Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport

Buttonville Municipal Airport or Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport, , is a medium-sized airport in Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, within Markham and 29 km north of downtown Toronto. It is operated by Toronto Airways Limited. Due to its proximity to Toronto's suburbs, there are several strict noise-reduction procedures for aircraft using the airport. There is a weather station located at the airport. The airport is open and staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2007, Buttonville was Canada's 8th busiest airport by aircraft movements.

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.

History

Buttonville Airport began as a grass airstrip in 1953 when Leggat Aviation moved their operations from Barker Field in Toronto. The airstrip became an official airport in 1962.

Navigation

There are three non-precision instrument approaches available: a Global Positioning System (GPS) approach to runway 33, a non-directional beacon (NDB) approach to runway 21, and a localizer approach to runway 15. Since the airport is inside the busy Toronto terminal area, the availability of approaches depends heavily on traffic flow to other airports.

Radio

The airport has a control tower using the frequencies 127.10 MHz for Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), 121.80 MHz for ground control, and 124.80 MHz for tower (with a backup frequency of 119.9 MHz used during busy periods). When the tower is closed, 124.80 MHz becomes a mandatory frequency. The London, Flight Information Centre has a Remote Communications Outlet at the airport operating on the frequency 123.15 MHz. Toronto Terminal handles instrument flight rules (IFR) arrivals and departures on 133.40 MHz.

Flightline is available on 123.50 MHz.

Navigation aids

There are three ground-based navigation aids attached specifically to the Buttonville airport:

a low-power NDB on the frequency 248 kHz with the identifier "KZ", located 4.4 nautical miles northeast of the airport
a distance measuring equipment (DME) on channel 48 (111.1 MHz) with the identifier "IKZ", located on the airfield
a localizer for runway 15 on the frequency 111.1 MHz

Airport Operating Restrictions

No practice circuits outside of YKZ control Tower hours of operation.
No practice IFR approaches outside YKZ Control Tower hours of operation.
No practice Engine Failure on Take Off procedure (E.F.T.O.'s) in the YKZ Positive Control Zone.
No touch and go circuits by excessively noisy aircraft.

It has been agreed with the Airport and the Town of Markham that no circuit practice will occur during specific hours during a long weekend holiday.

New Air Traffic Control Tower

On January 17, 2006, NAV CANADA announced plans for the construction of a new air traffic control tower at Buttonville Airport.

The new tower, representing an investment of over $2 million, will replace the existing facility which was built in 1967 and is reaching the end of its useful life. Construction began in Fall 2006 and became fully operational on June 26, 2007.

The new tower provides expanded operational space, optimal visibility and the latest in air navigation equipment and technology for 12 air traffic controllers and two support staff who provide service to some 150,000 aircraft movements per year at Buttonville Airport. It is located on the south side of the airport – the opposite side of the old tower.

The new tower was designed and built using a modular design enabling the facility to be relocated in the future. New equipment and technology include the NAV CANADA Auxiliary Radar Display System and the Company’s state-of-the-art voice communications switch. Buttonville Airport is one of the busiest in the country, consistently ranking in the top 11 for air traffic volumes.

Tenants

LCE Aviation, providing private air charters around Southern Ontario and across the continent
Flightexec, an executive air charter and air ambulance for Ontario Air Ambulance
Toronto Airways Limited, a flight training school
Seneca College's aviation program
Buttonville Flying Club
680 News Traffic Unit
Corus Entertainment Toronto Traffic Unit
Leggat Aviation Ltd., an authorized Cessna Dealership that specializes in new aircraft sales, full service and parts supply

Future

The new control tower's modular design is speculated to be because the airport's licence expires in 2010 and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority planning document for Pickering Airport assumes its closure by 2011 when GTAA funding of Buttonville (which replaced a Provincial subsidy) ceases.

However, Buttonville Airport is still privately owned and Transport Canada has not yet made a decision on a Pickering airport project.