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| Uplands (Ottawa) Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Uplands (Ottawa) Airport |
| Type | Civilian / Former military |
| Owner | Federal |
| City-served | Ottawa |
| Location | Uplands, Ontario |
| Elevation-f | 230 |
Uplands (Ottawa) Airport
Uplands (Ottawa) Airport is a mixed-use aerodrome located in the Uplands neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, near Canada Aviation and Space Museum and adjacent to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. The field has served roles in civil aviation, governmental transport, and as a base for several Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian federal operations. Its proximity to Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, and major transport corridors has shaped its operational profile and redevelopment debates.
The aerodrome sits on lands historically associated with Canadian Aviation Corps heritage and the Curtiss JN-4 era, while later facilities connected to No. 1 Squadron RCAF, Royal Canadian Navy, and Department of National Defence activities. The site adjoins Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority infrastructure. Uplands has been used by VIP flights for Prime Minister of Canada travel, by Canadian Forces Base Ottawa detachments, and by operators involved with Air Canada''s executive movements, creating overlap with Ottawa International Airport Authority planning.
Originally developed during the early 20th century, the airfield’s origins reflect links to First World War aviation training programs and to interwar civil aviation initiatives involving figures associated with Trans-Canada Airlines and A. Roy Brown. During the Second World War, the field expanded under British Commonwealth Air Training Plan influences and integration with RCAF Station Ottawa. Postwar decades saw conversion to mixed civil-military use with visits from aircraft tied to the Cold War, including movements involving CANEX logistics and occasional NORAD-related relocation exercises. The site hosted government VIP transports connected with Governor General of Canada travel and accommodated aircraft types linked to Lockheed, Boeing, and De Havilland manufacturing histories. Redevelopment proposals in the late 20th and early 21st centuries invoked stakeholders such as National Capital Commission, Transport Canada, and municipal bodies including Gatineau and Rideau Township successors.
Runway and apron layouts reflect a legacy of military-standard pavement from upgrades corresponding to aircraft models like the Douglas DC-3, Convair 580, and smaller Beechcraft King Air types. Navigational aids on site have interfaced with systems maintained by Nav Canada and integrated with Ottawa Terminal Area Control Centre procedures. Hangars and maintenance facilities have historically serviced operators associated with Air Georgian, Jazz Aviation, and government-maintained fleets including Canadair platforms. Ground access links the field to Highway 417, Heron Road, and municipal transit corridors, while security perimeters have been coordinated with Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachments and Ottawa Police Service units for VIP movements and state visits by delegations from nations such as United Kingdom, United States, and France.
Operational patterns at the aerodrome have included executive and diplomatic flights, medevac rotations tied to Ottawa Hospital, charter services connected to carriers in the Canadian airline industry like Air North and private operators registered under Transport Canada regulations. Scheduled airline services have been minimal compared with adjacent Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, but the field has supported specialized operators flying to destinations including Montreal, Toronto Pearson, and regional fields such as Smiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) Airport and Kemptville Airport. Flight training organizations and maintenance providers have collaborated with entities such as Canadian Owners and Pilots Association chapters and Flight Safety International for recurrent training and standards compliance.
Over its operational lifetime, the aerodrome has been associated with incidents involving a range of airframes from light aircraft to government transports. Investigations have referenced procedures under the auspices of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and engaged agencies including Nav Canada and Transport Canada Civil Aviation. Notable entries have involved emergency landings, ground equipment mishaps, and runway excursions linked in reports to weather phenomena influenced by proximity to the Ottawa River and urban wind patterns documented by Environment and Climate Change Canada climatology studies.
Planning discussions have featured stakeholders such as the National Capital Commission, Transport Canada, Ottawa City Council, and private developers debating aviation, commercial, and heritage conservation outcomes. Proposals have considered compatibility with nearby projects including expansions at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, heritage interpretation tied to Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and potential uses paralleling redevelopment schemes seen at other former military aerodromes like CFB Downsview and CFB Rockcliffe. Environmental assessments have referenced Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency precedents, while community groups and associations including Heritage Ottawa have advocated preservation of historic fabric.
Category:Airports in Ottawa