_airport.gif)
Edmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) Airport
Encyclopedia
Edmonton City Centre Airport, , is located within the city of Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
. It is bordered by Yellowhead Trail to the north, Kingsway
to the south, 121 Street to the west, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
(NAIT) to the east. It encompasses approximately 144 acres (58.3 ha) of land just north of the Edmonton city centre. The airport
is named for the former mayor Kenneth Alexander Blatchford. Before being named Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA), it was known as the Edmonton Municipal Airport.
history, being the first licensed airfield in Canada (1929). Characters such as Wop May helped pioneer aviation in Alberta and Northern Canada
, further solidifying Blatchford Field as the "Gateway to the North". Wiley Post
landed there during both of his circumnavigations. The airport was also a major stop-over on the Northwest Staging Route
during World War II
and hosted a wartime British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
flying school and an air observer school. A full history can be gathered at the Alberta Aviation Museum
.
A weather station
was established in 1937. Over the years since then, its site has witnessed increasing influence by the urban heat island
effect. By the mid-1970s, "Edmonton Municipal A." (as listed in the Monthly Record of Meteorological Observations in Canada) was regularly recording some of the longest frost-free periods in the Prairie Provinces with the first fall frost often not coming before October.
The ECCA has been embroiled in a fierce debate for several decades. In the 1950s, the need for a longer set of runway
s to accommodate the larger aircraft
on the horizon was clear. With no ability to expand CYXD, the search was on for a new site. Despite the military base at Namao (now CFB Edmonton
), just north of the city, built by the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) in World War II and expanded to handle SAC in the 1950s with the largest runway in Canada, the current site for the Edmonton International Airport
(CYEG) was chosen at Leduc
, 14 NM south southwest of downtown Edmonton
. Upon completion of the international airport in 1963, CYXD was to close. After being examined by consultants, and with the unforeseen development of Regional Passenger Service, especially to Calgary
, it was decided by the City of Edmonton to keep CYXD open, and entered Edmonton into a 30+ year airport debate that has shaped logistics, transportation, and regional disparity issues ever since.
Several types of jet passenger aircraft did use CYXD, notably the Boeing 737-200, which was designed from the -100 specifically for this airport. These were initially operated by Pacific Western Airlines
and its later incarnation Canadian Airlines
from their initial purchase in the late 1960s up until consolidation. The runway lengths are based on the absolute maximum performance characteristics and weight of this airliner; however, the extreme wear caused by utilising this field and pushing these limits was a concern. Other jet service came in the form of the BAe 146
as an Air Canada
connector flight operated by Air BC
. DC-9
s in Air Canada livery operated briefly out of YXD in the early 1980s but left due to field/weight limitations. Time Air
and its later brand of Canadian Regional
operated Fokker F28
s and Echo Bay Mines Limited
operated a private 727-100
from the field for several years. However, the demands for ever increasing range and the increased weight and runway length requirements for the next generation aircraft in these series made their use at CYXD economically and in the many cases physically impossible.
In the 1992 municipal election
, the City of Edmonton held a plebiscite with the question of "Are you in favour of bylaw No. 10,205, The Edmonton Municipal Airport Referendum bylaw?". This bylaw kept CYXD open to all traffic that the field could legally handle; 54% approved. In the 1995 election
, a second plebiscite was put forth to the citizens of Edmonton asking if the bylaw should be repealed on the basis of consolidating all scheduled traffic at CYEG. A determination of whether to close the airport was not an option. 77% of voters approved this version, and in June 1996, the consolidation process was finalized.
Currently, CYXD remains open as per the lease with the City of Edmonton. There are small passenger airlines that can utilize the facility. These airlines, however, are not allowed transport more than 10 passengers and are restricted to which destinations they can serve - primarily destinations north of the city.
Beginning in 2005, the airport has annually been converted into a speedway for the Edmonton Grand Prix Champ Car
race. Due to Champ Car merging with the Indy Racing League, the IZOD INDYCAR Series
now races there. Beginning with the July 2011 event, the track layout was reconfigured to use a more northeasterly section of the airport, including the now permanently closed runway 16-34.
Edmonton City Centre Airport is mainly used for air charter
, general aviation
, flight training
and medivac (air ambulance
).
s (FBO) on site, located on the west side of the airfield off Taxiway A. Additional on-site amenities include the Alberta Aviation Museum, two hotels, and a cafeteria in the Edmonton Flying Club
's building.
Close to the field is shopping at Kingsway Mall, Canadian Tire
, the Chateau Louis (hotel), the Alberta and Edmonton office for St. John Ambulance
, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and the Via Rail
train station to the north (off Bush Pilot Road).
Private air ambulance
s use the Esso
Avatat hangar to store their ground support units. A STARS
air ambulance is also based at the airport. Proximity to the Royal Alexandra Hospital
provides a link for emergency medical access by air to many of Alberta's rural communities.
.
The runways are placed in an intersecting "V" configuration, with the intersection near the displaced thresholds of runways 34 and 30. There is one CAT 1 Instrument Landing System
(ILS) approach on runway 34, and a LOC BC distance measuring equipment
(DME) approach for Runway 16. Runway 12/30 is visual with the approach aid being precision approach path indicator
(PAPI) (12) or visual approach slope indicator
(VASI) (30).
for Edmonton Airports
, with expenses of $3.9 million.
In September 2009, the city council postponed the closure of the north-south runway until after the Indy and Airfest events of 2010. On August 3, 2010, runway 16/34 was closed to air traffic with a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) being issued at 3 am that morning.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is bordered by Yellowhead Trail to the north, Kingsway
Kingsway, Edmonton
Kingsway, sometimes called Kingsway Avenue, is an arterial road in central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that runs on a northwest to southeast path, cutting through the city's normal grid pattern...
to the south, 121 Street to the west, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and provides technical training and applied education designed to meet the demands of Alberta's industries...
(NAIT) to the east. It encompasses approximately 144 acres (58.3 ha) of land just north of the Edmonton city centre. The airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is named for the former mayor Kenneth Alexander Blatchford. Before being named Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA), it was known as the Edmonton Municipal Airport.
History
The airport has a rich aviationAviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
history, being the first licensed airfield in Canada (1929). Characters such as Wop May helped pioneer aviation in Alberta and Northern Canada
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
, further solidifying Blatchford Field as the "Gateway to the North". Wiley Post
Wiley Post
Wiley Hardeman Post was a famed American aviator, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high altitude flying, Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits. His Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae, was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's...
landed there during both of his circumnavigations. The airport was also a major stop-over on the Northwest Staging Route
Northwest Staging Route
The Northwest Staging Route was a series of airstrips, airport and radio ranging stations built in Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska during World War II. It was known in the Soviet Union as Alsib ....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and hosted a wartime British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
flying school and an air observer school. A full history can be gathered at the Alberta Aviation Museum
Alberta Aviation Museum
The Alberta Aviation Museum is a museum in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is located on-site at the Edmonton City Centre Airport CYXD on the southwest corner of the field ....
.
A weather station
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
was established in 1937. Over the years since then, its site has witnessed increasing influence by the urban heat island
Urban heat island
An urban heat island is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The phenomenon was first investigated and described by Luke Howard in the 1810s, although he was not the one to name the phenomenon. The temperature difference usually is larger at night...
effect. By the mid-1970s, "Edmonton Municipal A." (as listed in the Monthly Record of Meteorological Observations in Canada) was regularly recording some of the longest frost-free periods in the Prairie Provinces with the first fall frost often not coming before October.
The ECCA has been embroiled in a fierce debate for several decades. In the 1950s, the need for a longer set of runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s to accommodate the larger aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
on the horizon was clear. With no ability to expand CYXD, the search was on for a new site. Despite the military base at Namao (now CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces base located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks".-History:...
), just north of the city, built by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) in World War II and expanded to handle SAC in the 1950s with the largest runway in Canada, the current site for the Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton International Airport is the primary air passenger and air cargo facility in the Edmonton region in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a hub facility for Northern Alberta and Northern Canada providing regularly scheduled nonstop flights to over fifty communities in Canada, the United...
(CYEG) was chosen at Leduc
Leduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
, 14 NM south southwest of downtown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast , though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighborhoods to be part of downtown...
. Upon completion of the international airport in 1963, CYXD was to close. After being examined by consultants, and with the unforeseen development of Regional Passenger Service, especially to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, it was decided by the City of Edmonton to keep CYXD open, and entered Edmonton into a 30+ year airport debate that has shaped logistics, transportation, and regional disparity issues ever since.
Several types of jet passenger aircraft did use CYXD, notably the Boeing 737-200, which was designed from the -100 specifically for this airport. These were initially operated by Pacific Western Airlines
Pacific Western Airlines
Pacific Western Airlines was an airline that operated scheduled flights throughout western Canada and charter services around the world from the 1950s through the 1980s...
and its later incarnation Canadian Airlines
Canadian Airlines
Canadian Airlines International Ltd. was a Canadian airline that operated from 1987 until 2001. The airline was Canada's second largest airline after Air Canada, and carried more than 11.9 million passengers to over 160 destinations in 17 countries on five continents at its height in 1996...
from their initial purchase in the late 1960s up until consolidation. The runway lengths are based on the absolute maximum performance characteristics and weight of this airliner; however, the extreme wear caused by utilising this field and pushing these limits was a concern. Other jet service came in the form of the BAe 146
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
as an Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
connector flight operated by Air BC
Air BC
Air BC was an airline headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- History :Air BC was established in 1980 after the merger of a number of west coast domestic airlines: Canadian Air Transit, Flight Operation, Gulf Air Aviation, Haida Airlines, Island...
. DC-9
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
s in Air Canada livery operated briefly out of YXD in the early 1980s but left due to field/weight limitations. Time Air
Time Air
Time Air was an airline in Canada founded in 1966 by businessman Walter “Stubb” Ross from Lethbridge in Alberta. It was originally called "Lethbridge Air Service" before becoming Time Air...
and its later brand of Canadian Regional
Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines was an airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- Former Code Data :*IATA Code: KI*ICAO Code: CDR*Callsign: Canadian Regional- History :...
operated Fokker F28
Fokker F28
The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a short range jet airliner designed and built by defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:...
s and Echo Bay Mines Limited
Echo Bay Mines Limited
The Echo Bay Mines Limited company was organized in 1964 to develop a silver deposit at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, which became known as the Echo Bay Mine. The company leased the old Port Radium settlement from Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited and used the old camp and mill to...
operated a private 727-100
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
from the field for several years. However, the demands for ever increasing range and the increased weight and runway length requirements for the next generation aircraft in these series made their use at CYXD economically and in the many cases physically impossible.
In the 1992 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1992
The 1992 municipal election was held October 22, 1992 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, the City of Edmonton held a plebiscite with the question of "Are you in favour of bylaw No. 10,205, The Edmonton Municipal Airport Referendum bylaw?". This bylaw kept CYXD open to all traffic that the field could legally handle; 54% approved. In the 1995 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1995
The 1995 municipal election was held October 16, 1995 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, a second plebiscite was put forth to the citizens of Edmonton asking if the bylaw should be repealed on the basis of consolidating all scheduled traffic at CYEG. A determination of whether to close the airport was not an option. 77% of voters approved this version, and in June 1996, the consolidation process was finalized.
Beginning in 2005, the airport has annually been converted into a speedway for the Edmonton Grand Prix Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race. Due to Champ Car merging with the Indy Racing League, the IZOD INDYCAR Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
now races there. Beginning with the July 2011 event, the track layout was reconfigured to use a more northeasterly section of the airport, including the now permanently closed runway 16-34.
Edmonton City Centre Airport is mainly used for air charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
, general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, flight training
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
and medivac (air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
).
Amenities
For private and corporate aviation, there are two Fixed base operatorFixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
s (FBO) on site, located on the west side of the airfield off Taxiway A. Additional on-site amenities include the Alberta Aviation Museum, two hotels, and a cafeteria in the Edmonton Flying Club
Edmonton Flying Club
The Edmonton Flying Club, home of the Edmonton Flight College, is a flying club and flight school located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and based at the Edmonton City Centre Airport, Canada's first licensed airport. Originally founded in 1927 as the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club, the...
's building.
Close to the field is shopping at Kingsway Mall, Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of Canada's 60 largest publicly traded companies. The firm operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing hardgoods, apparel and petroleum as well as financial and automotive services, employing more than 58,000 people across Canada...
, the Chateau Louis (hotel), the Alberta and Edmonton office for St. John Ambulance
St. John Ambulance
St John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John...
, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and the Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
train station to the north (off Bush Pilot Road).
Private air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
s use the Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
Avatat hangar to store their ground support units. A STARS
Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
The Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society was formed in Calgary, Alberta to provide emergency medical care and transport to the critically ill and injured...
air ambulance is also based at the airport. Proximity to the Royal Alexandra Hospital
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton
The Royal Alexandra Hospital is one of Alberta Health Services, formerly Capital Health, largest and longest serving hospitals. Located in the heart of Edmonton's city centre, the Royal Alex serves a diverse community stretching from downtown Edmonton to western and northern Canada.They operate...
provides a link for emergency medical access by air to many of Alberta's rural communities.
Airfield
Due to its location in the central portion of the city, there are both curfew restrictions and noise abatement procedures. The field maintains 24 X 7 operations, with the strictest noise regulations in effect from 22:00h to 07:00h local time. More information can be garnered from Edmonton Airports or from Nav CanadaNAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
.
The runways are placed in an intersecting "V" configuration, with the intersection near the displaced thresholds of runways 34 and 30. There is one CAT 1 Instrument Landing System
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
(ILS) approach on runway 34, and a LOC BC distance measuring equipment
Distance Measuring Equipment
Distance measuring equipment is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures distance by timing the propagation delay of VHF or UHF radio signals....
(DME) approach for Runway 16. Runway 12/30 is visual with the approach aid being precision approach path indicator
Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision approach path Indicator is a visual aid that provides guidance information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct approach to an aerodrome or an airport. It is generally located beside the runway approximately 300 metres beyond the landing threshold of the runway...
(PAPI) (12) or visual approach slope indicator
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
The visual approach slope indicator is a system of lights on the side of an airport runway threshold that provides visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway...
(VASI) (30).
Economic impact
The ECCA employs roughly 1,000 people and adds $18 million in tax revenues for the city of Edmonton. It generated $4.6 million in direct revenueRevenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
for Edmonton Airports
Edmonton Airports
Edmonton Airports, officially the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, was formed in 1990, under the Regional Airports Authorities Act passed by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1989, and is responsible for the management and operation of four airports in the Edmonton area...
, with expenses of $3.9 million.
Future plans
On July 8, 2009, the city council decided on a phased closure of the airport. The north-south runway will be closed as soon as possible and current licenses for scheduled air service will not be renewed. Closure of the remaining runway will be announced at a future date. The eastern side of the airport is expected to be transferred to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology while the remainder will be a mixed-use business and residential development.In September 2009, the city council postponed the closure of the north-south runway until after the Indy and Airfest events of 2010. On August 3, 2010, runway 16/34 was closed to air traffic with a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) being issued at 3 am that morning.
Airlines and destinations
External links
- Edmonton City Centre Airport
- From Cow Pasture to Airport - Real Estate Weekly article
- Nav Canada's Aerodrome Chart (PDF)
- Page about this airport on COPA'sCanadian Owners and Pilots AssociationThe Canadian Owners and Pilots Association is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes...
Places to Fly airport directory