Swift Current Airport Explained

Swift Current Airport
Iata:YYN
Icao:CYYN
Wmo:71870
Type:Public
Operator:City of Swift Current
Location:RM of Swift Current No. 137, near Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Timezone:CST
Elevation-F:2,681
Coordinates:50.2925°N -107.6908°W
Pushpin Map:Saskatchewan#Canada
Pushpin Label:CYYN
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Saskatchewan
Pushpin Relief:yes
Website:Swift Current Airport webpage
R1-Number:04/22
R1-Length-F:2,495
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:13/31
R2-Length-F:4,250
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Stat1-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat1-Data:4
Stat-Year:2006
Footnotes:Source: Canada Flight Supplement
Environment Canada[1]
Movements from Statistics Canada[2]

Swift Current Airport is located 4NM east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.

History

1930–1939

Swift Current Airport began as a crude aerodrome in the 1930s, part of Canada's national "100-mile interval" aerodrome system.

1939–1945 World War II

Shortly after the outbreak of WWII, a Royal Canadian Air Force Station was established at the Aerodrome and was made home to the Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 39 Service Flying Training School on 15 December 1941. The school trained RAF pilots on intermediate aircraft. No. 39 SFTS was integrated into the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in 1942 and the school operated at the base until 24 March 1944.[3] The base was one of more than 100 similar facilities constructed across Canada during WWII, a major infrastructure project (even by today's standards) that provided jobs for communities still reeling from the Great Depression.

Some of the infrastructure from the WWII training base remains today. The airfield layout, that is, the runways and taxiways, retains virtually the same configuration as it did originally. One of the seven original WWII hangars remains today. The building is structurally sound and has been granted a "municipal heritage site" designation. The owner is completing some restorative work to the exterior. Another notable object from WWII is the large concrete structure at the east end of the apron - it was referred to as a "25-yard firing range". A few other original buildings remain, such as the water pump house, workshop, and storage buildings. Some buildings have been re-purposed within the City.

Aerodrome

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF & D of T Aerodrome - Swift Current, Saskatchewan at 50.2833°N -150°W with a variation of 19 degrees east and elevation of 2670feet. The field had six runways listed as follows:[4]

Runway nameLengthWidthSurface
7/253500feet100feetHard surfaced
7/253600feet100feetHard surfaced
3/212830feet100feetHard surfaced
3/212830feet100feetHard surfaced
11/292850feet100feetHard surfaced
11/292850feet100feetHard surfaced

Relief landing field – St. Aldwyn

The primary relief landing field (R1) for RCAF Station Swift Current was located north of the city of Swift Current.

In approximately 1942, the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome — St. Aldwyn, Saskatchewan at 50.3833°N -153°W with a variation of 20 degrees east and an elevation of 2633feet. The relief field was laid out in a triangle with three runways, detailed in the following table:[5]

Runway nameLengthWidthSurface
7/252900feet100feetHard surface
1/192900feet100feetHard surface
13/312900feet100feetHard surface

Relief landing field — Wymark

The secondary relief landing field (R2) for RCAF Station Swift Current was located northeast of the community of Wymark, Saskatchewan.

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Wymark, Saskatchewan at 50.1667°N -150°W with a variation of 19.5 degrees east and an elevation of 2902feet. The relief field was laid out in a triangle with three runways and was listed as a "turf - all way field". The runways were listed as follows:[6]

Runway nameLengthWidthSurface
13/313800feet500feetTurf
7/253800feet500feetTurf
1/193800feet500feetTurf

1945–present

Following the end of WWII, the airport was operated by the Department of Transport (now Transport Canada) until the late 1990s. At that time, the federal government implemented the National Airports Policy which transitioned ownership of medium-sized airports to local municipalities. The airport had scheduled passenger services in the 1950s and 60s provided by Trans-Canada Airways (now Air Canada). Over the years, the airport has served as a base for corporate aircraft, government aircraft, military aircraft, agricultural aircraft, private aircraft, flight training, aircraft maintenance, and refuelling.

Services

Swift Current Airport has the following services: cardlock fuel pumps (accepting VISA, American Express and MasterCard) dispensing 100LL gasoline and Jet A-1 turbine fuel, 24-hour pilots' lounge with WiFi and washrooms, aircraft maintenance company (Craft Aviation), parking and tie-downs.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Synoptic/Metstat Station Information . 20 March 2011 . 7 July 2012 . https://archive.today/20120707173458/http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/prods_servs/metstat1_e.html . dead .
  2. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/51-210-x/2011001/t001-eng.htm Total aircraft movements by class of operation
  3. Book: Hatch . F. J. . The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939–1945 . Directorate of History, Department of National Defence . 1983 . Ottawa . 0660114437.
  4. Staff Writer c.1942, p. 66
  5. Staff Writer c.1942, p. 65
  6. Staff Writer c.1942, p. 69