JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport

JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport (IATA: YQY, ICAO: CYQY) is a regional airport located in Reserve Mines in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The airport serves the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) and the surrounding areas of Cape Breton Island.

Not to be confused with Sydney Airport.
JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport

J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport

Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorSydney Airport Authority
ServesCape Breton Regional Municipality
LocationReserve Mines, Nova Scotia
Built1929
Time zoneAST (UTC−04:00)
 • Summer (DST)ADT (UTC−03:00)
Elevation AMSL203 ft / 62 m
Coordinates46°09′41″N 060°02′53″W
WebsiteSydney Airport
Map
CYQY
Location in Nova Scotia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 5,997 1,828 Asphalt
06/24 7,070 2,155 Asphalt
Statistics (2014)
Aircraft movements8,278
Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[1]
Environment Canada[2]
Movements from Statistics Canada.[3]

The airport features two runways and one passenger terminal, along with several hangars and maintenance facilities.

Nav Canada classifies Sydney as an airport of entry by and as such is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle aircraft with no more than 44 passengers with staged offloading of 200 passengers.[1]

Airlines and destinations

As of 2021, Sydney is served by cargo, charter, and medical flights only. Previously the airport was served by WestJet and Air Canada; however, both airlines indefinitely suspended service to and from Sydney in October 2020 and January 2021, respectively.[4]

Infrastructure and operations

There are two runways at McCurdy, one with ILS-I capabilities and the other served by RNAV. The two runways, 06/24, and 36/18,[5] are approximately aligned in the east-west and north-south direction and are served by two taxiways. The passenger terminal was built in the 1960s and has since been renovated. The airport serves general aviation, charter and business aircraft with a tarmac with built-in tie downs, self-serve pay-at-the-pump aviation fuel 100LL, a crew room and hangar facilities. Jet fuel provided by ASIG; Ground handling services provided by Airconsol Aviation.

Ground transportation

Taxi

City Wide Taxi provides service at the airport. Arrangements can be made in advance.[6]

Rented car

Avis, Budget and National/Enterprise car rental agencies are located in the air terminal building.[6]

History

World War II

The airport was operated during World War II as a RCAF Aerodrome. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Sydney, Nova Scotia at 46°10′N 60°02′W with a variation of 26 degrees west and elevation of 192 ft (59 m). The field was listed as "All hard surfaced" and had three runways listed as follows:[7]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
5/23 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard Surfaced
10/28 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard Surfaced
17/35 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard Surfaced

Renaming

On July 27, 2009, the Sydney Airport was renamed after John Alexander Douglas McCurdy. McCurdy was a Canadian aviation pioneer who first flew the Silver Dart, holder of Canada's first pilot's licence, and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1947 to 1952.[8]

Misidentification for Sydney, Australia

Over the years, several travellers have been sent to this airport after they or their travel agents mistook it for the Sydney Airport in Australia.[9][10] The most recent was on March 31, 2017 when a Dutch traveler booked his own flight.[11]

References
  1. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  2. Synoptic/Metstat Station Information
  3. Total aircraft movements by class of operation
  4. Pottie, Erin (2021-01-11). "Sydney airport now has no passenger flights scheduled to arrive or depart". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  5. "CYQY Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport". SkyVector. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  6. Car Rental
  7. Staff Writer c.1942, p. 24
  8. Sydney Airport renaming goes ahead although 50 of 70 planes were grounded in Moncton
  9. Flying Dutchmen land in wrong Sydney, Erin Pottie, Cape Breton Post, August 10, 2010.
  10. Holiday couple sent to the wrong Sydney, Bild, July 28, 2010.
  11. Newshour, "Student catches cheap flight to the wrong Sydney", BBC World Service, April 1, 2017
  • Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1. Royal Canadian Air Force.
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