Banff Air Strip

[Alpha Crit]

Thinking of taking the PC-12 into Banff in the next day or so. Anyone been in or out of there lately? What's the gopher hole situation?

[x-wind]

Don't do it.

Missed in Golden and called in the climb because PPR is required. French guy said okay thinking we were a helicopter.

Warden Mike still wanted to throw me in Jail because it wasn't an emergency diversion. (I though it was either or and it was a real diversion). It was a federal offence and he was bent on making it known airplane are not welcome. Waited 2 hours longer then I has to (practically speaking) so the super intendant could give me permission to take off again.

She was pretty rough on the takeoff. Its not a airframe bender/gear damaging situation but its a interesting little place to get into.. when I say interesting I mean... well I guess I just mean its interesting. I was in a Ho.

Read my first three words again.

[Alpha Crit]

Thanks, X-wind. I will heed your words.

[burninggoats]

How does anyone NOT know yet that the Banff strip has been closed for anything other than emergencies?

[CpnCrunch]

Unless things have changed recently, Banff is only open for diversions and emergencies. You might want to have a look in your CFS!

[iflyforpie]

There are at least two aircraft based there.

[CpnCrunch]

There are at least two aircraft based there.

Neither of which is a PC-12, I believe

Whether or not they are acting legally is a different question. But if you fly in with your own plane, and it's not an emergency, you'll get the book thrown at you.

[Shiny Side Up]

There are at least two aircraft based there.

If I remember rightly, aircraft that were based there from before it was closed were grandfathered in to still allow usage. There were originally five aircraft I think kept there who have slowly been encouraged to move out. I'm not sure if the remaining two are in airworthy condition and probably remain there to spite the warden. Either way the opening poster missed his best window of opportunity to get in there if he was so hell-bent, being a fairly wet September, I couldn't reccomend the runway for the rest of the season unless the PC-12 is good jumping out of mud. The rest of the year there will be snow deep enough to warrant snowshoes on it, until maybe next May then it reverts to its mud-strip classification. July/August it dries up enough. This of course all being moot due to the afformentioned politically motivated closing of the runway for all but emergency usage.

[iflyforpie]

I'm not sure if the remaining two are in airworthy condition and probably remain there to spite the warden

Both the straight tail 182 and the 152 come to our field for fuel on a semi-regular basis.

[Shiny Side Up]

I'm probably mistaken which airplanes I think are still there then. Before when there was more there was a tri-pacer and a champ which both certainly could have used new fabric. That was I think about six years ago when I happened to ride by.

[The Mole]

Theres no problem landing a commercial aircraft in Banff. You just need a permit. Call parks canada. i've gotten them before, To land in jasper/banff. You just have to be conducting work for the park, or have a very good reason to be there. In one case it was a train wreck. Got the permit in 10min.

Landing in banff without a permit, your asking for it. I believe its a maxium $2,000,000 fine.
If you land, it better be a real emergency.

[TheCheez]

My instinct when I saw this was that it was an emergency field but I've been out of the area and civy flying for so long I couldn't post as much (and no CFS handy). Glad to see I'm not as out of touch as I thought!

Always wanted to fly in there though, without emergency of course.

[pilotbc69]

Good thing you asked Alpha Crit, that's one of the reasons these forums are here.

[2R]

Do not forget about the four lanes of highway to land on in emergency.For any visiting pilots from down south be careful as federally funded roads in Canada allow power lines and phone lines to cross them .So if you have to land in an emergency be prepared to avoid and wires crossing the roads.A flat piece of ground may be more survivable than a busy road.Perhaps they should have radio controlled barriers like Alaska so Planes can share the road,where they do not want runways/strips or cannot build strips.Or perhaps they could build a nice strip in the median between the four lanes of highway for small aircraft in the park. or between the two railways ??

[co-joe]

I think Canmore should have a runway. There's tons of room right north of the highway. All the ski hill medevacs plus ground/ heli transfers from Revelstoke, Golden, Invermere, etc... Not to mention eco tourism, business travel. The town could have a real source of revenue here. Just 3000' of pavement and a GPS IAP and your GTG.

[Switchfoot]

Also be very weary of the weather and winds in that location; I've been through there with each wind sock pointing straight out in opposite directions. Obviously its much different in a PC-12 than a C-182, but knowing your aircrafts performance as well your own abilities could save your butt in a shear situation etc. That kind of flying teaches you your limitations; know your plane and yourself.

Check the CFS. As mentioned, the strip should only be used for emergencies or diversions or with PPR. Not to mention the regulatory side of things, I would be hesitant of more than flying overhead and enjoying the view!

[iflyforpie]

Just 3000' of pavement and a GPS IAP and your GTG.

Yeah, but in the same area you could put 18 holes, two hotels, and 500 condos...

[Alpha Crit]

Thank you, all, for your input. Very interesting. For the AvCanada "Asshole Brigade", I was aware of Banff's status as an emerg/diversion only A/D, but thanks just the same. You'll also note that the CFS states PPR, the obvious implication being that if you have prior permission, you can land there. Just for interest sake, I called the "Superintendant, Banff National Park", and as "The Mole" rightly pointed out, there's no problem landing a commercial aircraft there. You just need a fairly compelling reason to get that permission. And once you land, you need a permit to take off again.

I always get a chuckle out of how the most benign of posts can turn into a pissing contest on this site. I guess that's part of what makes it entertaining.

Stay safe, all.

Alpha Crit

[Living 5500ASL]

Huge Plus 1 on Canmore for a runway. Then I would have one close to home But seriously it's shocking when you think about the tourism in the area and consider the closest airport is Springbank.

[wildturkey]

I drove by the banff strip last fall and saw an airplane parked there and decided to go for a walk to check it out. I searched the reg. and the owner was listed as Banff Flying Club. Ever since I've been wondering how there could be a flying club in such a restricted place. anyone with insight?

[teamsf]

I'm from Banff, I remember when it closed. There were a lot of happy and a lot of really pissed people. I think the reason was elk migration.

[Shiny Side Up]

I'm from Banff, I remember when it closed. There were a lot of happy and a lot of really pissed people. I think the reason was elk migration.

That's the reason they liked to tout in the media. Curious as the strip in my experience never seemed to discourage elk from grazing on it. That four lane highway and CPR track next to the runway hinder elk migration not at all...

The real reason a large attempt was made to close it was to increase the development of Banff. A while back the Feds determined that no "new" lands were to be developed within the park boundaries. The airstrip - as well as the cadet camp and the bison paddock - were of course technically already developed and had the potential to be re-developed since they would not be considered "new" lands. Ms. Copps at the time unwittingly championed the developer's cause to close down the airport under the banner of enviornmental friendliness.

In the end the result has pleased no one. The enviormental people feel they have gained a small victory by reducing to almost none the air traffic, the aviation people a minute victory over the developers in the world who see every airport as a potential golf course. The Canadian taxpayer in the end was the loser since essentially we were paying Ms. Copps wage at the time.

[iflyforpie]

One of the aircraft owners from Banff came into my office last week looking for a refuge. Looks like they finally got them out of there effective early next year...

[RatherBeFlying]

The major problem for wildlife has been the gigantic 4-lane divided highway bounded by high chain link fencing. The token bear overpasses and many underpasses make a small dent in the problem. It's a whole bunch tougher for wildlife to get across than it was when the highway through Banff was two lanes.

Restricting access to the Banff and Jasper airstrips is strictly political.