Russell Airport

The primary reason for the closure was land redevelopment. The airport was a privately owned field located on valuable land adjacent to the growing community of Embrun. The owner sold the property to developers for the construction of a new residential subdivision, a more profitable use for the land. This is a common reason for the closure of small general aviation airports located near expanding suburban areas.

The site of the former Russell Airport has been completely transformed and is no longer recognizable as an airfield. The land has been fully developed into a residential housing subdivision known as 'Place St-Thomas'. The area where the runway and hangars once stood is now occupied by single-family homes, paved streets (such as St-Guillaume Street and Lemay Street), sidewalks, and a central park. There are no remaining traces of the former airport.

Russell Airport was a registered private aerodrome that served the local general aviation community. It featured a single turf/grass runway, designated 08/26, with a length of approximately 2,600 feet. The airport was a base for a small number of private aircraft, including single-engine planes and ultralights. It served as a hub for recreational flying and flight training for pilots in the rural area east of Ottawa. It did not handle any scheduled commercial, cargo, or military operations; its significance was purely as a local facility for private aviation enthusiasts.

There are zero prospects for the airport to reopen. The land has been permanently and irreversibly converted to high-density residential use. Re-establishing an airport at this location is impossible due to the existing housing development and the complete lack of available space.