CFB Wainwright Airfield 16

The primary reason for closure was military consolidation and obsolescence. As the Canadian Armed Forces modernized, aviation operations at CFB Wainwright were centralized at the main, paved, and much larger Wainwright (Field 21) Aerodrome (CYBF). Field 16, being a smaller, unpaved (gravel or turf) strip, was no longer suitable or necessary for the requirements of modern, heavier military transport and support aircraft.

The site is located deep within the active CFB Wainwright military training range and is not accessible to the public. Satellite imagery confirms the X-shaped runway pattern is still clearly visible on the landscape but is unmaintained, overgrown with grass and shrubs, and is not usable for any conventional aircraft operations. The area is now fully integrated into the ground training area and may be used as a landmark, a tactical objective for military exercises, a staging area for vehicles, or a helicopter landing zone.

CFB Wainwright Airfield 16 served as a secondary, semi-prepared airstrip within one of Canada's largest military training areas. Its historical significance lies in its role supporting army co-operation and ground training exercises from the mid-20th century through the Cold War. Operations would have included flights by small, propeller-driven observation, liaison, and utility aircraft (such as the Auster, Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, or DHC-2 Beaver). It was likely used for artillery spotting, short-field landing and takeoff practice for pilots, and in simulated casualty evacuation and resupply missions supporting troops on the ground.

There are no known plans or prospects to reopen Airfield 16 for aviation purposes. The Canadian Armed Forces' needs are fully met by the modern Wainwright (Field 21) Aerodrome (CYBF). Re-establishing Field 16 as a functional airfield would require significant investment and is unnecessary. Its location within a live-fire training area also makes it unsuitable for reactivation as a registered aerodrome.