Cartwright Water Aerodrome

The primary reason for the closure was functional and economic obsolescence. The construction of the all-weather, year-round Cartwright Airport (CYCA) provided a more reliable and capable alternative for air transportation. Land-based aircraft could operate in more diverse weather conditions, were not restricted by seasonal ice, and could typically carry heavier loads than the floatplanes that used the water aerodrome. As air traffic shifted to the land airport, the need to maintain and register a separate water aerodrome diminished until it was officially closed.

The site of the former water aerodrome, located in Sandwich Bay adjacent to the town of Cartwright, is now simply a body of water used for general marine purposes. The area is utilized for commercial fishing, recreational boating, and as a waterway for marine traffic accessing the town's wharf. There are no remaining aviation-specific markings, docks, or infrastructure. While it is physically possible for a private floatplane to land on the water, it is no longer a registered, maintained, or serviced aerodrome.

Prior to the construction of the land airport, the Cartwright Water Aerodrome was a vital transportation link for the remote coastal community of Cartwright. In an era before reliable road access (the Trans-Labrador Highway connection was completed much later), the aerodrome was critical for connecting the town to the outside world, particularly to larger hubs like Goose Bay. Operations were seasonal, restricted to the ice-free months. It handled essential services including mail delivery, medical evacuations (medevac), passenger travel, and the transport of supplies and personnel for entities like the Hudson's Bay Company and the Grenfell Mission. The aerodrome was exclusively used by floatplanes and seaplanes, which were the workhorses of remote Canadian aviation at the time.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Cartwright Water Aerodrome. The community is well-served by the paved Cartwright Airport (CYCA), which accommodates scheduled passenger flights and other aviation needs. The existence of this superior, year-round facility makes the re-establishment of a formal water aerodrome economically unviable and logistically redundant.