Prince George Airport
Encyclopedia
Prince George Airport is an airport
that serves Prince George
, British Columbia
, Canada
, and the surrounding area. It is located just within the southern boundary of the city, 2.8 NM southeast, and is run by the Prince George Airport Authority.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
by NAV CANADA
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
. CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation
aircraft with no more than 15 passengers and other aircraft with 30 or 120 if off-loaded in stages.
course).
During the 1930s and 40s, it also contained Pineview Elementary, which was renamed the Airport School. In 1941, after the completion of runway
14/32 (now 15/33), Pan American Airways
operated from the Prince George Airport as a stopover location on its Seattle to Fairbanks
route. In 1942, Canadian Pacific Airlines
began offering scheduled flights six times a week to Prince George. In 1953, the first lights were installed along runway 14/32 (now 15/33). Later that same year, a United States Air Force
B-29 Superfortress
was forced to make an emergency landing
along the same runway. It landed 18 in (45.7 cm) deep inside the tarmac
.
The Prince George Airport was commercialized in 1963 when Mrs. P. Richardson opened the first coffee shop in the terminal
. Wildlife such as moose
or deer
can be seen occasionally from the runway.
The Prince George Airport underwent a significant expansion and revitalization from 2003 to 2005 that included the development of more check-in counters, larger pre-board screening and holding areas, new baggage carousel
s, and a border control facility for processing international flights. The airport recently began serving Mexican
destinations through charter company Air Transat
(the flights are operated by WestJet
Airlines).
As part of a deal where the city of Prince George agreed to cover up to $400,000 of risk with taxpayer money, Horizon Air
began a daily flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
on May 1, 2008. However, this proved unpopular and both the city and Horizon lost "substantial" money before the deal was canceled four months later.
On November 17, 2009, the first Boeing 747
aircraft touched down at Prince George Airport, as part of a refueling stop. It was a Southern Air
cargo flight, en route from Caracas, Venezuela to Shanghai, China. This comes as a result of a runway expansion, increasing the length of runway 15/33 to 11450 ft (3,490 m), making it the third longest runway in Canada, behind Calgary International
(12675 ft (3,863 m)) and Vancouver International
(11500 ft (3,505 m)).
On December 19, 2009 a fire destroyed the Northern Thunderbird Air
terminal with no loss of life The airline has stated that operations will continue as normal despite the setback
which provides flights to Williston Lake destinations and charters.
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...
that serves Prince George
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, 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 the surrounding area. It is located just within the southern boundary of the city, 2.8 NM southeast, and is run by the Prince George Airport Authority.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
Airport of Entry
An airport of entry is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors arriving in a country.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
by NAV CANADA
NAV 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...
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
. CBSA officers at this airport can handle 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...
aircraft with no more than 15 passengers and other aircraft with 30 or 120 if off-loaded in stages.
History
First opened in 1928, and until 1940, the airport's initial site was at the intersections of Highway 97 and Highway 16 (the same site is currently being used as a golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course).
During the 1930s and 40s, it also contained Pineview Elementary, which was renamed the Airport School. In 1941, after the completion 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...
14/32 (now 15/33), Pan American Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
operated from the Prince George Airport as a stopover location on its Seattle to Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
route. In 1942, Canadian Pacific Airlines
Canadian Pacific Airlines
Canadian Pacific Air Lines was a Canadian airline that operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986...
began offering scheduled flights six times a week to Prince George. In 1953, the first lights were installed along runway 14/32 (now 15/33). Later that same year, a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
was forced to make an emergency landing
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
along the same runway. It landed 18 in (45.7 cm) deep inside the tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
.
The Prince George Airport was commercialized in 1963 when Mrs. P. Richardson opened the first coffee shop in the terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
. Wildlife such as moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
or deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
can be seen occasionally from the runway.
The Prince George Airport underwent a significant expansion and revitalization from 2003 to 2005 that included the development of more check-in counters, larger pre-board screening and holding areas, new baggage carousel
Baggage carousel
A baggage carousel is a device, generally at an airport, that delivers checked luggage to the passengers at the baggage claim area at their final destination. Not all airports use these devices...
s, and a border control facility for processing international flights. The airport recently began serving Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
destinations through charter company Air Transat
Air Transat
Air Transat is an airline based in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, operating scheduled and charter flights, serving 60 destinations in 25 countries. The airline is owned and operated by Transat A.T. Inc. During the summer season its main destinations are Europe and in the winter season the...
(the flights are operated by WestJet
WestJet
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian low-cost carrier that provides scheduled and charter air service to 71 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, WestJet is currently the second largest Canadian air carrier, behind Air Canada, operating an average of...
Airlines).
As part of a deal where the city of Prince George agreed to cover up to $400,000 of risk with taxpayer money, Horizon Air
Horizon Air
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. is a regional low-cost airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
began a daily flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5...
on May 1, 2008. However, this proved unpopular and both the city and Horizon lost "substantial" money before the deal was canceled four months later.
On November 17, 2009, the first Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft touched down at Prince George Airport, as part of a refueling stop. It was a Southern Air
Southern Air
Southern Air Inc. is a United States airline based in Norwalk, Connecticut, United States.A U.S. FAA part 121 supplemental cargo carrier and portfolio company of Oak Hill Capital Partners, Southern Air, through an all-Boeing fleet of 777Fs, 747-400BCFs and 747-200s, provides a wide range of...
cargo flight, en route from Caracas, Venezuela to Shanghai, China. This comes as a result of a runway expansion, increasing the length of runway 15/33 to 11450 ft (3,490 m), making it the third longest runway in Canada, behind Calgary International
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
(12675 ft (3,863 m)) and Vancouver International
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
(11500 ft (3,505 m)).
On December 19, 2009 a fire destroyed the Northern Thunderbird Air
Northern Thunderbird Air
NT Air or Northern Thunderbird Air Inc. is a Canadian charter airline with a head office at Prince George, British Columbia and bases in Vancouver and Smithers.- History :...
terminal with no loss of life The airline has stated that operations will continue as normal despite the setback
Airlines and destinations
The airport is the head office for Northern Thunderbird AirNorthern Thunderbird Air
NT Air or Northern Thunderbird Air Inc. is a Canadian charter airline with a head office at Prince George, British Columbia and bases in Vancouver and Smithers.- History :...
which provides flights to Williston Lake destinations and charters.