Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre

Not to be confused with Coal Harbour Water Aerodrome in Coal Harbour, Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre

Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base
Vancouver Harbour Water Aerodrome
Hydroaérodrome de Vancouver
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorHarbour Air,
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
ServesVancouver,
British Columbia
LocationCoal Harbour,
Burrard Inlet
Time zonePST (UTC−08:00)
 • Summer (DST)PDT (UTC−07:00)
Elevation AMSL0 ft / 0 m
Coordinates49°17′40″N 123°06′41″W / 49.29444°N 123.11139°W / 49.29444; -123.11139
Websitevhfc.ca
Map
CYHC is located in Greater Vancouver Regional District
CYHC
CYHC
Location in Vancouver
CYHC is located in Canada
CYHC
CYHC
CYHC (Canada)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
n/a n/a n/a Water
Statistics (2012)
Aircraft movements54,169

Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, Vancouver Harbour Water Aerodrome or Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base (IATA: CXH, ICAO: CYHC), is a registered aerodrome located at Coal Harbour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The flight centre is within walking distance of the HeliJet heliport and Waterfront Station, a public transit hub in Downtown Vancouver.[3]

After five years of preparation, consultation and construction, Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre seaplane terminal opened for passenger service on May 25, 2011. The Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre is a partnership between the Clarke Group of Companies and Ledcor Group of Companies.[4]

It is classified as an aerodrome and as an airport of entry by Nav Canada. It 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.[1]

Control tower

Vancouver Harbour Control Tower

The Vancouver Harbour Control Tower is the only one in Canada specifically for a water aerodrome. At 142 m (466 ft) above ground it is the highest control tower in the world.[5][6] and is located on top of the Granville Square building. In 2009 the airport handled 54,741 aircraft movements, the 35th busiest in Canada.[2] It is also the 8th busiest aerodrome in BC and the busiest water aerodrome in Canada. Itinerant aircraft movements (from one airport to another) for the aerodrome were 54,711 while local movements were 30.[2]

Operations

A Whistler Air de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver docked at Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre

The actual aircraft docking area, at 49°17′26.44″N 123°07′08.90″W / 49.2906778°N 123.1191389°W / 49.2906778; -123.1191389 (Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (docking area)), is situated just west of Canada Place. This part of Burrard Inlet is listed by Nav Canada as a restricted area and no aircraft are permitted to take off, land or move through the zone at a high speed. Just north of Canada Place is a rectangular section called "Area Alfa", centred on the official coordinates, which is the main aircraft operating zone.[1]

In 2007, the link to Victoria Inner Harbour Airport was, according to the Official Airline Guide, Canada's busiest air route by the number of weekly flights.[7]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Gulf Island Seaplanes Gabriola Island/Silva Bay
Harbour Air Bedwell Harbour, Comox, Ganges, Maple Bay, Nanaimo Harbour, Powell River, Seattle Lake Union, Sechelt, Tofino, Victoria Harbour,[8] Whistler/Green Lake
Helijet Nanaimo Harbour, Vancouver, Victoria Harbour
Kenmore Air Seattle Lake Union
Salt Spring Air[9] Bedwell Harbour, Ganges, Maple Bay, Patricia Bay, Victoria Harbour
Seair Seaplanes Nanaimo Harbour
Sunshine Coast Air[10] Nanaimo Harbour, Sechelt

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Total aircraft movements by class of operation — NAV CANADA towers
  3. ^ "Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre to Open May 25 2011". Ledcor. Ledcor Group of Industries. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre to Open May 25 2011". Ledcor.com. Ledcor. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  5. ^ Nav Canada Towers–Big and Small
  6. ^ Vancouver Harbour ATC
  7. ^ OAG reveals latest industry intelligence on the busiest routes Archived 2010-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Liu, Jim (June 20, 2024). "HARBOUR AIR JUNE 2024 NETWORK ADDITIONS". Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Salt Spring Air
  10. ^ Sunshine Coast Air
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