Chinchaga, CA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport
CA-1022
-
2280 ft
CA-AB
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 57.542801° N, -119.130997° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: ED2 CED2 CED2
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
07/25 |
4129 ft | 75 ft | LOOSE GRAVEL | Active |
The exact date of closure is not officially documented. However, based on analysis of historical satellite imagery and the cessation of major industrial projects in the immediate vicinity, the airstrip likely fell into disuse and was officially abandoned sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Imagery from the mid-1980s shows a well-maintained and active airstrip, while imagery from the early 2000s onwards shows a progressive state of decay and natural reclamation.
The closure was due to economic reasons. The airstrip, often referred to as the Chinchaga Forestry Airstrip, was built to support specific industrial activities in this remote region of northwestern Alberta. Its primary purpose was likely tied to forestry operations (logging) and/or oil and gas exploration. Once these projects were completed or the operations moved elsewhere, there was no longer an economic justification to fund the significant cost of maintaining a remote airfield. It was subsequently abandoned.
The airport is completely abandoned and is being reclaimed by nature. Satellite imagery shows the runway is still clearly visible but is heavily overgrown with grass, weeds, and encroaching trees, making it unusable for any conventional aircraft. Any support buildings or infrastructure that once existed have been removed or have fallen into ruin. The site is located in an extremely remote area, now part of the Chinchaga Wildland Provincial Park, and is accessible only by rough trails or by helicopter. It has no current official use.
The Chinchaga Airstrip was a vital piece of regional infrastructure for resource industries and provincial services. Its significance lies in its role as a forward operating base in the heart of Alberta's vast boreal forest. Its operations included:
- **Forest Fire Suppression:** It served as a critical base for the Alberta Forest Service (now Alberta Wildfire), allowing air tankers (like the PBY Canso and Grumman Tracker) and smaller 'bird dog' spotter planes to refuel and reload closer to active fires in the Chinchaga wilderness, drastically reducing response times.
- **Resource Exploration & Extraction:** The airstrip was essential for transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies for forestry companies and oil and gas exploration crews working in the remote area, which is part of the Peace River oil and gas region.
Its gravel runway, approximately 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) in length, was capable of handling robust, STOL-capable aircraft common in northern operations, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, DHC-7 Dash 7, and the Douglas DC-3. The identifier 'CA-1022' is a non-standard, likely internal or database-specific code, as it was never listed as a certified aerodrome with a standard 'C' prefix ICAO code by Transport Canada.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Chinchaga Airport. The prospect is considered effectively zero. Re-establishing the airstrip would require a massive financial investment to clear the runway, rebuild infrastructure, and secure regulatory approval. Given the lack of any resident population or renewed industrial activity in the immediate vicinity, there is no economic or logistical driver to justify such an expense. The land's status within a Wildland Provincial Park would also present significant regulatory hurdles for any new development.
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