Quesnel Airport Explained

Quesnel Airport
Iata:YQZ
Icao:CYQZ
Wmo:71192
Type:Public
Owner:City of Quesnel
Operator:City of Quesnel
Location:Quesnel, British Columbia
Timezone:PST
Summer:PDT
Elevation-F:1,788
Coordinates:53.0261°N -122.5103°W
Pushpin Map:Canada British Columbia
Pushpin Label:CYQZ
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in British Columbia
Website:Official website
R1-Number:13/31
R1-Length-F:5,501
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Source[1]
Climate[2]
Aircraft movements[3]

Quesnel Airport is on the east side of the Fraser River about 2.6NM north of central Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.

Earlier activity

In October 1928, John M. Patterson landed a Yukon Airways and Exploration Co Alexander Eaglerock biplane at Johnston's Field. In September 1929, Walter Gilbert came in a Western Canada Airways (WCA) Boeing B-1E. That winter, a Consolidated Mining and Smelting Fairchild 71 arrived on the frozen Fraser next to the bridge. During summer 1930, Wilhelm A. Joerss descended onto the Fraser in an Air Land Manufacturing Co Junkers F 13. In March 1931, Tom S. Corless made a weather-prompted landing of a Stinson SM-8A at Nam Sing's Field about 60NaN0 north of Quesnel.

During the early 1930s, R.L. (Ginger) Coote was based at Quesnel, initially operating as a sole proprietorship. In October 1933, he incorporated Bridge River and Cariboo Airways. Wheel-equipped aircraft heading to Alaska preferred the inland route up the Fraser, making Quesnel a popular stop. By 1934, Baker's Field came into use. In January 1938, the inaugural Ashcroft–Fort St. John airmail run landed on the frozen Dragon Lake south of Quesnel. This lake became the preferred venue for float planes.

World War II era

In 1942, during World War II, the DND developed the present site as an intermediate facility between Williams Lake and Prince George. The airport was called RCAF Station Quesnel. In May 1943, the airport was designated the No. 13 Staging Unit. In the event of a Japanese invasion, fighter aircraft could be operated from the airstrip as a second line of defence. The RCAF established a radio range aircraft navigational facility nearby.

Department of Transport administration

In 1946, administration of the airport passed from the DND to the DOT. In 1949, extensive drain and ditch work was carried out.[4]

In 1950, a spacious new refuelling area was developed.[5] In 1951, further drainage work and some paving were undertaken[6] and approach lighting tendered[7] for the 5500by runway. In 1954, the Quesnel Flying Club was founded, later disbanding, but reactivating in 1985.[8] The reconstruction and paving of the runway, taxiway, and parking area[9] culminated in an official opening in November 1958.[10] Tendered that year was the installation of medium intensity lighting,[11] and in 1959, the erection of a duplex.[12]

In 1960, Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CP Air) began scheduled services using a DC-3. In 1963, the frequency was reduced from daily to tri-weekly.[13] That year, a new main reservoir was added to the existing pumphouse.[14] After years of inadequate accommodation,[15] a new terminal was opened in 1967. The next year, the construction of a new powerhouse was tendered.[16]

In 1971, Thunderbird Airlines, under charter to Pacific Western Airlines (PWA), inaugurated a Prince George−Kelowna service, which included a Quesnel stop.[17] During a 1974 firefighter strike at Prince George Airport, CP Air and PWA Boeing 737s were landing at Quesnel.[18] Less than a week later, these 737 flights switched to Williams Lake, because the existence of only auxiliary ground crew firefighters and a 350adj=onNaNadj=on dry chemical carrying truck at Quesnel Airport was deemed inadequate.[19]

By 1978, the three trained part-time firefighters and a 1000adj=onNaNadj=on dry chemical truck exceeded the fire suppression standards for a Class F airport. Quesnel then averaged 48 take-offs or landings by heavy (over 25000lb) aircraft per month.[20] A foam fire truck had been transferred to Williams Lake the prior year, because of decreased air traffic at Quesnel.[21]

In 1980, the overhead power distribution system was rebuilt.[22] The next year, a new passenger arrival area was set up in a portable at the south end of the terminal.[23] In 1983, the runway and a taxiway were repaved.[24] The next year, a new firehall/maintenance garage was erected[25] and the water supply system upgraded.[26]

In 1991, the runway was rehabilitated.[27] Construction tendered in 1992 included a meteorological instrument compound and the associated underground electrical ducting.[28] That year, the airport handled more than 18,000 passengers and 13,000 aircraft movements. In 1993, a new 5040NaN0 timber terminal[29] and the associated roading and parking lot were built.[30] The former portable accommodation was tendered for disposal.[31]

City of Quesnel administration

In 1997, control and maintenance passed from Transport Canada to the City of Quesnel. At the time, the federal government provided $1.8 million for safety improvements, which included resurfacing the runway, taxiway and apron, and upgrading the airfield lighting.[32] Regular federal subsidies of about $500,000 per year came to an end.[33]

In 2003, a $211,000 federal grant funded an upgrade of the security gates and the purchase a runway sweeper.[34] The next year, Central Mountain Air (CMA) replaced Air Canada Jazz as the sole scheduled service provider.[35] In 2005, the name changed from the Quesnel Municipal Airport to the Quesnel Regional Airport.[36] In 2010, the first annual SkyFest airshow was held,[37] and the airport received a federal grant of about $158,000 to replace the old wet/dry chemical spreader.[38] That year, the airport provided a temporary base for personnel and aircraft fighting wildfires in the area,[39] which developed into an ongoing forestry services facility.

In 2013, Northern Development provided a $244,815 grant to expand the 52500adj=onNaNadj=on apron by 22500ft2.[40] By 2015, the annual airshow had become one of the biggest in Canada.[41]

In 2021, the airport received a $7,162,526 federal grant to rehabilitate the runway, taxiway and apron.[42] In 2023, the airport applied for a $491,500 federal grant to replace a sweeper.[43]

The city owns and operates the 264ha site. The infrastructure includes two corporate hangars and some small private ones. CMA provides scheduled services.[44] Other users are the Quesnel Flying Club,[45] medevacs, and charter flights for the forestry, oil and gas, and mining industries. Low fog remains a navigational hazard.

Accidents and incidents

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Canada Flight Supplement . 202 . 31 Dec 2020 . www.navcanada.ca.
  2. Web site: Quesnel Airport, British Columbia . weather.gc.ca.
  3. Web site: Table: 23-10-0016-01: Quesnel, British Columbia . www150.statcan.gc.ca.
  4. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 5 . 26 May 1949 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  5. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 9 . 20 Apr 1950 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  6. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 9 . 14 Jun 1951 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  7. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 7 . 27 Aug 1951 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  8. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 23 . 27 Mar 1985 . www.newspapers.com.
  9. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 12 . 11 Sep 1957 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  10. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 29 Oct 1958 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  11. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 10 . 28 Oct 1958 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  12. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 16 . 3 Sep 1959 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  13. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 2 . 25 Mar 1963 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  14. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 13 . 10 May 1963 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  15. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 2 . 22 Mar 1963 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  16. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 15 . 29 Oct 1968 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  17. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 21 Apr 1971 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  18. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 10 Apr 1974 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  19. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 3 . 15 Apr 1974 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  20. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 1 Jun 1978 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  21. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 13 . 13 Sep 1978 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  22. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 22 . 13 Feb 1980 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  23. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . A4 . 23 Apr 1981 . www.newspapers.com.
  24. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 6 . 16 Jun 1983 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  25. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 36 . 27 Apr 1984 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  26. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 20 . 30 Jul 1984 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  27. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 27 . 31 Jul 1991 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  28. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 23 . 5 Oct 1992 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  29. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 7 . 17 May 1993 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  30. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 27 . 18 Aug 1993 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  31. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 31 . 10 Dec 1993 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  32. Web site: Prince George Free Press . 20 . 11 Sep 1997 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  33. Web site: Prince George Free Press . 13 . 21 May 2000 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  34. Web site: Gov News . 24 Apr 2003 . www.canada.ca.
  35. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 9 . 29 Sep 2004 . www.newspapers.com.
  36. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 4 . 31 Jul 2005 . www.newspapers.com.
  37. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 5 . 4 Jun 2010 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  38. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 4 . 14 Oct 2010 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  39. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 3 Aug 2010 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  40. Web site: Northern Development Approves $244.000 for Major Quesnel Airport Expansion . 27 Sep 2013 . www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca.
  41. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 4 . 29 Jul 2015 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  42. Web site: Canadian Aviation News . 20 Apr 2021 . canadianaviationnews.ca.
  43. Web site: My Cariboo Now . 26 Oct 2023 . www.mycariboonow.com.
  44. Web site: Central Mountain Air . www.flycma.com.
  45. Web site: City of Quesnel: Airport Information . www.quesnel.ca.
  46. Web site: Vancouver Sun . 44 . 27 Oct 1950 . …escaped injury when their Stinson plane nosed over while taking off . www.newspapers.com.
  47. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . A1 . 10 Jan 1952 . www.newspapers.com.
  48. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 11 Sep 1959 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  49. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . A1 . 23 Nov 1967 . www.newspapers.com.
  50. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . A1 . 25 Jul 1968 . Pilot Reverend George Ferguson and passenger Andrew Anderson…uninjured after the light plane went out of control on landing at the Quesnel Municipal Airport. . www.newspapers.com.
  51. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 13 . 23 Dec 1968 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  52. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 1 . 28 Jan 1969 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  53. Web site: Vancouver Sun . 31 . 17 Oct 1979 . www.newspapers.com.
  54. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 3 . 1 Apr 1982 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  55. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 11 . 7 Dec 1994 . www.newspapers.com.
  56. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 1 . 17 Jul 1996 . www.newspapers.com.
  57. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 6 . 10 Feb 2002 . …twin engine Beech 100…Vancouver Air Charter…slid off the runway…about 1000 feet into a snowbank. . www.newspapers.com.
  58. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 8 . 30 Aug 2006 . www.newspapers.com.
  59. Web site: Quesnel Cariboo Observer . 5 . 4 Feb 2009 . www.newspapers.com.
  60. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 4 . 10 Aug 2013 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.
  61. Web site: Prince George Citizen . 4 . 19 Aug 2016 . pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca.

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