Driftwood Airport

NoneCA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport

ICAO

CA-0119

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

CA-BC

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 55.816666° N, -126.416664° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

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For Pilots

Designation Length Width Surface Status

Type Description Frequency

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Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Closure Date

The exact date of closure is unknown. As a private, unregistered aerodrome, it likely did not have a formal closure date but was gradually abandoned. Based on satellite imagery showing significant overgrowth, it was likely abandoned sometime in the late 20th or early 21st century when the activity it supported ceased.

Reason for Closure

The airport was closed for economic reasons. These types of remote, private airstrips are typically built to support a specific commercial operation, such as a mining exploration camp, a logging operation, or a wilderness lodge. The closure of Driftwood Airport is directly tied to the cessation of the project it was built to serve. Once the operation was no longer active, there was no need to maintain the airstrip, and it was left to be reclaimed by nature.

Current Status

The site is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals a faint outline of a single, north-south oriented runway. The runway surface is heavily overgrown with shrubs and small trees, making it unusable for any aircraft. There are no visible buildings, hangars, or any other infrastructure remaining at the site. The former airport is now effectively just a clearing in the forest that is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding wilderness.

Historical Significance

Driftwood Airport was a private, utilitarian airstrip whose significance was purely logistical. Located in the remote wilderness of northern British Columbia, it provided vital air access for a specific, isolated project. Its operations would have been limited to VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights by bush planes, such as the de Havilland Beaver, Cessna 185, or Piper Super Cub, which are capable of using short, unpaved runways. The airstrip was a critical link for transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to and from the remote site, which was likely involved in mineral exploration, as this region is known for such activities.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Driftwood Airport. Given its extremely remote location, advanced state of disrepair, and the lack of any current economic driver in the immediate vicinity, the cost of rehabilitating the airstrip would be substantial. A new, significant commercial venture such as a major mine or tourist lodge would need to be established nearby to justify such an investment. The prospect of reopening is considered virtually zero.

Nearby Airports

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Fort Grahame Airport
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Smithers (Canadian) Heliport
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Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.