RCAF Air Traffic Control

Memories of Whitehorse

In 1927, Yukon Airways and Exploration was formed as the first commercial airline in the Yukon Territory. It was based at "Cyr's wood lot on the hill above Whitehorse", which is the location of the present Whitehorse airport. It was here that four US Army Air Services DH-4B biplanes landed in August 1920 en route to Nome, Alaska, from New York, and again on their return flight. The field was used regularly by aircraft flying in the area and en route to Alaska. In 1934, these included the Martin Bombers of the US Army.

In 1929, the cleared area was a strip of 1,800 feet (549 metres) long. By August 1933, a north-south gravel runway, 3,700 by 300 feet (1,128 by 91 metres), had been developed, along with a cross-runway of 1,500 feet (457 metres). The field was under the control of the territorial government. Local residents paid for most of the work.

Air transport between Carcross, Whitehorse, and Fairbanks, Alaska, became increasingly important, and by July 1934, the landing strip had been widened to 500 feet (152 metres) and the cross strip extended to 1,600 feet (488 metres), but the field was too soft for heavily loaded aircraft. For a time, the field was operated by the White Pass and Yukon Railway, but the site remained crown land.

A temporary licence, for day use only, was granted to the government of the Yukon on January 8, 1935.

On July 7, 1937, Grant McConachie, president of United Air Transport Ltd. flew the first airmail between Edmonton and Whitehorse. In those days, Whitehorse was the hub of aerial activity and was used by aircraft from United Air Transport, Northern Airways, British Yukon Navigation Company, Canadian Airways, the RCAF and Pacific Alaska Airways.

Improvements were made to the field in 1937 when additional land was cleared at the northeast end. The runway was extended to 4,500 by 100 feet (1,372 by 30 metres) and realigned into the prevailing wind. A second runway, 2,000 feet (610 metres) long, was developed at 90 degrees to the first. These improvements were made as a result of the new airway between Edmonton and Whitehorse, via Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, and Watson Lake.

Pacific Alaska Airways (owned by Pan American Airways) began operations at Whitehorse on April 1, 1935, with Lockheed Electras, flying a scheduled service to Fairbanks from Juneau by way of Whitehorse. In the same year, the company built an emergency field at Burwash Landing, Yukon, and provided men and equipment to assist the territorial government in improving and maintaining the Whitehorse Airport. The airline also built an administration building and radio station at Whitehorse in 1935. The original Pacific Alaska terminal and workshop were at the top of the old road that comes up on the clay cliffs about 1,000 feet (305 metres) south of the old RCAF hangar on the east side.

Pacific Alaska continued to operate the Juneau-Whitehorse-Fairbanks service until the winter of 1940 when, in co-operation with Pan American Airways, scheduled service was extended from Seattle to Fairbanks via Prince George, Juneau and Whitehorse, using Lockheed Loadstars and, later, DC-3s. In September 1942, the Pan American operations on the route to Alaska were taken over by the US Navy, and were managed under contract by Pan American until July 1944, when civil operations were resumed. Pan American remained at Whitehorse during the war. From 1940 to 1961, when the air terminal was moved to Hangar A on the west side, the old Department of Transport operations building on the east side was used as an operations centre and ticket office. At the termination of the Navy contract in 1945, the workshop was moved from its original location to Hangar B on the west side. Pan American closed the operations at Whitehorse in December 1963. Over the years, they operated a variety of aircraft: Lockheed 10 and 14, DC-3, DC-4, B-337 Stratocruiser, and DC-6.

The Whitehorse airport was taken over by the federal government for the duration of the war. In June 1941, the Department of National Defence approved a major expansion of the airport for use by the RCAF: the main runway was paved and, in 1942, was extended to 6,600 feet (2,012 metres). Improvements were also made to the second runway.

In December 1941, when the United States entered the war, the Edmonton--Whitehorse route assumed new importance. In 1942, Whitehorse had a key place in the development of the Northwest Staging Route to Alaska. The US Air Force developed the west side of the airport and the RCAF, the east side. Today, the east side is largely unused, as operations are carried on from the west side in wartime hangars. All American improvements were purchased by Canada for $8 million at the end of the war.

The Department of Transport assumed responsibility for civilian services on the east side, formerly used by the RCAF, in 1948, and the RCAF moved to the former USAF area on the west side. Finally, Transport Canada took over the whole airport in September 1958, and on September 11, a temporary airport licence was issued. Transport Canada established its offices in Hanagar A and used the old (RCAF) garage and workshops on the west side of the airport.

The air terminal remained on the east side until about 1961 when a new terminal was constructed in Hangar A. In 1982, construction began on a new air terminal building, just south of Hangar A. This new building was officially opened on December 7, 1985, and Hangar A was demolished shortly thereafter.

Telecommunications, weather services and air traffic control were located in the old tower at Hangar H until the new operations building - near Hangar A on the west side - was completed in the spring of 1971. The old operations building was torn down in 1972.

RCAF Hangar H was the only building remaining on the east side; it was destroyed by fire on October 1, 1984.