CFS Carp (Diefenbunker) Helipad

The helipad was closed as part of the decommissioning of the entire military facility, Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Carp. With the end of the Cold War, the strategic need for a large, secret, underground bunker to house the Canadian government during a nuclear attack was eliminated. The Department of National Defence ceased operations at the site, rendering the helipad and all other functions of the base obsolete.

The site is now the 'Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum,' a privately-owned museum and a National Historic Site of Canada. The helipad remains physically intact on the surface, directly above the underground facility, and is preserved as part of the museum's grounds. It serves as a historical exhibit, illustrating to visitors how key personnel would have arrived at the secret base. While it is no longer an active, operational helipad for regular traffic, it is maintained as a historical artifact.

The helipad was a critical piece of infrastructure for the Diefenbunker, Canada's Central Emergency Government Headquarters during the Cold War. Its sole purpose was to provide a secure and rapid landing zone for helicopters transporting the Prime Minister, key cabinet members, military leaders, and other designated officials to the safety of the underground bunker in the event of a national emergency or imminent nuclear attack. It was a vital link in Canada's 'Continuity of Government' plan, designed to ensure the country's leadership could survive and continue to function. The helipad symbolizes the high-stakes logistical planning of the Cold War era.

There are no known plans or prospects to reopen the helipad for regular aviation operations. Its function has permanently transitioned from a military asset to a component of a historical museum. Reactivating it for air traffic would be inconsistent with its status as a National Historic Site and its current use for tourism and education. The focus is on preservation, not operational reactivation.