Rivers Airport

Military consolidation and budget cuts. The airport was formerly Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Rivers / RCAF Station Rivers. Its closure was part of a major reorganization and reduction of the Canadian Armed Forces following the 1968 unification of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Navy. The government of the day sought to reduce military spending, leading to the closure of several bases, including CFB Rivers.

The site is now privately owned and is no longer a certified or operational airport. The ICAO identifier CA-0313 refers to the abandoned aerodrome. The extensive runway and taxiway system, while still clearly visible from the air, is in a state of severe disrepair, with large cracks, vegetation growth, and sections used for storing farm equipment and hay bales. Many of the original military buildings have been demolished or have fallen into ruin. A few of the hangars and other structures have been repurposed by local businesses for storage or light industrial use. The land itself is primarily used for agriculture.

CFB Rivers has a significant history in Canadian military aviation.

1. **WWII - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP):** The station opened on June 16, 1941, as part of the BCATP. It was home to No. 1 Air Navigation School (ANS), which trained thousands of air navigators for the Allied war effort until it closed in May 1945.

2. **Post-War Joint Training Centre:** After the war, the base was repurposed and became a key site for joint training between the army and air force. In 1947, it was reactivated as the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre. Operations included army co-operation, advanced flying training, and airborne forces training.

3. **Home of Army Aviation:** Rivers is considered the birthplace of post-war Canadian Army aviation. The No. 1 Air Observation Post (AOP) Flight was formed here, training pilots to fly light aircraft like the Auster and later the Cessna L-19 Bird Dog for artillery spotting and reconnaissance.

4. **Parachute and Airborne Operations:** The base was the primary training centre for Canadian airborne forces for many years. It was home to the Canadian Parachute Training Centre and the Joint School of Airborne and Air Transport. Thousands of soldiers earned their parachute wings at Rivers.

None. There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening the site as a public or military airport. The infrastructure has degraded significantly over more than 50 years of disuse, and the cost of restoration to modern aviation standards would be prohibitive. Furthermore, there is no demonstrated economic or strategic need for an airport of this size in the region, which is adequately served by other nearby airports like Brandon Municipal Airport (CYBR).