Located just 5 minutes outside of Athabasca, CYWM serves a variety of aircraft from privately owned single engine models, to executive jets, commercial Twin Otters and helicopters. An air courier service also flies into the airport twice-daily on weekdays.
For those choosing Athabasca as a destination, the Town has a variety of choices when it comes to restaurants, hotels, services and events throughout the year. A taxi service is available to help get you to a hot meal or relaxing hotel, and back to the airport again.
Accessible to pilots and aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Athabasca Regional Airport is Connecting Alberta’s North.
AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS
To support airport operations, a new water cistern has been installed to service the facility’s terminal building, a larger Avgas fuel tank has been added to meet the increased need for it by pilots and a Pilot’s Lounge has been opened to accommodate those stopping in for fuel or a visit. A new LED Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) light system now increases safety for pilots landing at the airport. Due to the type of lights used, it is the first airport in Canada to have such a system installed.
PILOT’S LOUNGE
A Pilot’s Lounge accommodates airport users and those travelling through. The lounge is located in the main hangar and can be accessed from a door on the north side and is clearly marked with a sign. Inside there is access to men’s and ladies washrooms, WiFi, and water. Some comfortable furniture will give you a break from the cockpit as well. Contact information for local cab companies and restaurants are available on a bulletin board inside the lounge.
LEASE LOTS
The Athabasca Regional Airport has lease lots available to those interested in setting up a hangar or using our airport as a kick-off point for other aviation related business.
PARKING
For those using the airport as a starting point for business, there is vehicle parking available on-site. We ask that you make us aware you are intending to park in our facility. Parking is also available for those who are catching flights to northern work sites.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Athabasca Regional Airport is operated by Athabasca County.
Regular inquiries 780-675-2273
After Hours Emergencies 780-689-9000
Airport Specifications
LOCATION
The Athabasca Regional Airport is a registered Aerodrome located approximately 1.5 km east of Athabasca on Hwy 55, and approximately 1.5 km north on Range Road 221. GPS coordinates for the airport are: 54°44′35″N 113°12′19″W
RADIO FREQUENCY
The radio frequency for the Athabasca Airport is 123.2 MHz.
RUNWAY SPECIFICATIONS
The airport has a 4000 x 100 foot asphalt runway (17/35) with an elevation of 1971 ft/601m MSL.
Other runway features include:
- Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights;
- a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) that allows aircraft to descend to a minimum of 250 ft on approaches in poor weather;
- non-directional beacon;
- medium intensity edge lighting and REILS lights;
- ARCAL system.
Airport Fees
Landing Fees
Commercial Aircraft | $15 per landing
Flying Schools | None
Private Aircraft | None
Lease Lot Rentals
Lease Rates | $0.90 per square metre
Avgas
Fuel Sales and Accounts
June 14th 2023: Please note that due to repairs there will be no AVGAS (100LL) at the Athabasca Regional Airport until further notice. A NOTAM (notice to airman) has been placed for pilots.
The County offers an AVGAS (100 LL) self-serve system along the apron near the terminal facility. It accepts all major credit and debit cards and is available 24/7.
CURRENT FUEL PRICE
$2.186 per litre
FLEET CARDS
Fleet Cards are available by filling out a credit application.
2023 Fly-In Barbecue
2023 Event
The Athabasca County Airport Committee is pleased to be hosting the annual Fly-in Barbeque on Saturday, July 15, 2023, from 11 am to 2 pm.
Events include:
- Free barbeque and refreshments
- Welcome bags for pilots
- Activities for kids
- Airshow by Brent Hardy
- And more!
Pilots: Please register your special interest aircraft before July 7, 2023, by calling 780-675-2273 or completing the online form. By registering, your name will be entered into a draw to win an AVGAS Voucher.
The 2023 Fly-In Barbecue is a great opportunity to showcase the Athabasca Regional Airport while bringing people together to share in a great community event.
Participation
Each year the Athabasca County Fly-In Barbecue includes more people from the aviation community and the local community. The Fly-In sees over 1,000 people attend the event and pilots “Fly-In” from all over Alberta. Incredible! Those who attend are welcomed to check out some aircraft, displays, cars, activities for the kids and learn about our airport.
The event has grown from being a gathering for pilots who used the airport to an annual event that involves businesses, community groups and individuals volunteering their time. We couldn’t successfully run the event without the help of you all! Our thanks for your continued support and we hope our event helps bring positive things to your organizations again in the future.
Our thanks to the aviation community in our region and province for supporting our event by flying in to attend each year. We hope this introduction to our facility brings you back again whether it be for business or a pleasure flight with family or friends. Our goal is to make our facility welcoming to pilots who need fuel or a rest from the cockpit in our pilot’s lounge.
2023 Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
In Kind
Airport Strategic Plan
VISION
To provide a safe, efficient and cost effective Airport with the leadership, operating skills and strength to successfully balance community expectations and customer service.
LED PAPI lights a first in Canada
It’s not often that a small, rural airport can tout being the first at anything, but the Athabasca Municipal Airport is different in this regard.
A new Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) light system is being added to increase safety for pilots landing at the airport.
The lights being installed are a first in Canada and have in them an LED, or Light Emitting Diode, bulb as a light source. The engineering company conducting the work for the County tells us we are the first airport in Canada to use this technology.
LED bulbs are becoming the standard for many applications in home and industry. They use less power and have a greater operational life.
What are they? – PAPI lights are a visual aid to help pilots acquire and maintain the correct approach to an airport. They tell pilots if their approach is too high, or too low, using red and white lights. It is a standard used in airports around the world. They are automatically initialized when a pilot keys the radio microphone in the cockpit upon approach. Their main benefit is they increase safety for pilots landing, especially in inclement weather where visibility is challenging.
The LED advantage – It was in 2008 that new PAPI systems were manufactured using LED lamps instead of incandescent bulbs. They offer longer life (50,000 hours in some cases) and produce sufficient brightness to meet all aviation guidelines. Much like at home, power savings will be realized by use of LEDs and is another main advantage for the LED technology.
The installation process – There were a number of things the County and our contractor had to do to complete the project.
• We first had to put in place a plan to make users of the airport aware of the work taking place.
• For the safety of workers and pilots the runway had to be closed for a period of three days for the first stage of the project to take place. This was to trench in wiring and install concrete pilings to hold the 8 new lights.
• Stage II is to install the lights, calibrate them and conduct flight tests to ensure they meet all operation standards for safety. This work was completed and the lights went into operation on October 2, 2014.
Drones and UAV Safety
Athabasca County wants to remind those who fly radio controlled drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that rules are in place to provide safety and privacy for everyone.
The Athabasca Regional Airport is of particular concern when it comes to safety. Not only are UAVs prohibited by law from flying within 9 kms of an airport but they are also prohibited from use in populated areas, near moving vehicles, and higher than 90 metres.
The weight of your drone/UAV is a key factor in deciding where and how it can be used. If your aircraft weighs less than 35 kg and is used for recreational purposes, you don’t need permission to fly, but do need to follow Transport Canada safety guidelines. If it is over 35 kg and it is used for commercial purposes there are specific regulations that pertain to its use.
These Transport Canada regulations are in place to help ensure the use of drones or UAVs is done safely. It is important to note there are a variety of regulations in place that help regulate the use of drones/UAVs in Canada. The regulations can be viewed by visiting the Transport Canada website at the link below.
Rules for Drones/UAVs are changing
On January 9, 2019 Transport Canada announced there will be new rules for flying drones/UAVs in Canada. To find out more about the regulations which come into effect on June 1, 2019 click on the link below to visit the Transport Canada website.
