FACT FILE
Chronology of Yellowknife flight
Early 1920s
Spurred by exploration of oil discoveries in the Mackenzie Valley, commercial aviation begins in the Northwest Territories.
1926
C.S. "Jack" Caldwell flies the first flights in support of mineral exploration into the Great Slave Lake area.
1929
The first territorial mail contract is awarded to Commercial Airways.
1932
Canadian Airways and Mackenzie Air Services begin regular air service to the Yellowknife area using Norseman, Beechcraft 17, Bellanca Aircruiser and Junkers W-34 aircraft on floats.
1935
Bush pilot and mining engineer George Harold "Mike" Finland stakes the Con Mine claims in Yellowknife.
1944
Yellowknife's first airstrip, built by six men in five days, is established parallel to Long Lake by Canadian Pacific Airlines.
1945
A road is built from the airstrip to Old Town, ending the need to taxi people and cargo between locations by float plane.
1946-47
Present airport is constructed by the federal Department of Transportation.
1954
Runways at airport are paved.
1955
A Canadian Army and RCAF strike force launch a mock attack on the airport.
1957
First Air begins scheduled air service to Yellowknife from Iqaluit and Ottawa.
1963
Air terminal building is constructed. Rapid increase in air traffic results in an expansion in 1973 and 1988-89.
1972
Control tower is built.
1995
Federal government turns over operation of the Yellowknife Airport to the territorial government.
Source: History of Canadian Airports, by T.M. McGrath