CFS Carp (Diefenbunker) Helipad

Carp, CA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport

ICAO

CA-1189

IATA

-

Elevation

348 ft

Region

CA-ON

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 45.351414° N, -76.047996° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 25, 2025
Closure Date

1994

Reason for Closure

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.

Current Status

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.

Historical Significance

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.

Reopening Prospects

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.

Nearby Airports

1797 Diamondview Road Private Strip
CA-0062
Carp, CA
Small Airport
~3 km away
1669 Diamondview Road Private Strip
CA-0043
Carp, CA
Small Airport
~4 km away
Ottawa / Carp Airport
CYRP
Ottawa, CA
Medium Airport
~4 km away
Constance Lake Seaplane Base
CNQ5
Ottawa, CA
Seaplane Base
~8 km away
Parti Field
CPF3
Dunrobin, CA
Small Airport
~9 km away
Django Field
CA-0927
Dunrobin, CA
Small Airport
~11 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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