Kotcho Airport

The airport was closed for economic and logistical reasons. It was a private airstrip built and maintained to support natural gas exploration and production in the remote Kotcho Lake gas field. Its closure was likely due to a combination of factors, including: a shift in operational strategy by the energy companies (such as Mobil Oil Canada, and later Encana/Ovintiv), a reduction in drilling or exploration activities that required fixed-wing air support, and the improvement of ground-based transportation. As the gas field matured, the high cost of maintaining a private, remote airfield likely became unjustifiable compared to using helicopter services or road access.

The site is an abandoned and unmaintained airstrip. Satellite imagery confirms the runway is still clearly visible from the air but is in a state of disrepair, with vegetation encroaching on the gravel surface. There are no remaining airport facilities, navigational aids, or signs of any aviation activity. While the surrounding area remains an active natural gas field with well pads and service roads, the airstrip itself is derelict and no longer part of the region's transportation infrastructure. It is unusable for standard aviation purposes but might serve as an emergency landing strip for a suitably equipped aircraft.

Kotcho Airport was a private, unregistered aerodrome that played a crucial role in the development of the significant natural gas reserves in the Kotcho Lake and Petitot River areas of northeastern British Columbia. Operated by energy companies, it served as a vital logistical hub in a region with limited road access. The airport's 4,000-foot gravel runway handled the transport of personnel, time-sensitive equipment, and essential supplies. It supported charter aircraft typical for northern operations (e.g., de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Beechcraft King Air, and historically even larger types like the DC-3), enabling the construction and continuous operation of the gas plants and well sites in the area for several decades.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening Kotcho Airport. Recommissioning the airstrip would require a significant capital investment to clear vegetation, regrade the runway, and ensure it meets modern safety standards. Such an investment would only be considered if a new, large-scale industrial or resource project in the immediate vicinity created a critical need for fixed-wing air access that could not be met more economically by helicopter transport or the existing regional airport at Fort Nelson (CYYE), located approximately 80 miles to the southeast.