Downsview Airport

Downsview Airport. It is a private airfield and aerospace manufacturing facility located in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario. Established in 1929, the site has been a cornerstone of Canadian aviation history, primarily serving as a major production and testing hub for aircraft manufacturers. The airport is situated on lands owned by the Government of Canada and is currently operated by De Havilland Canada.

History

The airfield's origins trace back to 1929 when de Havilland Aircraft of Canada selected the site for its first Canadian factory, moving from its initial location at Armour Heights. During the Second World War, the facility became a vital component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, producing training aircraft like the de Havilland Tiger Moth and the de Havilland Mosquito combat aircraft. In the postwar era, the airport was the birthplace of iconic Canadian aircraft, including the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. For many years, the site also housed the head office and primary manufacturing plant of Bombardier Aerospace following its acquisition of the de Havilland Canada division. The airfield has been associated with notable figures such as test pilot Bob Fowler and has been visited by royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II.

Facilities

The airport features a single asphalt runway, 05/23, which measures 5,198 by 200 feet (1,584 m × 61 m). The airfield is equipped for visual flight rules (VFR) operations only and does not have an air traffic control tower. The primary infrastructure is dedicated to industrial aerospace manufacturing, encompassing massive assembly hangars, design offices, and testing facilities historically used by de Havilland Canada and later Bombardier Aerospace. These facilities have produced legendary aircraft such as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8 series. The site also includes the Canada Aviation and Space Museum's reserve collection storage hangar and has been used by organizations like the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Forces for various purposes.

Operations

As a private airport, access is restricted and primarily supports the flight test and delivery operations of the resident aircraft manufacturer, currently De Havilland Canada. It is not open to scheduled commercial passenger services or general public use. The airport is a key site for the production flight testing of newly manufactured aircraft, including the De Havilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighter and the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. Other operations have included use by the Toronto Police Service for its aviation unit and by Bombardier Aerospace for its Global Express business jet program. The airfield is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is listed in the Canada Flight Supplement.

Redevelopment

The future of the extensive lands has been a subject of significant planning and debate. In 2012, the Government of Canada designated the site for redevelopment under the oversight of Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation. The long-term plan, known as "The Downsview Framework," aims to transform the area into a mixed-use urban community featuring residential, commercial, and extensive parkland. The redevelopment is expected to proceed in phases over several decades, with the airport operations continuing on a portion of the land for the foreseeable future. This project is one of the largest urban redevelopment initiatives in Toronto, adjacent to the existing Downsview Park.

In popular culture

The airport and its iconic hangars have served as a filming location for numerous major motion pictures and television productions, capitalizing on its expansive industrial aesthetic. It famously stood in for a United States Air Force base in Indiana in the science fiction film *Star Trek: First Contact*. Other notable productions filmed at the site include *X-Men*, *The Recruit*, *Police Academy*, and *The Time Traveler's Wife*. The facility's association with aviation history has also been featured in documentaries by broadcasters like CBC Television and in publications such as *The Globe and Mail*.

Category:Airports in Ontario Category:Transport in Toronto Category:Aviation in Canada