Peace River Airport
Encyclopedia
Peace River Airport, , is a municipally owned airport located 5 NM west of the Town of Peace River
, Alberta
, Canada
. The airport has two operating runways, the longest being 5000 ft (1,524 m) long and the terminal building, 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) in size.
Northern Air is based at the airport and provides scheduled service to Edmonton, in addition to charters and air ambulance. The airport was the hub of Peace Air
until the airline ceased operations in May 2007.
, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the present town site. The site was abandoned when one of Grant McConachie
's pilots had a near fatal accident on landing a United Air Transport Limited airline, which was headquarterd at the Edmonton Municipal Airport. Historical records indicate that the present site (NW Section 29, Township 83, Range 22, West of the 5th Meridian) was picked by the famous Wop May
.
Originally the airport had three runways: 04/22, 08/26 and 18/36. Of the three runways shown by the original configuration, two are still operating: 04/22 and 08/26, each being 3000 feet (914.4 m) long and 500 feet (152.4 m) wide. In the fall of 1942 an American Corps of engineers extended the 04/22 runway by a further 2000 feet (609.6 m). A weather station was also added by the American Government, likely as part of the Alaska Highway effort.
On May 28, 29 of 1949 the Peace River Airport played host to one of the first airshows in the region. The Air Cadets of the region played host to the R.C.A.F. who brought with them a helicopter, two Harvard trainers, an Avro Anson, a Beech Expeditor out of which two parachutists jumped.
In June 1960 the Peace River Airport closed down in order to complete extensive construction to the airport. The runway was paved and an air terminal was built. Peace River Airport re-opened its runway for major airline service in January 1961. The official opening was held August 9, 1961. This date marked the signing of a long term lease (40 years) between the Department of Transport and the Town of Peace River whereby the Town, with subsidization from Transport Canada, would operate the Airport.
During 1964 the first Flight Service Specialists were hired to man the radio at the Peace River Airport. Prior to this, the pilots spoke to the radio operated by the Weather Office at the airport. Even before the Weather Office, the agents of Pacific Western Airlines and Canadian Pacific Airlines had a radio in their homes which they used to communicate with the pilots. PWA did build a small radio shack for their agent.
A New Terminal building was opened September 8, 1984. The estimated cost of construction being 4.5 million Heritage Fund dollars.
The Town of Peace River purchased the airport from Transport Canada in 1996 following the National Airports Policy
.
, M.D. of Peace
, County of Northern Lights and the Town of Grimshaw
, and is working on a business plan.
The 5000 ft (1,524 m) long Runway 04/22 would be able to accommodate a Boeing 737-600, 737-700 and 737-800 equipped with a short-field design package. Any further extensions to the runway, to enable handling larger aircraft, would have to contend with either Strong Creek's ravine to the west or Highway 2 on the opposite side of the runway. A tributary of St. Germaine Creek cuts a ravine just to the east of the airport.
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
, 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...
. The airport has two operating runways, the longest being 5000 ft (1,524 m) long and the terminal building, 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) in size.
Northern Air is based at the airport and provides scheduled service to Edmonton, in addition to charters and air ambulance. The airport was the hub of Peace Air
Peace Air
Peace Air was a Canadian regional airline that flew to destinations within the Canadian province of Alberta and to two destinations in eastern British Columbia. It covered niche markets including scheduled flights to smaller communities, freight and charter flights in northern Alberta. It was based...
until the airline ceased operations in May 2007.
History
That first airport in the area was located on the west bank of the Peace RiverPeace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the present town site. The site was abandoned when one of Grant McConachie
Grant McConachie
George William Grant McConachie was a Canadian bush pilot and businessman who became CEO of Canadian Pacific Airlines ....
's pilots had a near fatal accident on landing a United Air Transport Limited airline, which was headquarterd at the Edmonton Municipal Airport. Historical records indicate that the present site (NW Section 29, Township 83, Range 22, West of the 5th Meridian) was picked by the famous Wop May
Wop May
Captain Wilfrid Reid "Wop" May, OBE, DFC , was a First World War flying ace and a pioneering aviator who created the role of the bush pilot while working the Canadian west....
.
Originally the airport had three runways: 04/22, 08/26 and 18/36. Of the three runways shown by the original configuration, two are still operating: 04/22 and 08/26, each being 3000 feet (914.4 m) long and 500 feet (152.4 m) wide. In the fall of 1942 an American Corps of engineers extended the 04/22 runway by a further 2000 feet (609.6 m). A weather station was also added by the American Government, likely as part of the Alaska Highway effort.
On May 28, 29 of 1949 the Peace River Airport played host to one of the first airshows in the region. The Air Cadets of the region played host to the R.C.A.F. who brought with them a helicopter, two Harvard trainers, an Avro Anson, a Beech Expeditor out of which two parachutists jumped.
In June 1960 the Peace River Airport closed down in order to complete extensive construction to the airport. The runway was paved and an air terminal was built. Peace River Airport re-opened its runway for major airline service in January 1961. The official opening was held August 9, 1961. This date marked the signing of a long term lease (40 years) between the Department of Transport and the Town of Peace River whereby the Town, with subsidization from Transport Canada, would operate the Airport.
During 1964 the first Flight Service Specialists were hired to man the radio at the Peace River Airport. Prior to this, the pilots spoke to the radio operated by the Weather Office at the airport. Even before the Weather Office, the agents of Pacific Western Airlines and Canadian Pacific Airlines had a radio in their homes which they used to communicate with the pilots. PWA did build a small radio shack for their agent.
A New Terminal building was opened September 8, 1984. The estimated cost of construction being 4.5 million Heritage Fund dollars.
The Town of Peace River purchased the airport from Transport Canada in 1996 following the National Airports Policy
National Airports Policy (Canada)
The National Airports Policy is a program of the Government of Canada involving the privatization or private operation of nearly all of the country's airports that was commenced during the 1990s....
.
Contemporary Issues
The Peace River Airport Steering Committee has been set up to assess viability and regionalization potential of the airport. The committee has representatives from The Town of Peace River, Northern Sunrise CountyNorthern Sunrise County, Alberta
Northern Sunrise County is a municipal district in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17.On July 10, 2002, the name changed from Municipal District of East Peace No. 131 to Northern Sunrise County...
, M.D. of Peace
Peace No. 135, Alberta
The Municipal District of Peace No. 135 is a municipal district in northwestern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 19. The municipal seat is set in the Village of Berwyn.- Demographics :...
, County of Northern Lights and the Town of Grimshaw
Grimshaw, Alberta
Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located west of the Town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 35, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway...
, and is working on a business plan.
The 5000 ft (1,524 m) long Runway 04/22 would be able to accommodate a Boeing 737-600, 737-700 and 737-800 equipped with a short-field design package. Any further extensions to the runway, to enable handling larger aircraft, would have to contend with either Strong Creek's ravine to the west or Highway 2 on the opposite side of the runway. A tributary of St. Germaine Creek cuts a ravine just to the east of the airport.
Airlines
External links
- Town of Peace River. Peace River Airport
- 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...
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