CFB Wainwright Airfield 10

The airfield was not closed for economic reasons or due to a specific incident. Its closure is attributed to evolving military training requirements and operational redundancy. The Canadian Armed Forces consolidated air operations at CFB Wainwright to the main, better-equipped Wainwright Airport (ICAO: CYWV) and other more strategically located or better-maintained training strips. Austere landing strips like Airfield 10 became obsolete or less relevant for the types of aircraft and training scenarios being practiced.

The site is completely inactive as an airfield. Satellite imagery confirms that the two gravel runways, while still clearly visible in their 'X' pattern, are heavily weathered, overgrown, and unusable for aircraft. The area has reverted to a natural state and is part of the active military training range of CFB Wainwright. It may be used for ground-based military maneuvers, as a landmark for navigation, or for exercises that do not require an active runway. The site is on Department of National Defence (DND) property and is strictly off-limits to the public.

CFB Wainwright Airfield 10 was never a public or commercial airport. Its significance lies purely in its military function as an 'austere' or 'unprepared' landing strip within the vast CFB Wainwright Range and Training Area, one of the largest in Canada. It was used for tactical training exercises, primarily for Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft such as the DHC-4 Caribou, DHC-5 Buffalo, and later the C-130 Hercules. Operations would have included practicing landings and takeoffs on rough, unpaved surfaces, supporting ground forces during large-scale exercises, parachute drop training, and simulating operations in a forward or hostile environment. Its classic 'X' runway configuration is typical of World War II-era training fields, designed to allow for takeoffs and landings in various wind conditions.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening CFB Wainwright Airfield 10. The Canadian Armed Forces have superior facilities at the main Wainwright Airport (CYWV) for both transport and training needs. The cost to restore the runways would be substantial with no clear operational benefit. The land is more valuable to the DND as part of the ground training area. Therefore, the prospect of it ever being used as an airfield again is extremely unlikely.