Summary
Gander Airport opened in 1938 and later served as a crucial WWII base for military aircraft transport.
After WWII, Gander became vital for civilian transatlantic flights including Pan Am & Air Canada.
Today, Gander remains crucial for diversions under ETOPS rules, military operations, & private jets.
Gander International Airport was once one of the largest airports in the world. It was developed in the late 1930s as a major base for transatlantic flights, located on the direct route between North America and Europe. It saw significant use during the Second World War for military aircraft movement to Europe, and afterwards as an important technical stopover for commercial traffic. Its use is much diminished today, but diversion options, regional flights, and military operations remain.
Starting development in 1935
The first transatlantic flight took place in 1919, with British aviators Alcock and Brown flying a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Clifden, County Galway, Ireland. Charles Lindbergh followed with the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927 between Paris and New York City.
Not long after this, the decision was taken to start construction of a large airport near Gander, Newfoundland, and Labrador, Canada. This airport would be at the easternmost location in North America and would serve as a strategic hub for cross-Atlantic air traffic. The location was near the great circle route between North America and Europe.
This was unusual, and a bold decision at the time. The airport was built in a largely empty and unpopulated area, and the idea of heavy traffic across the Atlantic was far from reality yet.
Newfoundland Airport – opening in 1938
British operator Imperial Airways was the first to use the new airport, with Captain Douglas Fraser flying a Fox Moth to the airport on January 11th 1938.
The airport was originally called Newfoundland Airport (a name it retained until the military changed it to Gander in 1941). Within a few years of opening in 1938, it had four operational runways and was the largest airport in the world by 1940.
Important base during the Second World War
The usefulness of the airport and its location was soon tested, with the outbreak of the Second World War and US involvement. In 1940, control of the airport switched to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was used extensively by the US Air Force and the UK royal air force (RAF) to transport military aircraft from North America to Britain and Europe. It was also used as a base for anti-submarine patrols in the northwest Atlantic, and a naval listening post.
Aircraft transport was managed by the RAF Ferry Command division. It is estimated that over 20,000 North American-built aircraft flew out of Gander during the war.
Civilian use after the war
After the end of the Second World War, the RCAF handed operation of the airfield back to the Dominion of Newfoundland government. A military role remained alongside this – and still does today.
As originally intended, the airport soon became an important stopover point for airlines flying transatlantic routes from London and Europe to North American hubs. In the 1940s and 1950s, these airlines included:
Pan-American World Airways (Pan Am) Trans-World Airline Trans Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) British Overseas Airway Corporation (later British Airways)
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Airport usage peaked during the 1950s, with reportedly up to 13,000 aircraft being handled a year at Gander. This made it one of the busiest airports in the world. There was significant expansion, with new support crew based there, and the conversion of the military hangars into a terminal to house passengers while waiting at the airport.
These large-scale operations also saw tragedy. One of the earliest and most deadly at the time, was the crash of a Sabena Airlines douglas dc-4 aircraft in September 1946. The aircraft crashed into woodland when descending to the airport in bad weather, with 27 fatalities. It is also noteworthy for being one of the first rescue operations to use helicopters – new in service at the time.
Photo: john | Flickr
Use for technical stopovers changed somewhat during the jet age, with aircraft increasingly able to make transatlantic flights nonstop. Some flights remained for longer (including ilyushin il-62 flights with Aeroflot, CSA, Cubana, Interflug, and LOT).
Photo: David Wipf | Flickr
The airport also remained an important diversion location for jet aircraft under ETOPS rules. With the switch from four and three engines to twin engine jet aircraft for longer flights, ETOPS rules dictated how far aircraft could fly from a diversion airport (and thus its potential operating range over the oceans). Early ratings of 120 minutes were given to aircraft such as the Boeing 767. Today, much higher ratings make such diversions less relevant.
Related How ETOPS Works: Everything You Need To Know
The first official ETOPS operations were carried out by a TWA Boeing 767 in 1985.
Airport operations today
Today, Gander has regular commercial passenger operations with two Canadian airlines. There is also a major military presence with Canadian Forces Base Gander.
Air Canadaand PAL Airlines have regular year-round schedules to other Canadian airports (including Halifax, Goose Bay, and St Johns). Air Canada flies seasonally to Montreal and Toronto. Sunwing Airlines operates seasonal charter flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and to Orlando.
Photo: WestOka | Shutterstock
Stopover traffic has not gone away. For many years, the airport has remained an important diversion option under ETOPS rules, and still does for many operations. There are also technical stopovers, and a high number of private aircraft.
The airport itself explains this role today, as:
As time moved on, Gander International Airport adapted to changes in the industry. Today, technical stops remain a significant economic generator for the airport, especially with growth in the corporate/private jet market. In fact, twenty percent of business jets flying the North Atlantic stop at Gander. Thus, we are able to continue to offer our services to travellers from around the world decades after we first started.
Related United Airlines Boeing 777 Diverts To Gander Following Hydraulic Leak
The widebody aircraft with a special Star Alliance livery landed safely.
One particular day stands out in Gander’s recent history – September 11th, 2001. Following the terrorist attack, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed American airspace to all aircraft. This meant that planes already on route to the United States would have to find an alternative place to land. As part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, Gander Airport quickly saw 38 widebody aircraft (with 6,122 passengers and 473 crew members) land and stay for up to five days.
Related The Story Of Operation Yellow Ribbon
Over 220 flights and 30,000 passengers were diverted to Canada in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
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Publish date : 2024-10-29 05:41:00
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