Winter Harbour Water Aerodrome

The closure was an administrative delisting, most likely for economic reasons. Maintaining an official registered aerodrome requires a sponsoring agency to manage costs, liability, and regulatory compliance with Transport Canada. For a very small and remote community like Winter Harbour, the decline in regular, scheduled traffic likely made it economically unviable to maintain its official status. The need for air service could be met by unscheduled charter flights without the need for a registered aerodrome.

The site is the physical water surface of Winter Harbour. As the closure was administrative, the sheltered waterway remains a viable landing area for floatplanes. The harbour is actively used by marine traffic, including a government dock for fishing and recreational vessels. While no longer an officially registered aerodrome, the harbour is almost certainly still used by private and charter floatplanes for unscheduled, on-demand landings, which is a common practice for accessing remote coastal locations in British Columbia.

As a registered water aerodrome (former identifier: CAW9), the site was a critical transportation link for the isolated community of Winter Harbour on the rugged northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Operations consisted of float-equipped aircraft (seaplanes) providing essential services. These included passenger and mail delivery, cargo transport, and medical evacuations, connecting the village to larger centers like Port Hardy. The aerodrome supported the local economy, historically driven by commercial fishing and logging, and provided access for residents, seasonal workers, and visitors to the nearby RCAF Station Holberg (now a decommissioned radar base).

There are no known official plans or active prospects to reopen or re-register the Winter Harbour Water Aerodrome. The current and foreseeable demand for air access is adequately met by unscheduled charter operators who can land in the harbour without it being an officially listed site. Reinstating its official status would require a significant new economic driver (such as a major tourism development or industrial project) and a sponsor willing to take on the financial and regulatory burden, making it highly unlikely in the near future.