Coppermine Water Aerodrome

The primary reason for closure was redundancy and obsolescence due to economic and logistical factors. The establishment and subsequent upgrades of the permanent, all-weather Kugluktuk Airport (CYCO) provided a more reliable, year-round transportation hub for the community. Land-based airports can handle larger, faster aircraft and are not subject to the seasonal limitations of a water aerodrome, which can only operate during the few ice-free months of the arctic summer. Operations naturally shifted to the more efficient land-based airport.

The physical site of the former aerodrome is the body of water (Coronation Gulf) adjacent to the town of Kugluktuk. As a registered aerodrome, it is permanently closed, and there are no dedicated docks, fuel, or aviation services remaining. The area is now used for general marine activities, including local boating and fishing. While the official aerodrome is closed, the water surface may still be used on an ad-hoc, unscheduled basis by private or charter floatplanes serving tourism or resource industries, but such landings are not based on any official aerodrome status.

Before the existence of a reliable land-based airport, the Coppermine Water Aerodrome was a critical lifeline for the remote community of Coppermine (now Kugluktuk). It served as a vital link for receiving mail, medicine, food, and other essential supplies. The aerodrome was crucial for passenger transport, medical evacuations, and supporting regional industries such as mineral exploration (as the name 'Coppermine' implies), fishing, and hunting. Operations were seasonal and typically handled iconic Canadian bush planes on floats, like the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, which were essential for accessing Canada's northern frontier.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Coppermine Water Aerodrome as an officially registered facility. The community's aviation requirements are fully and more effectively met by the Kugluktuk Airport (CYCO). Re-establishing and maintaining a registered water aerodrome would require significant investment for no clear economic or logistical benefit, making it highly improbable.