Fort McMurray Airport
Encyclopedia
Fort McMurray Airport is located 7 NM southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta
, Canada
. It has seen a rise in business over the last 10 years due to an economic boom in the Athabasca Oil Sands
, which are north of Fort McMurray. Now the fifth largest city in Alberta, the population of Fort McMurray has grown at 8.5% per year from 1999 to 2006, to 64,441. Official forecasts indicate that the city will reach a population of 100,000 by 2012. The majority of the rise in population comes from migrant workers, and the city's remoteness means air travel is used frequently.
The airport is planning an expansion as it is seeing 660,000 passengers and more than 60,000 takeoffs and landings a year, which is eight times the traffic it was designed to handle. The expansion plan includes a new terminal south of the current runway, and the possibility of a second runway, along with more gates and stores, tripling its current size.
The airport was the 31st busiest in Canada and the busiest without air traffic control
in 2007, having only a Flight Service Station
and the 17th busiest by passengers. That year the airport handled 68,924 aircraft movements. As of September 2008, given continued air growth at the airport, NAV CANADA
, the country's provider of air traffic services, opened an air traffic control tower
for limited hours during the day. As of May 7, 2009, the control hours will be expanded to the final service configuration, which will meet the demand of the airport. In the five years between 2002 and 2007 the airport was one of the fastest growing in Canada. The number of movements increased 72.8% from 39,890 to 68,924, and the passengers 185.3% from 195,822 to 558,770.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It has seen a rise in business over the last 10 years due to an economic boom in the Athabasca Oil Sands
Athabasca Oil Sands
The Athabasca oil sands are large deposits of bitumen, or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern Alberta, Canada - roughly centred on the boomtown of Fort McMurray...
, which are north of Fort McMurray. Now the fifth largest city in Alberta, the population of Fort McMurray has grown at 8.5% per year from 1999 to 2006, to 64,441. Official forecasts indicate that the city will reach a population of 100,000 by 2012. The majority of the rise in population comes from migrant workers, and the city's remoteness means air travel is used frequently.
The airport is planning an expansion as it is seeing 660,000 passengers and more than 60,000 takeoffs and landings a year, which is eight times the traffic it was designed to handle. The expansion plan includes a new terminal south of the current runway, and the possibility of a second runway, along with more gates and stores, tripling its current size.
The airport was the 31st busiest in Canada and the busiest without air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
in 2007, having only a Flight Service Station
Flight service station
A Flight Service Station is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control , is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or providing separation...
and the 17th busiest by passengers. That year the airport handled 68,924 aircraft movements. As of September 2008, given continued air growth at the airport, NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
, the country's provider of air traffic services, opened an air traffic control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
for limited hours during the day. As of May 7, 2009, the control hours will be expanded to the final service configuration, which will meet the demand of the airport. In the five years between 2002 and 2007 the airport was one of the fastest growing in Canada. The number of movements increased 72.8% from 39,890 to 68,924, and the passengers 185.3% from 195,822 to 558,770.
Scheduled
Charter
External links
- Page about this airport on COPA'sCanadian Owners and Pilots AssociationThe Canadian Owners and Pilots Association is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes...
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