South Shore Regional Airport Explained

Liverpool/South Shore Regional Airport
Nativename:South Shore Regional Airport
Icao:CYAU
Type:Public
Operator:South Shore Flying Club
City-Served:Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Location:Greenfield, Queens County, Nova Scotia
Timezone:AST
Summer:ADT
Elevation-F:325
Coordinates:44.2306°N -64.8561°W
Pushpin Map:Canada Nova Scotia#Canada
Pushpin Label:CYAU
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Nova Scotia
R1-Number:07/25
R1-Length-F:3,933
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2007
Stat1-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat1-Data:311
Footnotes:Sources: CFS, Queens Tourism[1]
Movements from Statistics Canada.[2]

Liverpool/South Shore Regional Airport or South Shore Regional Airport is a registered aerodrome located in Greenfield, 13NM north northwest of Liverpool, in the Region of Queens Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada.

History

Established with the participation of the Town of Liverpool, the Municipality of the County of Queens, and the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, the aerodrome opened with a 3000feet gravel landing strip in 1970. The runway was paved in 1975, at which time a paved apron was also constructed.[3]

The aerodrome was further improved in 1983-84.[4] In the 1990s, the runway was extended, the apron was expanded, and the pavement load capacity was improved such that the airport can now accommodate light jet aircraft or aircraft up to the size of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.[3]

In the 2000s the avgas aviation fuel delivery system was decommissioned. This led to a decline in traffic.[3] The avgas facility has since been restored.

On 12 January 2016, the Region of Queens council voted down a motion to close the airport.[5] In 2016, a new 15-year lease agreement was reached between the municipality and the flying club. The club's goals were to maintain the airport infrastructure, build a hangar, and attract new business.[6] Since then, the club has leased land for future hangar construction, and renovated the terminal building.[7] In 2019, Region of Queens council gave approval for the flying club to sub-lease land to outside groups for the construction of new hangars.[8]

In 2022, the municipality moved twice to sell the airport, creating some controversy. Airport advocates pointed out that the loss of the airport could be a safety risk, as it is the only paved runway on the South Shore between Yarmouth and Halifax. In December 2022, the municipality voted down a motion to sell. In early 2023, 20-year leases were signed with both the flying club and a drag racing association.[9] [10]

Operations

South Shore Regional Airport has one paved runway, which is 3933feet long and 75feet wide. It is located at 80 Airport Road, Greenfield. Airport Road is located along Nova Scotia Route 210.[11]

The airport is owned by the Region of Queens Municipality, and operated by the South Shore Flying Club, formed in 2015.[6] The municipality provides $2,500 per year to help maintain the runway.[12] The airport is unmanned, and has no fuel or snow plowing capability.[11]

Incidents and accidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.queens.ca/index.asp?id=108 Queens Tourism
  2. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/51-210-x/2011001/t001-eng.htm Total aircraft movements by class of operation
  3. Web site: History of South Shore Regional Airport (CYAU) . South Shore Flying Club . 9 March 2020.
  4. News: Liverpool airport in Nova Scotia to be expanded . Halifax Chronicle-Herald . 9 July 1983 . 17.
  5. News: Verge . Brittany W. . Greenfield airport still flying after council votes against closing . Queen's County Advance . 13 January 2016.
  6. News: McKenna . Barb . South Shore flying club enters lease with municipality . Queens County Advance . 14 April 2016.
  7. Web site: Hansard . Nova Scotia Legislature . 11 September 2018.
  8. News: Halverson . Ed . Flying Club Planning Expansion At Greenfield Airport . . 8 July 2019.
  9. News: Edwards . Danielle . Sale of South Shore Regional Airport off the table following council vote . CBC . 17 December 2022.
  10. News: Woodbury . Richard . With airport sale grounded, Region of Queens Municipality opts for status quo . CBC . 9 April 2023.
  11. Web site: South Shore Regional Airport . Region of Queens Municipality . 9 March 2020.
  12. News: Greenfield Airport Leased to South Shore Flying Club . . 17 April 2016.
  13. Web site: Aviation Investigation Report A98A0184 . Transportation Safety Board of Canada . 2000.
  14. News: Pilot probably disoriented in 1998 crash . CBC News . 23 March 2000.