| Lethbridge County Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: YQL – ICAO: CYQL – WMO: 71267 |
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | County of Lethbridge | ||
| Location | County of Lethbridge, near Lethbridge, Alberta | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,048 ft / 929 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Map | |||
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CYQL
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 05/23 | 6,500 | 1,981 | Asphalt |
| 12/30 | 5,500 | 1,676 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2010) | |||
| Aircraft movements | 25,698 | ||
| Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[1] Environment Canada[2] Movements from Statistics Canada[3] |
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Lethbridge County Airport or Lethbridge Airport, (IATA: YQL, ICAO: CYQL), is located 4 NM (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south southeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It is 10-15 driving minutes from the downtown area and has scheduled service to the Alberta cities of Calgary and Edmonton. 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 only, with no more than 15 passengers.[1] The airport hosts the annual Alberta International Airshow.
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Originally known as Kenyon Field, this aerodrome began passenger services in October 1938, but officially opened in June 1939. Previous to this, the city operated aviation activities in areas currently occupied by Exhibition Park and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.
From 1939–1948, Lethbridge operated as Western Canada's primary airline hub.[4] At the outbreak of World War II, Kenyon Field became a training facility under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The station was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force and called RCAF Station Lethbridge. Beginning in July 1940, the aerodrome hosted No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS). Instruction was provided by members of the local flying club. Since the airport often experienced significant wind, the flying school moved to less windy High River in June 1941.
Late in 1941, the No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, also a BCATP training facility, opened at the station. Since land was required for gunnery and bombing practice, about 100 square miles (260 km2) was leased from the Blood Indian Reserve located nearby. Aircraft used by this school included Fairey Battles, Lysanders, Ansons, and Bolingbrokes.
No. 133 (Fighter) Squadron was formed here in June 1942, flying Hurricanes and Harvards. The squadron moved to Boundary Bay, British Columbia in October 1942.
The RCAF left Lethbridge in 1944.
In 1947, the RCAF's mess hall was converted by the Department of Transportation (now Transport Canada) into an Air Terminal Building, which was replaced by the current facility in 1979.
The County of Lethbridge assumed ownership of the airport on 1 January 1997, and it was subsequently named the Lethbridge County Airport.
On 26 July 2009, the Evergreen Supertanker successfully landed and took off from runway 05 as part of the 2009 airshow, marking the first time a Boeing 747 has used this airport.[5]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air | Calgary |
| Air Canada Express operated by Air Georgian | Calgary |
| Integra Air | Edmonton |
The airport is a Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Designated Aerodrome, thus providing full passenger screening. It also serves as a regional airport, offering a number of on-site charter, maintenance, flight training and speciality aviation services. There are roughly 40 aircraft based at the airport, including commercial, corporate, recreational, flight training, aerial spray and rotary-wing.
Between 50 and 60 percent of typical annual aircraft movements are flight training and scheduled air carrier services. In 2003, aircraft movements for the year were roughly 30,000 and passenger movements were roughly 55,000.[6]
Aircraft services are available through Airwest Flight Support and Southern Aero Aviation/Lethbridge Esso. Both offer Avgas 100LL, Jet A1 FSII, GPU, de-icing, a pilot lounge, hangarage, and tie downs. Airwest also provides inspections, repairs, and aircraft sales, and Southern Aero also provides courtesy vehicles, and sleeping quarters. Respectively, frequencies are 130.75 and 123.4, and they are found at aprons 2 and 3.
On 7 February 2009, a general aviation Cessna 150 crash-landed in a field at the airport. The pilot was landing when a gust of wind apparently overtook the aircraft. The pilot escaped uninjured, however the plane sustained major damage. The crash is currently being investigated by Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board.[7]
On 23 July 2010, a Canadian Air Force McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet crashed during a practice run for the upcoming Alberta International Airshow.[8] The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was taken to hospital with undetermined, non-life-threatening injuries.
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