Churchill Falls Water Aerodrome

The closure was primarily due to redundancy and economic factors following the establishment and enhancement of the nearby land-based Churchill Falls Airport (IATA: ZUM, ICAO: CZUM). The land airport, with its paved runway, provides more reliable, all-weather capabilities for larger and faster aircraft. As the region's transportation infrastructure matured, the need for a separate, officially registered water aerodrome diminished, making it operationally obsolete and economically unviable to maintain its official status.

The site is no longer an active or registered aerodrome. The physical location at the specified coordinates is a shoreline on the Smallwood Reservoir. Satellite imagery shows a road leading to the water's edge with what appears to be an informal boat launch or small dock. The area is now used for recreational purposes like boating and fishing. While it is no longer an official facility, the water body may still be used on an ad-hoc basis by private floatplane pilots, as is common on many Canadian lakes and reservoirs.

The Churchill Falls Water Aerodrome was historically significant, particularly during the construction of the massive Churchill Falls Generating Station, which began in 1967. In the era before the full development of local roads and the land airport, floatplanes were critical for transporting personnel, surveyors, light equipment, and supplies to remote locations around the newly formed Smallwood Reservoir. The aerodrome served as a key logistical base for the hydroelectric project, as well as for subsequent mineral exploration, forestry surveys, and providing access for fishing and hunting outfitters in the Labrador wilderness.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Churchill Falls Water Aerodrome as an officially registered facility. The community and industrial operations in Churchill Falls are well-served by the existing land airport (CZUM), which meets all current and foreseeable aviation needs. Re-establishing an official water aerodrome would offer no significant advantage and is considered highly unlikely.