Tuktoyaktuk/James Gruben Airport Explained

Tuktoyaktuk/James Gruben Airport
Iata:YUB
Icao:CYUB
Wmo:71985
Type:Public
Operator:Government of the Northwest Territories
Location:Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories
Timezone:MST
Summer:MDT
Elevation-F:14
Coordinates:69.4333°N -133.0264°W
Pushpin Map:Canada Northwest Territories#Canada
Pushpin Label:CYUB
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Northwest Territories
R1-Number:10/28
R1-Length-F:4,600
R1-Surface:Gravel
Stat-Year:2010
Stat1-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat1-Data:2,356
Footnotes:Sources: Canada Flight Supplement
Environment Canada[1]
movements from Statistics Canada[2]

Tuktoyaktuk/James Gruben Airport is near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada.

The airport was originally built to serve the Distant Early Warning Line site adjacent to Tuktoyaktuk. The site was chosen against the advice of local Inuvialuit, who warned that the site was prone to high water under certain conditions. The airstrip later had to be raised to prevent flooding. The airport was turned over to Transport Canada in 1973, bringing an end to military management and opening it up for regular civilian use.[3]

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers. The airport previously had scheduled service from Inuvik operated by Aklak Air. Service was cancelled in 2018 after the opening of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway created a permanent link between the communities and resulted in a drop in demand for air service.[4]

The airport is named for James Gruben, a local bush pilot/businessman who was killed on the ice road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk on 13 April 2001.[5] He was the owner of the only 100% Inuvialuit-owned transportation company, E. Gruben's Transport Ltd., which was passed down to him from his father Eddie Gruben and is still in business to this day.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/prods_servs/metstat1_e.html Synoptic/Metstat Station Information
  2. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/51-210-x/2011001/t001-eng.htm Total aircraft movements by class of operation
  3. Book: Le Meur . Robert . Arnold . Charles D. . Memories of the Arctic . 30 March 2017 . Inuvialuit Regional Corporation . Inuvik . 9780981394428 . 150 .
  4. News: Aklak Air cancels Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk flight service due to 'significant decline in demand' . 25 January 2021 . . . 9 February 2018.
  5. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prominent-businessman-killed-in-crash-1.273879 CBC News article on Gruben's accident
  6. Web site: E. Grubens Transport . 25 January 2021.