Petrel Airport

Military Decommissioning. The airport, originally known as Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Petrel, was a purpose-built training facility for World War II. It was closed as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was scaled down towards the end of the war due to a surplus of trained aircrew.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned. The site is now privately owned agricultural land within the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford, Manitoba. While the original hangars and buildings have been removed or demolished, the distinct triangular layout of the three runways is still clearly visible from satellite imagery. The deteriorated asphalt and concrete surfaces are now used for farming activities, including crop cultivation and storing hay bales.

The airport holds significant historical importance as a key site for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), a massive program that trained Allied aircrews in Canada during WWII. Opened on March 15, 1943, it was home to No. 33 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). The school's primary role was to provide advanced multi-engine flight training to pilots who had already completed their basic training. The main aircraft used for this purpose was the Avro Anson. The airfield was constructed in the standard triangular pattern typical of BCATP bases, designed to allow for simultaneous takeoffs and landings. Its operation was a direct and vital contribution to the Allied war effort.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Petrel Airport. The essential infrastructure is either gone or in a complete state of disrepair. The land is privately owned and integrated into local agricultural operations. Given the lack of any economic or strategic need for an airfield at this specific location, its reopening is considered highly improbable.