Kimmirut Airport
Encyclopedia
Kimmirut Airport is located at Kimmirut, Nunavut
, Canada
, and is operated by the Government of Nunavut. Unlike most airport
s in Nunavut, it uses magnetic headings
for the runway rather than true headings
.
At 1899 ft (579 m) the Kimmirut airstrip is the shortest in Nunavut. Formerly Arctic Bay Airport
at 1500 ft (457 m) was the shortest, but in 2010 the runway was extended to 3935 ft (1,199 m).
The Grise Fiord airstrip
is just slightly longer than Kimmirut at 1988 ft (606 m). The length of the runway and challenging terrain at both Kimmirut and Grise Fiord limit the type of aircraft that can service those communities. Currently, both are served by airlines operating Twin Otter
aircraft.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, 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...
, and is operated by the Government of Nunavut. Unlike most 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...
s in Nunavut, it uses magnetic headings
North Magnetic Pole
The Earth's North Magnetic Pole is the point on the surface of the Northern Hemisphere at which the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downwards . Though geographically in the north, it is, by the direction of the magnetic field lines, physically the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field...
for the runway rather than true headings
True north
True north is the direction along the earth's surface towards the geographic North Pole.True geodetic north usually differs from magnetic north , and from grid north...
.
At 1899 ft (579 m) the Kimmirut airstrip is the shortest in Nunavut. Formerly Arctic Bay Airport
Arctic Bay Airport
Arctic Bay Airport, , is a registered aerodrome located southeast of Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Until January 12, 2010 Nanisivik Airport, about from Arctic Bay, was used for scheduled flights. On January 13, 2010, First Air transferred all air services to Arctic Bay's newly expanded airport...
at 1500 ft (457 m) was the shortest, but in 2010 the runway was extended to 3935 ft (1,199 m).
The Grise Fiord airstrip
Grise Fiord Airport
Grise Fiord Airport is located at Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada, and is operated by the Government of Nunavut. The only building at this airport is the Air Passenger Shelter and the companies that operate there are Air Nunavut using the Super King Air 200 and Kenn Borek Air using the DHC-6 Twin...
is just slightly longer than Kimmirut at 1988 ft (606 m). The length of the runway and challenging terrain at both Kimmirut and Grise Fiord limit the type of aircraft that can service those communities. Currently, both are served by airlines operating Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
aircraft.