North West River Airstrip

The airstrip was rendered redundant and economically unviable following the construction of Route 520 in the early 1980s. This road provided a permanent, all-weather link between North West River and the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which is home to the much larger and better-equipped CFB Goose Bay Airport (IATA: YYR, ICAO: CYYR), located approximately 40 kilometers away. With residents and cargo able to travel by road to the main airport in under an hour, the need for a small, local airstrip diminished entirely.

The site is abandoned and no longer certified for aviation use. Satellite imagery shows the former gravel runway is still clearly visible as a cleared strip of land, though it is now overgrown with grass and shrubs. The area is used informally by locals for recreational activities, such as ATV riding, as evidenced by tire tracks along its length. Residential development has encroached on the northern end of the former airstrip, making any future aviation use impractical.

Prior to the construction of the road, the North West River Airstrip was a critical lifeline for the remote community. It was the primary means of transportation for mail, essential supplies, and passengers, especially during the winter months when boat travel was impossible. The airstrip was vital for medical evacuations (medevac), connecting residents to hospital services in Goose Bay and beyond. Operations were typical of a northern Canadian bush strip, handling small, rugged aircraft such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, as well as various Cessna and Piper models operated by regional carriers like Labrador Airways.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the North West River Airstrip. The proximity and easy road access to the full-service Happy Valley-Goose Bay Airport negate any practical need for its reactivation. The land is more likely to be repurposed for community expansion or remain as an informal recreational area.