🇨🇦 Vernon Regional Airport

The Vernon Regional Airport (IATA: YVE, ICAO: CYVK) is a public, non-towered airport located approximately 4.3 km (2.3 nautical miles) southwest of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, in Okanagan Landing,. It is owned and managed by the City of Vernon,.

Type of facility and operations: The airport serves as a commercial facility supporting industrial-based businesses focused on aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, as well as corporate, commercial, and general aviation. It operates in uncontrolled airspace and includes a recreational drop zone for skydiving on the northwest side. The airport has a single asphalt runway (05/23) measuring 1,072 meters (3,517 feet) and two concrete helipads. The aviation radio band frequency is MF 122.800 MHz.

Notable features or history: The airport has a history dating back to 1929 when the Vernon City Council purchased Mission Hill for an airport site, with the official opening in 1931. The current site near Okanagan Landing was chosen in 1940. The City of Vernon assumed control of the airport in 1998 and has since undertaken upgrades. In 2017, the province provided funding for repaving the entire runway and stabilization work. The airport contributes $30 million annually to the local economy.

Current status: The Vernon Regional Airport is a center for manufacturing and maintenance in the Pacific Northwest, with approximately 2 hectares (5 acres) of land available for aerospace needs. It houses various businesses, including Helic, Vernon Flying Club, Leading Edge Aerospace, Advantage Helicopters, Aurora Aviation Academy, and Okanagan College Trades Training Centre. The airport infrastructure includes a public terminal building, hangars, fuel storage, and firefighting equipment. BC Transit connects the airport to Vernon. The airport has live camera feeds for Runway 05 and Runway 23.

*Sources researched: vernon.ca, en.wikipedia.org*