Sept-Îles/Lac des Rapides Airport

Administrative supersession and consolidation. The closure was not due to economic failure, an accident, or military conversion. Instead, the unofficial identifier CA-0719 was superseded by the official, registered Transport Canada identifier CSL8 (Sept-Îles/Lac Rapides Water Aerodrome). Seaplane operations on the lake did not cease; they were simply formalized under a new, official designation. This is a common occurrence for private or previously unregistered landing sites in Canada as they become officially recognized.

The specific identifier CA-0719 is permanently closed and obsolete. However, the physical location, Lac des Rapides, is an active and busy water aerodrome. It operates today as the **Sept-Îles/Lac Rapides Water Aerodrome (ICAO: CSL8)**. Several air charter companies, such as Air Tunilik and Aviation du Lac, use CSL8 as a primary base for their floatplane operations, continuing the historical role of the location. Satellite imagery of the lake shows modern docks, hangars, offices, and numerous aircraft, confirming its current operational status.

Sept-Îles/Lac des Rapides has long been a critical hub for bush plane operations on the Quebec North Shore (Côte-Nord). When active under the CA-0719 identifier and its current CSL8 identifier, the water aerodrome served as a vital link to remote areas inaccessible by road. Operations primarily involved float-equipped aircraft, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Otter, and various Cessna models. These aircraft provided essential transportation for:
- **Mining and Exploration:** Ferrying personnel, equipment, and supplies to exploration camps.
- **Forestry:** Supporting logging operations and surveying.
- **Hydroelectric Projects:** Providing access to major hydro-power facilities and construction sites in the region.
- **Tourism:** Flying anglers and hunters to remote lodges and outfitters ('pourvoiries').
- **Community Access:** Serving as a lifeline for remote First Nations communities.

There are zero prospects for reopening the airport under the identifier CA-0719, as it is obsolete and has been officially replaced. The seaplane base itself never physically closed and is currently operational as CSL8. Therefore, the concept of 'reopening' is not applicable.