Komakuk Beach DEW Line Station

The airport's closure was a direct result of a military-technological shift. The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, which the airport was built to support, became technologically obsolete. It was replaced by the more advanced and highly automated North Warning System (NWS) between 1988 and 1993. The NWS required significantly fewer personnel and a smaller number of sites. Komakuk Beach, as a large, staffed Main Station, was decommissioned in its original capacity. While a new, automated radar was installed, the large base, its permanent staff, and the need for a continuously operational, large-scale airport were eliminated.

The site is officially closed and largely abandoned. Following the DEW Line's shutdown, the site underwent extensive environmental remediation managed by Canada's Department of National Defence (DND). This multi-year cleanup project involved the demolition of most original buildings and the removal of contaminated soil, particularly from PCBs and fuel spills. However, the site is not entirely inactive. It now hosts an automated North Warning System (NWS) Short-Range Radar (SRR) station, which retains the designation BAR-B. The original gravel airstrip remains physically present but is unmaintained and not certified for public or regular use. It may be used on an ad-hoc basis by military or contractor aircraft for periodic maintenance of the NWS equipment. The surrounding area is now part of Ivvavik National Park.

Komakuk Beach was a critical component of the Cold War defense infrastructure. It was designated as Main Station BAR-B in the DEW Line, a chain of over 60 radar and communication stations built across the Arctic to provide early warning of a potential Soviet bomber attack over the North Pole. The airport, with its approximately 5,500-foot gravel runway, was the station's lifeline. It was essential for handling large transport aircraft, primarily the C-124 Globemaster II and later the C-130 Hercules. These aircraft were responsible for the initial construction of the site in the mid-1950s and its subsequent resupply with personnel, food, fuel, and equipment. As a Main Station, Komakuk was larger and more complex than the auxiliary or intermediate sites, serving as a logistical and command hub for its sector of the line.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport to the public or for commercial operations. The rationale for its existence—supporting a large, permanently staffed military base—is gone. The extreme remoteness, harsh Arctic environment, and high cost of maintaining and certifying an airport in this location make any civilian or commercial venture economically unfeasible. Furthermore, its location within a national park presents significant regulatory and environmental hurdles to any new development. Its current, limited use for NWS maintenance is sufficient for its modern strategic purpose.