Airport was built a few kilometers away at a higher elevation, and upon its completion, the original Deception Airport was no longer needed.

The site of the former Deception Airport is abandoned and inactive. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows the clear outline of a single runway adjacent to the Deception Bay (Baie de la Déception) port facilities, which are part of the Raglan Mine's infrastructure. The runway surface is unmaintained and is not used for any aviation purposes. The area is part of the mine's industrial footprint, but the airstrip itself is a historical relic.

Deception Airport was historically crucial for the exploration and development of the Raglan Mine, one of Canada's largest nickel mines. From the initial discovery in the 1960s by Falconbridge until the mid-1990s, this airstrip was the primary lifeline to the extremely remote site. It handled essential flights carrying geologists, surveyors, drilling equipment, and supplies. Operations were typically conducted by smaller charter aircraft, such as the DHC-6 Twin Otter and Douglas DC-3, which were vital for establishing and sustaining the exploration camp that would eventually become the major industrial mine.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Deception Airport. The modern and fully-equipped Kattiniq/Donaldson Airport (CTU2) effectively serves all the aviation needs of the Raglan Mine and the surrounding area. The original airport is considered permanently closed and functionally obsolete due to its limited size, inferior surface, and less favorable location compared to the current facility.