Airport type Public Time zone CST (UTC−06:00) Website airport.brandon.ca Elevation 409 m Province Manitoba | Location Brandon, Manitoba Elevation AMSL 1,343 ft / 409 m Code YBR Phone +1 204-729-2166 | |
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Owner/Operator Municipality of Brandon Address Brandon, MB R7A 5Y5, Canada Similar Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car, Brandon City Hall, Brandon Air Shuttle | ||
Cessna 172 landing at brandon municipal airport cockpit view
Brandon Municipal Airport (also known as Brandon Airport or McGill Field) (IATA: YBR, ICAO: CYBR) is an airport located 1.6 km (0.99 mi) north of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. It serves the City of Brandon and the surrounding regions of Western Manitoba and Eastern Saskatchewan, an area with a population of around 180,000 people. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.
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History
The airport was built in 1941 to host the No. 12 Service Flying Training School under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, to train pilots for Second World War flying service. Aircraft used regularly at the airport were the Cessna Crane and Avro Anson. In March, 1945, after the end of the Second World War, the school was closed. Now a National Historic Site of Canada, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is a popular attraction located at Brandon Municipal Airport. The airport was officially named Brandon Airport in June, 1948.
Several airlines have operated at Brandon Airport at various times in the past. This was mostly due to the airport's location on the flight path for aircraft flying between major cities in Eastern Canada and major cities in Western Canada, with Brandon being a midway point and a prime destination for fuel and technical stops.
On September 3, 2013, WestJet Encore launched daily non-stop service from Brandon to Calgary International Airport. From June 29, 2016 to September 5th, 2016, WestJet operated a trial run of non-stop service from Brandon to Toronto Pearson International Airport utilizing Boeing 737 aircraft, later stating that the service may return if future demand warrants it.
Facilities
The Brandon Municipal Airport passenger terminal building is a 5,800 m2 (62,000 sq ft) facility that was built in 1963. On August 19, 2014, it was announced that the airport terminal building will undergo an 8.7 millionCAD expansion project that will make major upgrades and additions to the existing facility. Work was scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015.
Permanent tenants at the Brandon airport include the Brandon Flying Club, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, and Maple Leaf Aviation. Fire and other emergency services at the airport are provided by the City of Brandon and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Brandon Municipal Airport occupies a land area of about 736 acres (2.98 km2). The airport has two runways 08/26 and 14/32, although the infield grass can be used as a "strip" on request for smaller aircraft, such as ultralight aircraft. The area surrounding the airport, a total of 562 acres (2.27 km2), is leased out to farming operations for cereal grain and hay production.
Brandon Airport is frequently used for air ambulance services, pilot training, and general aviation.
Future
Although it is the second largest city in the Province of Manitoba, the City of Brandon's significantly smaller population in comparison to Winnipeg and the close geographical distance between the two cities (200 km (120 mi)) has historically meant that the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is used as the province's primary airport. However, with the strong economy and recent population increase in Western Manitoba coupled with increasing oil production in the area, Brandon Airport is positioning itself to meet the growing demand for an alternative and more convenient entry point to the City of Brandon and the Western Manitoba region.