Ponoka (Hospital & Care Centre) Heliport

Decommissioned due to replacement and upgrade. The heliport, identified as CA-1047, no longer met updated Transport Canada safety standards (specifically standard TP 312, 5th edition). It was closed as part of a planned project by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to construct a new, fully compliant helipad on the hospital grounds to ensure the continuation of safe air ambulance operations.

The specific heliport designated CA-1047 is permanently closed and its identifier decommissioned. The function of the heliport has been transferred to a new, modern facility built on the same hospital grounds. This new heliport, which opened in May 2021, is designated with the ICAO identifier CPN7. The site of the original heliport has been superseded by this upgraded facility, ensuring that the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre remains fully equipped to handle air ambulance traffic.

The Ponoka (Hospital & Care Centre) Heliport (CA-1047) was a critical piece of infrastructure for the regional emergency medical system. For many years, it served as the primary air access point for the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre. Air ambulance services, most notably STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service), used the heliport to rapidly transport critically ill or injured patients from Ponoka and surrounding rural communities. Its operation was vital for time-sensitive medical cases, significantly reducing transport times and improving patient outcomes by providing swift access to specialized medical care.

There are no prospects for reopening the heliport under the identifier CA-1047. It has been permanently and officially replaced. The air ambulance service to the hospital was not discontinued; rather, it was enhanced with the construction and certification of the new heliport (CPN7), which is currently operational.