🇨🇦 Calgary / Springbank Airport

Calgary / Springbank Airport (CYBW) is a public airport located 26 kilometers west of Calgary's city center in Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada. It serves as a general aviation reliever airport for Calgary International Airport (YYC).

Type of facility and operations:

• Operations: Open 24 hours a day, CYBW supports light aircraft activity including flight training, recreational flying, corporate and air charter services, and aircraft maintenance, manufacturing, and support operations. It is also a base for aerial firefighting aircraft during wildfire season.
• Airport of Entry: It is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada, staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and can handle general aviation aircraft with no more than 15 passengers.
• Runways: The airport has two asphalt runways: 17/35 (5,000 ft) and 08/26 (3,423 ft). Runway 17/35 is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS).

Notable features or history:

• Establishment: Constructed by Transport Canada, Springbank Airport began operations in February 1969 and officially opened in July 1971.
• Management Transfer: In October 1997, The Calgary Airport Authority assumed operation and management of the airport under a long-term lease agreement.
• G8 Summit: In 2002, the Department of National Defence temporarily took over YBW, housing over 1,200 soldiers and the largest assembly of Griffon helicopters in Canadian Air Force history for the G8 summit in Kananaskis.
• Runway Extension: In 2006, runway 16/34 (now 17/35) was lengthened from 3,000 to 5,000 ft to accommodate larger aircraft.
• Runway Renumbering: All runways were re-numbered in 2013 to adjust for the shift in the magnetic north pole, with 16/34 becoming 17/35 and 07/25 becoming 08/26.
• COVID-19 Impact: During the COVID-19 pandemic, after a three-month pause, Springbank became the busiest airport in Alberta for a period, exceeding Calgary International Airport in aircraft movements.
• Flight Training Hub: It is a regional hub for aircraft and helicopter flight training, home to the Calgary Flying Club, Mount Royal University Aviation Diploma program, and Springbank Air Training College,.

Current status:

• Activity Level: YBW is Alberta’s second-busiest airport in terms of aircraft movements and consistently ranks among the top ten aerodromes in Canada,. In 2022, it recorded 129,674 aircraft movements.
• Economic Impact: The airport contributes approximately $135 million in direct and indirect GDP to the area.
• Infrastructure: It has over 50 hangars and is home to more than 30 businesses and 400 aircraft. Upgrades include LED lighting for Runway 08/26 and a new runway plow-sweeper scheduled for delivery in late 2024.
• Future Growth: The Springbank Airport Master Plan includes provisions for a future parallel runway (4,000 ft long x 75 ft wide) located west of the existing Runway 17/35, with timing dependent on aircraft movement growth and airfield capacity.

*Sources researched: ybw.ca, imageserver.fltplan.com, en.wikipedia.org*