Randy Stagg Video Production, BC Airfield Stories, Dease Lake

Описание: Dease Lake is a small community located in the Cassiar Country of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is located a few hours south of the Yukon border on Stewart–Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) at the south end of the lake of the same name. Dease Lake is the last major centre before the Alaska Highway. Dease Lake is the largest community in B.C.’s far northwest, home to around 500 people. It is the service hub for around 3,500 people living in surrounding communities and around 600 fly-in mining workers at a time. The town has a school, various stores, a fuel and service station, hotel & Northern Lights College campus. The town sees a large influx of visitors during the summer months from tourists on their way to the Alaska Highway, Yukon, and Alaska.
During the winter of 1937-38, a Pan American Airlines twin engine airliner (likely a Lockheed 10A Electra) landed on the ice at Dease Lake. The aircraft carried men and equipment to establish a radio communications station which PanAm set up to support its inland route from Seattle via Prince George and Whitehorse for Fairbanks, Alaska.
During World War II, the U.S. Army located a detachment at Dease Lake starting September 13, 1943, comprising four men of the Army Airways Communications Squadron and four men of the 16th Weather Squadron. This detachment operated from the former Pan American Airways building, also adding several other buildings for detachment use. A small emergency airstrip was also constructed adjacent to the PanAm weather/communications station. Amber Route 61 airway was initiated between Prince George and Teslin, which utilized the Dease Lake radio beacon for navigation
By the mid 1960’s, a 3,000 foot gravel airstrip was built at the same location The airfield was later realigned and a 6,000 foot paved runway (02-20) was built by B.C. Hydro in the late 1970 period.
The Dease Lake Airport was inspected by the TCAA in 2018. That inspection found several key issues like unserviceable runway lights, runway edge cracking, low brush near the runway and gaps in the perimeter fence, meaning it could not be certified for regular scheduled passenger operations.
Major upgrades to Dease Lake Airport the original cost of the project was an estimated $5,169,500 USD, but has since expanded to $11 million with additional grants. Work is ahead of schedule and the expected project completion date in March 2022. So far, paving of the runway, taxiway, apron and parking lot has been completed, along with painting and the majority of above ground and underground electrical works.
The provincial government is spending $9 million for upgrades with the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine and several mining companies adding $2 million for a package of improvements worth $11 million. Safety upgrades to the airport will meet the standards for Transport Canada Civil Aviation Association (TCAA) certification, further enabling medevac services and allowing easier access to the area for the mining sector.
References:
Chris Weicht is an accomplished 18,000 pilot and has chronicled the history of aviation in BC. He is the author of the book series "Air Pilot Navigator". Air Pilot Navigator, Volume 3: Air Route To The Klondike is where the story for this videos story can be found as part of the video series “British Columbia Airfield Stories”. Chris’s research included interviewing aviators and their next of kin who opened up their photo albums and often related exploits of flights creating some outstanding historical aviation books.
If you would be interested in buying Chris Weicht’s books go to coasteaglepublications.com

Special thanks to Doug Rollins and Geoff Hallett Archival Photos for providing this material.
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Map Data 2022 Google
Wikipedia
Video:
Take Off Dease Lake BC Rwy 20 Cockpit View
Landing Dease Lake BC Rwy 20 Cockpit View
CumulusGranitis

Linda R Stagg: Host / Script
Chris Weicht: Author book series "Air Pilot Navigator"
Geoff Hallett: Archival Files / BCAM Librarian
Back Ground Music: “Royal Blue – 1960” by Bill Black Combo
Randy Stagg: Video Production / Script

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Playlist: “BC Airfield Stories”