The original Airdrie airport was built early in 1940 as part of the Canada-wide British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP). Although not used as a primary base (like Calgary's Lincoln Park, Claresholm, De Winton, Shepard, Vulcan Lethbridge or Medicine Hat), Airdrie served as a satellite airfield - designated as the No. 1 Relief Landing Field for No. 3 SFTS in Calgary. Airdrie's airfield helped aleviate congestion around Calgary's Lincoln Park.

The Dominion Government purchased 640 acres of prairie farmland and immediately converted it into an airport, complete with three runways forming a triangle (this kept the strong prairie winds from blowing no more than 30 degrees off the centerline of any runway) and two large wooden hangars.

Cessna Cranes and Avro Ansons were the primary wartime users. (NLS)

In 1945, the war's end brought with it closure of Air Force flying in Airdrie. Then in 1948, Gordon Bowers purchased the property from Crown Assets for the use of the wartime hangars and the runways fell into a state of disuse. But even as the runways slowly deteriorated they continued to serve student pilots who were now earning their civilian pilot's licenses in nearby Calgary. It also became a location for farmers to base their planes and to load pesticide and chemical fertilizers.

Airdrie Mayor, Frank Young, ran a spray business with Tiger Moths in the 1950s.

By 1957 the abandoned runways were being used as a racetrack for sports car and motorcycle races. Twenty acres of airfield property was purchased by Don Southerland, who converted the RCAF hangars and offices into commercial facilities, specifically for the fabrication of prefabricated trailers for the construction and oil industries and the airport remained destitute.

In 1969, Tom Conroy purchased the remaining airport and soon introduced a flying club (known as the Airdrie Country Club of the Air) and fuel services. The Conroy's contributions turned Airdrie's airport into a friendly base for area pilots. Among the dozens of tenants were the Conroy's own vintage Harvard trainers. These bright yellow planes had served with the RCAF and with members of the Conroy family at the controls, performed aerobatics at numerous local airshows and aviation gatherings.

Tom Conroy passed away in 1979, but his family continued to operate the airport until 1998 when the property was sold to its current owners - Airdrie Airpark Inc. It was soon indicated that a housing development was planned for the southwest corner of the property, new facilities for aviation related businesses were to be built, along with a new 5,000 foot long paved runway. The new runway was completed and operational in 2002.

Today, the Airdrie airport remains a haven for local pilots. Year-round maintenance is offered, allowing planes to flying at night and during Alberta's winter months and fuel services were reintroduced in the summer of 2005. It's a jewel to the Rocky View community.

Trevor McTavish