Brabant Lodge Water Aerodrome

Economic/Business Cessation. The water aerodrome was a private facility that existed exclusively to serve the Brabant Lodge, a remote fishing destination. The lodge's owners retired and closed the business permanently, which eliminated the sole purpose for the aerodrome's existence. The closure was not related to any accident, military conversion, or regulatory action.

The site is no longer a registered or maintained aerodrome and has reverted to being an natural, unserviced section of the Mackenzie River. The physical infrastructure of the associated Brabant Lodge, including any docks, fueling stations, or buildings used to support floatplane operations, is abandoned and likely in a state of disrepair. The location is not used for any formal aviation activities.

The Brabant Lodge Water Aerodrome was a vital piece of private infrastructure for the internationally-known Brabant Lodge, a premier sport-fishing destination on the Mackenzie River. For decades, it served as the primary point of access for guests and supplies. Operations consisted almost entirely of chartered floatplanes, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Otter, and Cessna Caravan, which would fly anglers in from regional hubs like Yellowknife or Hay River. The aerodrome's significance was not in public transport but in its critical role supporting a major, long-standing tourism enterprise in a remote part of the Northwest Territories.

There are no known official plans to reopen the water aerodrome. Its reactivation is entirely contingent on the potential sale and reopening of the now-defunct Brabant Lodge. A new owner would need to acquire the property, invest in restoring the lodge and its infrastructure, and then formally apply to Transport Canada to have the water aerodrome re-registered and certified for operations.