Catalina, CA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport
CA-0695
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- ft
CA-NL
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 48.508475° N, -53.07021° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: DQ4 DQ4
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The exact date of closure is not publicly documented. The aerodrome identifier CA-0695 has been delisted from official Canadian aviation publications like the Nav Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement. This type of delisting for small, private aerodromes typically occurs when the registration is no longer maintained by the operator. It is estimated to have closed in the late 20th or early 21st century.
The closure was due to economic reasons and a decline in operational necessity. Key factors include:
1. **Improved Ground Transportation:** The development and paving of roads on the Bonavista Peninsula, including Route 230, provided reliable all-season access, diminishing the need for seaplane services for passenger and cargo transport.
2. **Decline in Seaplane Usage:** The general trend in Canadian aviation saw a shift from seaplanes to more efficient land-based aircraft for regional transport.
3. **Consolidation of Air Services:** Air traffic in the region consolidated at larger, better-equipped land airports like Clarenville Airport (CCZ3) and St. John's International Airport (CYYT).
There is no evidence of closure due to a specific accident or military conversion.
The site of the former water aerodrome is Catalina Harbour. The harbour is an active marine port and a central part of the community, which is now part of the town of Trinity Bay North. It is heavily used by the local commercial fishing fleet and for recreational boating. Any specific aviation-related infrastructure, such as a dedicated dock, ramp, or mooring buoys, has been removed or repurposed. The location has fully reverted to its primary maritime use.
Catalina Harbour Water Aerodrome was a local general aviation facility catering to seaplanes and floatplanes. Its significance was rooted in connecting the historic fishing town of Catalina with other coastal communities, remote outports, and inland camps, particularly before the area's road network was fully developed. Operations would have included private recreational flying and charter/air taxi services for transporting people, mail, and essential supplies. Along with many similar small water aerodromes, it was part of the vital 'bush flying' network that supported the economy and social fabric of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Catalina Harbour Water Aerodrome as a registered aviation facility. The economic and logistical factors that led to its original closure remain valid. The demand for a dedicated water aerodrome in Catalina is negligible due to the excellent road access and the proximity of regional land-based airports. While it is physically possible for a seaplane to land in the harbour (subject to maritime traffic and Transport Canada regulations), there is no commercial or community-driven initiative to re-establish an official aerodrome.
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