Gander International Airport

Gander International Airport(IATA:YQX,ICAO:CYQX) is located inGander, Newfoundland and Labrador,Canada, and is operated by the Gander International Airport Authority.Canadian Forces Base Gandershares the airfield but is a separate entity from the airport. The airport is sometimes referred to as the "Crossroads of the World",and is classified as aninternational airportbyTransport Canada.

Gander International Airport
IATA:YQX ICAO:CYQX WMO:71803
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Transport Canada
Operator	Gander International Airport Authority
Serves	Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Time zone	NST(UTC−03:30)
• Summer (DST)	NDT (UTC−02:30)
ElevationAMSL	496 ft / 151 m
Coordinates	48°56′51″N54°33′36″W
Website	www.ganderairport.com
Maps
Transport Canada airport diagram
CYQX Location inNewfoundland and Labrador
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 10,200 3,109 Asphalt 13/31 8,900 2,713 Asphalt 09/27 1,875 572 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft movements 33,215 Passengers 104,533
Sources:Canada Flight Supplement Environment Canada Movements fromStatistics Canada Passengers from Gander Airport

History

Early years and prominence

Construction of the airport began in 1936 and it was opened in 1938, with its first landing on January 11 of that year, by Captain Douglas Fraser flying aFox MothofImperial Airways.Within a few years it had four runways and was the largest airport in the world.Its official name until 1949 was "Newfoundland Airport".

In 1940, the operation of the Newfoundland Airport was assigned by theDominion of Newfoundlandto theRoyal Canadian Air Force(RCAF) and it was renamed "RCAF Station Gander" in 1941. The airfield was heavily used byRAF Ferry CommandandAir Transport Commandfortransporting newly built aircraft across the Atlantic Oceanto theEuropean Theatre,as well as for staging operationalanti-submarine patrolsdedicated to huntingU-boatsin the northwest Atlantic. Thousands of aircraft flown by theUnited States Army Air Corpsthroughthe changeoverto theUnited States Army Air Forcesand by the RCAF destined for the European Theatre travelled through Gander.

Lockheed Hudson Mark IIIsprepared for their trans-Atlantic ferry flights at Gander in 1942

TheRoyal Canadian Navy(RCN) also established Naval Radio Station Gander at the airfield, using the station as a listening post to detect the transmissions and location of enemy submarines and warships.

Following the war, the RCAF handed operation of the airfield back to the Dominion of Newfoundland government in March 1946, although the RCN's radio station remained and the military role for the entire facility was upgraded through theCold War.The Canadian federal government changed the name to "Gander Airport" after Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949. It opened the current passenger terminal in 1959.

Transatlantic refueling stop

On 16 September 1945, the first transatlantic proving flight, aPan AmDC-4,departed Gander forShannonin western Ireland.On 24 October 1945, the first scheduled commercial flight, anAmerican Overseas AirlinesDC-4, passed through Gander.

Following Newfoundland's entry intoConfederation,the government renamed the airport "Gander International Airport", and it came under the administration of Canada's federalDepartment of Transport.Numerous improvements were made to the runways and terminals.

Gander is near thegreat circleroute between eastern North America and Europe. Starting in the 1940s it was a refueling stop fortransatlantic flightsand continued in this role through the early 1960s and in some cases into the 1990s. Carriers at Gander during this era included:

• AeroflotoperatedIlyushin Il-86widebody flights during the 1980s and early 1990s between Moscow and such long-range destinations as New York and Havana. Due to the IL-86's limited range of approximately 2,000 mi (3,200 km), the flights would make refueling stops at both Shannon and Gander en route to the final destination.The Boeing 747-200s of the same era had typical ranges from 5,000–6,000 mi (8,000–9,700 km) and were much more sought after by international airlines.The IL-86 was used almost exclusively by Aeroflot and successor post-Soviet airlines.
• Air Franceran several services through Gander connecting Paris and Shannon to Montreal, Boston, and New York in the 1950s.
• American Overseas Airlines used Gander as a stop forLockheed Constellationflights between New York and London from 1947.
• British Overseas Airways Corporationoperated Constellations on London-Shannon-Gander-New York, London-Glasgow-Gander-New York, and London-Glasgow-Gander-Montreal routings from 1947.By 1960, the Gander stop was only used as an alternative to a Glasgow or Shannon stop forBristol Britanniaservice to Montreal and Toronto.
• Interflugflights betweenEast Germanyand Cuba would stop to refuel in Gander, until the airline began usingAirbus A310sin 1989.
• KLMused Gander as a stop on Amsterdam-Glasgow-Gander-New York service from 1946.
• Pan American World Airwaysused Gander as a stop for transatlanticDouglas DC-4service betweenNew York-IdlewildandShannon(continuing to London and Lisbon) starting in 1946.Gander remained in use in 1960 as a stop forDouglas DC-7services between New York and Scandinavia, although other transatlantic flights bypassed Gander by that point.
• Sabenaoperated Brussels-Shannon-Gander-New York service from 1949 usingDouglas DC-6s.
• Scandinavian Airlinesoperated Stockholm-Oslo/Copenhagen-Prestwick-Gander-New York service from 1946.
• Trans-Canada Air Linesused Gander as a stop for transatlantic service to London from 1946 and also operated local service from Gander toSt. John'sandSydney.
• Trans World Airlinesoperated Boston-Gander-Shannon and Boston-Gander-Azores-Lisbon services from 1947 using Constellations, with onward service to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Runway 04/22 was extended from 8,400 to 10,500 ft (2,560 to 3,200 m) in 1971.

With the advent of jets with longer range in the 1960s, most flights no longer needed to refuel. Gander has decreased in importance, but it remains the home ofGander Control,one of the two air traffic control centres (the other beingShanwick Oceanic Controlin western Scotland) which direct the high-levelNorth Atlantic Tracks.Most aircraft travelling to and from Europe or North America must talk to at least one of theseair traffic controls.

Some commercial transatlantic flights still use Gander as a refuelling stop; most notably, some American legacy carriers (United AirlinesandDelta Air Linesin particular) who use theBoeing 757to connect smaller European cities with their major US hubs.The 757 is particularly affected in this respect, as it was not an aircraft intended or designed for transatlantic flights.This practice has been controversial, since strong headwinds over the Atlantic Ocean during the winter months can result in the flights being declared "minimum fuel", forcing refuelling stops at Gander in order to safely complete their journeys.

During the Cold War, Gander was notable for the number of persons from Communist nations who defected there (including Soviet chess player and pianistIgor Vasilyevich Ivanov,Cuban Olympic swimmer Rafael Polinario,and the Vietnamese woman famously photographed as a naked girl fleeing a napalmed village,Phan Thi Kim Phuc). It was one of the few refueling points where the smaller airplanes used by airlines that served the Eastern Bloc could stop en route from Eastern Europe or theSoviet Unionto Cuba.

On 12 December 1985, Gander was the site of theArrow Air Flight 1285disaster, in which aMcDonnell Douglas DC-8with 256 on board, mostly soldiers from the US Army101st Airborne Division,crashed during takeoff, probably due to being overweight and experiencingatmospheric icing;there were no survivors. The crash was, and remains, as of April 2024,the deadliest airplane accident on Canadian soil.

Gander International Airport Authority

TheGander International Airport Authority(GIAA;French:Autorité aéroportuaire de Gander) was formed in 1996by theGovernment of Canada,which was divesting its direct control of airports across the country to similar operating agencies. Previously, Gander was operated by the Government of Newfoundland from 1938 to 1942 and 1945 to 1949before transferring to the Government of Canada when Newfoundland became a province.Its mission is to operate the airport in a self-sufficient fashion. It receives its revenues from landing fees on airlines, departure fees on passengers, parking revenues and facility rentals. The revenues are used for operating and capital expenses.

The GIAA only operates the civil airport and does not oversee the nearbyGander (James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre) Heliportnor CFB Gander.

Operation Yellow Ribbon (September 2001)

Main article:Operation Yellow Ribbon

Following theSeptember 11 attackson September 11, 2001, with United States airspace closed, Gander International played host to 38 airliners, totaling 6,122 passengers and 473 crew,as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. Gander International received more flights than any other Canadian airport involved in the operation apart fromHalifax.The 6,595 passengers and crew accounted for the third highest total of passengers that landed at a Canadian airport involved in the operation, behindVancouverand Halifax.

A major reason that Gander received so much traffic was its ability to handle large aircraft and becauseTransport CanadaandNav Canadainstructed pilots coming from Europe to avoid major airports in Central Canada, such asToronto-PearsonandMontréal-Dorval.The reception these travellers received in the central Newfoundland communities near the airport has been one of the most widely reported happy stories surrounding that day.

To honour the people of Gander andHalifaxfor their support during the operation,Lufthansanamed a newAirbus A340-300"Gander/Halifax" on May 16, 2002. That airplane is listed with the registration D-AIFC,D-AIFC had been diverted to Gander during Operation Yellow Ribbon, and was the first aircraft of that fleet with a city name from outside of Germany.

The airport was the site for Canada's memorial service to mark thefirst anniversary of the attack,over whichPrime MinisterJean Chrétien,Transport MinisterDavid Collenette,US Ambassador to CanadaPaul Cellucci,and provincial and local officials presided. 2,500 of the 6,600 people that were diverted there the year before also attended the ceremony.

The musical stage showCome from Awayandits film adaptationare based around the experiences of residents ofGanderin the province ofNewfoundland and Labradorand those affected by the forced landings.

Future

Officials at Gander International Airport stated in 2006 that the future for the airport is grim unless thefederal governmentprovides funding to cover costs. Over 50% of all aircraft operating from the air field are military, and do not paylanding fees.However, domestic passenger traffic increased by over seven percent in 2006, while weekly cargo flights fromIcelandshow some promise of expansion.

The terminal building—built in the 1950s and noted for its modernist design and heritage architecture—still includes many of its original furnishings and fixtures. In April 2014, Gander Airport Authority made plans to abandon the existing terminal building due to high operating costs and replace it with a new terminal a quarter of the size.In 2017, the airport announced the existing terminal would instead be renovated and downsized, at a cost of $26.4 million.

Facilities

Runway at Gander International Airport

Runways

Gander has two activerunways:runway 13/31 which is 8,900 ft × 150 ft (2,713 m × 46 m), and runway 03/21 (changed from 04/22 in August 2004) which measures 10,200 ft × 150 ft (3,109 m × 46 m) and underwent a $10 million comprehensive rehabilitation project, completed in September 2012.

The airport's runway 03/21 was designated as an emergency landing runway for NASA'sSpace Shuttle orbiter.The airport is also an important emergency landing runway for large aircraft in transatlantic operation in theETOPSsystem, which requires aircraft to always have less than a certain distance from a suitable landing site.For many two-engine aircraft this is two or three hours with malfunction in one engine.

Fire services

Gander Airport Safety and Airside Operations is responsible for fire and rescue operations using three vehicles at their station within the airport. It also has a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Gander Fire Department to provide additional fire fighting services.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air Canada Express	Halifax Seasonal:Montréal–Trudeau,Toronto–Pearson
PAL Airlines	Churchill Falls,Goose Bay,St. John's,Wabush
Sunwing Airlines	Seasonal:Punta Cana

Fixed-base operators

The followingfixed-base operators(FBOs) are based at Gander International Airport:

Public

• Allied Aviation Services
• Woodward Aviation
• Gander Aviation
• Irving Aviation Services

Accidents and incidents

The crash site of the DC-4 onNewfoundland

• On 21 February 1941, three people were killed when aLockheed L-14 Super Electra/Hudsondeparting from Gander crashed nearMusgrave Harbourafter both of the plane's engines failed. The fatalities includeSir Frederick Grant Bantingwho died of wounds and exposure. The navigator and co-pilot died instantly, but Banting and the pilot, CaptainJoseph Mackey,survived the initial impact. According to Mackey, the sole survivor, Banting died from his injuries the next day.
• On 6 January 1943, aConsolidated Aircraft28-5MC Canso(PBY-5) of theRoyal Canadian Air Forceclipped the tops of trees after takeoff and crashed killing five of the seven crew on board.
• On 5 May 1943, aCanadian VickersPBV-1A Canso A(PBY-5A), CV-241, of theRoyal Canadian Air Forcelost height and impacted wooded terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 15 killing six of the seven crew on board.
• On 8 May 1943, aLockheedC-60A Lodestarof theRoyal Canadian Air Forcecrashed on approach to Gander killing all three crew members.
• On 4 September 1943, aConsolidated B-24 Liberator1524,c/n 589 fromNo. 10 Squadronof theRoyal Canadian Air Forcecrashed intoGander Lakeimmediately after takeoff killing the entire crew.
• On 18 September 1946, 27 people died when aSABENADouglas DC-4(OO-CBG) crashed 35 km short of Gander Airport, where the aircraft planned to land for a refueling stop on the flight from Brussels to New York. At the time of the accident (07:42UTC), there was dense fog near the airport, and the pilot executed a flawed approach at too low an altitude. There were 17 survivors (16 passengers and one crew).
• On Wednesday 5 May 1948, aDouglas C-47A-30-DK,NC17645,ofSuperior Oil Companydeparted from Gander en route toShannon Airportand disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean with three fatalities.
• On 18 April 1953, aLockheed Ventura,CF-FAW, with four crew members of Spartan Air Services disappeared after departing Gander on a flight to Ottawa.
• On 25 August 1954, aLockheed L-749 ConstellationF-BAZIofAir Franceof flight AF075 on the Paris–Shannon–Gander–New York–Mexico City route overran the runway and crashed into a ravine upon landing.
• On Thursday 18 March 1965,Douglas C-47A-30-DK,N4997E,ofMiami Aviationdeparted Gander forSanta Maria,Portugaland crashed into the Trinity Bay area killing the two crewmembers on board.
• On 5 September 1967 anIlyushin Il-18(registration OK-WAI) ofCzechoslovak State AirlinesFlight 523 crashed on climbout heading east on runway 13 while on a Prague-Shannon-Gander-Havana passenger service, killing 37 of 69 on board; the cause was never determined.
• On 12 December 1985Arrow Air Flight 1285crashed on take-off from the then runway 22. The disaster claimed the lives of all 8 crew members and 248 soldiers of theUnited States Army's101st Airborne Divisionwho were returning home for Christmas from apeacekeepingdeployment in theMiddle East.The impact on the south side of theTrans-Canada Highwayon the shore ofGander Lakeleft a charred clearing in the forest where a memorial now stands to those who died in Canada's most deadly air crash.
• On 17 December 1998 anAntonovAn-124,RA-82046ofVolga-Dnepr Airlineslanded on runway 13 and slid off the runway and came to rest 60 metres from the button of runway 31. The aircraft was embedded in mud and no. 4 engine caught on fire.
• On 10 March 2022, aCH-149 Cormorantof 103 Search & Rescue Squadron crashed during a training exercise, injuring all six crew members.

See also

• North Atlantic Aviation Museum

References

• This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency
• Mac Moss.Flown into the Arms of Angels: Newfoundland and Labrador's Unsung Heroes of 9/11[1]

External links

• Official website
• Tales of Gander hospitality on September 11 (snopes.com)
• The airport for celebrities you never knew existed
• Past three hoursMETARs,SPECI and currentTAFsforGander International AirportfromNav Canadaas available.
• Accident history for Gander International AirportatAviation Safety Network
• NBC News feature featuring Tom Brokaw:"A Tribute to Gander, Newfoundland"ArchivedJuly 19, 2011, at theWayback Machine,February 27, 2010
• New York Times travel article. Gollner, Adam."Gander Airport: When the Going Was Good",March 20, 2005