Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie

CFB Portage la Prairie/ RCAF Station Portage la Prairie
Southport, Manitoba
Near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in Canada
none
CFB Portage
Coordinates 49°55′N 098°17′W / 49.917°N 98.283°W / 49.917; -98.283Coordinates: 49°55′N 098°17′W / 49.917°N 98.283°W / 49.917; -98.283[1]
Site history
In use 1940-5; 1950-92
Airfield information
Elevation 863'[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
8/26 3040' Hard Surface[1]
12/30 3040' Hard Surface[1]
1/19 2760' Hard Surface[1]
Airfields
Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie
Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Canadian Forces Air Command
Location RM of Portage la Prairie, near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Time zone CST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL 885 ft / 270 m
Map
CFB Portage la Prairie
Location in Manitoba
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
01/19 3,045 928 Asphalt
08/26 2,670 810 Asphalt
13R/31L 7,000 2,134 Asphalt
13L/31R 3,130 954 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 150 46 Turf/Snow
H2 100 31 Turf/Snow

Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie is a former military airport located adjacent to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Today the airport is operated as Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport.

History

World War II

RCAF Station Portage la Prairie originally opened 28 October 1940 and was the Home Station of No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) from 28 October 1940 to 3 Jul 1942. The Station was a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The Station was home to No.7 Air Observer School from 28 Apr 1941 to 31 March 1945. When the Air Observer School's size was increased in the Spring of 1942 No.14 EFTS was disbanded to make room. The Station was closed 31 Mar 1945.

Aerodrome Data c.1942 In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°55′N 98°17′W / 49.917°N 98.283°W / 49.917; -98.283 with a Var. 11 degrees E and elevation of 863'. 3 runways were listed as follows: [1]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
8/26 3040' 150' Hard surfaced
12/30 3040' 150' Hard surfaced
1/19 2760' 150' Hard surfaced

Cold War (1952-92)

The post-war expansion of the RCAF resulted in RCAF Station Portage la Prairie being re-activated on 15 September 1952. No. 2 Advanced Flying School (No. 2 AFS) was established to train RCAF and NATO pilots. Several other flight schools followed over the succeeding decades.

As a result of the unification, the station was renamed CFB Portage la Prairie in 1966.

In the late 1980s, DND budget reductions lead to the contracting out of flight training to civilian agencies. As a result, CFB Portage la Prairie closed on 1 September 1992.

Post Base Closure(1992-)

It reopened as Southport Aerospace where 3CFFTS continues to conduct flight training under contract with KF Aero.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 19.
  2. ↑ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 19 July 2018 to 0901Z 13 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Synoptic/Metstat Station Information Archived December 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ http://southport.ca/2/about-southport
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