Iqaluit Water Aerodrome

The closure was likely due to a combination of administrative de-registration and operational redundancy. As a designated water landing area without significant dedicated infrastructure, its official registration may have been dropped by its operator or de-listed by Transport Canada for no longer meeting registration requirements or due to inactivity. The proximity of the large, all-weather Iqaluit Airport (CYFB) provides superior and more reliable services, diminishing the need for a formally registered water aerodrome in the adjacent inlet. Floatplane operations can still occur on an ad-hoc basis in the area without a specific registered site.

The site of the former water aerodrome is now simply an open water area within Koojesse Inlet, part of Frobisher Bay. There is no remaining physical infrastructure, such as docks or buildings, specifically associated with the CA-0617 designation. The area is used for general maritime activities by the residents of Iqaluit, including recreational boating. While floatplanes may still occasionally land on the inlet, they do so as a general water landing rather than using a formally designated aerodrome, coordinating with the Iqaluit Flight Service Station as required.

Iqaluit Water Aerodrome (CA-0617) was a designated water landing area located on Koojesse Inlet, adjacent to the city of Iqaluit. Its significance lies in its role in the history of transportation in the Canadian Arctic. Before the development of extensive runway infrastructure, floatplanes (in summer) and ski-planes (in winter) were the primary means of transport for connecting remote communities, exploration camps, and hunting outposts. This aerodrome would have handled light aircraft, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, carrying passengers, mail, and essential supplies. It served as a vital link between the main settlement of Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit) and the vast, inaccessible areas of the Baffin Region. Its importance waned as the nearby land-based airport (originally Frobisher Bay Air Base, now Iqaluit Airport - CYFB) was developed and expanded to accommodate larger, more capable aircraft.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening or re-registering the Iqaluit Water Aerodrome. The comprehensive services offered by the modern Iqaluit Airport (CYFB) make a dedicated, registered water aerodrome at this location largely unnecessary. Any floatplane operator needing to land in the area can do so without the formal designation, making the administrative process and cost of re-registering the site impractical. The prospects for its official reopening are considered to be non-existent.