Ethelda Bay Water Aerodrome

Economic reasons. The water aerodrome was a private facility established solely to support the MacMillan Bloedel logging camp located at Ethelda Bay. When the forestry company ceased operations and dismantled the camp due to economic shifts and industry consolidation, the aerodrome became obsolete and was permanently closed.

The site is completely abandoned and has been reclaimed by nature. The logging camp and all associated infrastructure, including the docks and facilities used by the aerodrome, were removed upon its closure. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows a remote, forested coastline with no remaining signs of the aerodrome or the settlement it once served.

The Ethelda Bay Water Aerodrome was a critical piece of infrastructure for the remote logging industry on the central coast of British Columbia. Its primary function was to provide essential transportation for the workers and families of the MacMillan Bloedel logging camp. It handled floatplane operations, with aircraft like the De Havilland Beaver and Otter being common visitors. These aircraft were the lifeline for the isolated community, facilitating crew changes, delivering mail and fresh supplies, and providing access to medical services in larger centers like Prince Rupert or Bella Bella.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the aerodrome. Given its remote location and the complete absence of any local industry or population, re-establishing an aerodrome at this site would require a major new economic driver, such as a new resource extraction project or a significant tourism development, neither of which is planned. The aerodrome is considered permanently closed.