History of Brandon Airport

provided by John Christiansen - Retired Airport Supervisor

Updated by Trevor Bryant

The present Brandon Airport was constructed in 1940, and designated No.12 Service Flying School under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The original establishment consisted of 5 hangars and over 40 other timber framed buildings, of which only two hangars and two other buildings remain. Six paved runways were constructed for flight training, configured in a double triangular pattern, of which only one remains today.

In 1945, following the end of the war, the airport was declared surplus to requirements and a number of buildings were demolished. Subsequent negotiations with the Federal Department of Transport resulted in the airport being leased to the City of Brandon in 1946, for use as a Municipal Airport, and to serve as a base for the Brandon Flying Club. At this time, operation of the airport was placed under a commission appointed by Brandon City Council, although in April 1952 this responsibility was turned over to the Brandon Flying Club. The city bought the airport on July 1 1970 and took over operational responsibilities at that time.

Scheduled Air Service was introduced into Brandon by Trans Canada Airlines in June 1948, who maintained a service until early 1963 when the route was acquired by TransAir Limited, who amalgamated with Midwest Airlines in November 1969. This service only lasted for a couple of years and for most of the seventies Brandon was without air service. Then in 1981 Pacific Western Airlines initiated daily scheduled service to Calgary and Toronto using B737 jet aircraft. This service ceased in early 1989 and Ontario Express began service on February 1 1989. This was a Brandon to Winnipeg run but for various reasons did not succeed and again Brandon was without air service. Although for most of this time Perimeter Airline were flying into Brandon on a twice daily schedule their impact on passenger movements was very small as their priorities were courier service. As of April 18 1994 Brandon will once again have daily scheduled air service as Bearskin Airlines begin their Brandon Winnipeg route.

Of the six original runways three were allowed to return to grass and of the other three only 08/26 has seen extensive development. In 1959 it was completely rebuilt, resurfaced and extended to handle larger commercial traffic. This runway was again resurfaced and extended in 1983 by 800 ft to a total length of 6500 ft, but was narrowed from 200 ft to 150 ft wide. Over the same period the two crosswind runways, namely 02/20 and 14/32, (2795 and 3000 ft long respectively) have not received similar attention. In fact, in October of 1984, 02/20 was declared abandoned by Transport Canada and is no longer an operational runway and runway 14/32 is frequently in a very rough condition. This year a runway condition study is to be completed on 14/32. Taxi "A" was rebuilt in 1983 and the existing apron overlaid at that time with Taxi "B" undergoing construction in 1984.

The two remaining war time hangars are currently occupied, one by the Brandon Flying Club, with Maple Leaf Aviation and the Canadian Air Training Plan Museum sharing the other. The present terminal building was completed in 1970 and connects to the Transport Canada Operational Building, Control Tower, Flight Service Station and meteorological Station. The Operations Building was completed in 1979.

Brandon Airport property, although owned by the City of Brandon, is completely surrounded by the Municipality of Elton. Geographically, Brandon Airport is located approximately 7 km due north of the city, at an average elevation of 406 m above measured sea level.

During the Summer Games the airport was used to land Boeing 757, and Airbus 320 aircraft.

The airport is served buy the City water system, but the flow rate and pressure are low at the airport. There is natural gas and hydro at he airport also.

The airport south side has been subdivided to promote it’s development. Clarks Hyline and Assiniboine Air have located on the airport south side. Maple Leaf Aviation is planning to build a hangar in 2001, as they must relocate from hanger 1. The Brandon Flying Club offers Jet A fuel, along with avgas.

Athabaska Airlines flew a schedule service from 1997 till May of 2001. The used Beech 1900s and the route was Saskatoon, Regina, Brandon, Winnipeg.  Westjet has served this market twice, once in 1999 for 10 weeks, and 2001 for 15 weeks.

The cross wind runway 14/32 has been re-built as a treated gravel runway, (milled asphalt). In 2001, runway 08/26 was resurfaced. There are two new private hangars on the East side, one built in 2003, the other in 2004.