Cranbrook–BC Rockies International Airport

From Dominion of British Columbia
Cranbrook⁠–⁠BC Rockies International Airport
IATA code XXC
ICAO code BCCB
MTC Location ID -
Address 1-9370 Airport Access Road
St Eugene Mission
Cranbrook CB9 7ED
Hub for Kootenay Airways
Focus city for Pacific Western Airlines

BC Rockies International Airport is an airport in St Eugene Mission, Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Description

On display outside the main terminal building is Dragon Rapide VB-KOA, Kootenay Airways' first aircraft; an enclosed glass shelter was built for the aeroplane in 1997.

Accidents and incidents

  • 11 February 1978 Pacific Western Airlines DHBC-7A Trident VB-PVF (c/n C1047/1969), operating as flight PW314 from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Castlegar, BC, via Calgary, Alberta and Cranbrook crashed at Cranbrook after a failed touch-and-go attempt. At 12:46 Flight 314 contacted Cranbrook and were advised about the snow removal in progress; the aircraft then made no further contact with the airport, making a straight-in instrument approach to Runway 16. The aircraft had touched down at 12:55 about 800 feet from the threshold and reverse thrust was selected when the crew noticed the snow plough on the runway. The captain initiated a go-around at once, but one of the thrust reversers failed to re-stow due to loss of hydraulic power. The aircraft became airborne and successfully cleared the snow plough, but unexpectedly the left thrust reverser deployed in flight as it climbed to about 350 feet. As a result of this the crew lost control of the aircraft, which suddenly banked steeply to the left, lost height, and side-slipped into the ground. The aircraft broke up and caught fire. The deep snow made it difficult for fire crews to reach the wreckage, and 42 of the 44 passengers and 5 crew were killed.

Airlines and destinations

BC Rockies International Airport is the headquarters of Kootenay Airways, although the airline's primary operational hub is Blaenau International Airport.

Passenger

Airline Service area Destination Aircraft
Air BC Domestic Kamloops ATR 42, Su-80
Kelowna ATR 42, Su-80
Prince George ATR 42, Su-80
Vancouver ATR 42
Continental Calgary ATR 42
Cape Air Continental Billings P2012 Traveller
Kootenay Airways Domestic Blaenau ATR 42
Blue River Su-80, Twin Otter
Fairmont Hot Springs Su-80, Twin Otter
Golden Beech 99, Su-80, Twin Otter
Merritt Short 330, Su-80
Nelson Beech 99, Su-80, Twin Otter
Princeton Short 330, Su-80
Salmon Arm Short 330, Su-80
Trail ATR 42, Short 330, Su-80
Valemount ATR 42
Vernon Short 330, Su-80
Continental Bozeman RJ85
Portland, OR RJ85
Seattle RJ85
Spokane ATR 42, Short 330
Lynx Air Continental Calgary B737 MAX 8
Pacific Coastal Airlines Domestic Victoria ATP, ATR 72
Pacific Western Airlines Domestic Blaenau CRJ702
Kamloops CRJ200, Q300
Kelowna CRJ200, Q300
Vancouver CRJ200, Q300
Continental Calgary CRJ200, Q300
WestJet Continental Edmonton B737-600