 Victoria International Airport
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1939 to present | | Location: | 48 39 12 secs N - 123 26 2 secs W | | 2nm SW of Sidney, Vancouver Island | | ICAO: CYYJ | IATA: YYJ | Elevation: 62 feet |
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| History of this Base/Heliport: | | |
Located at the extreme south east of Vancouver Island, on the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, work began to construct Patricia Bay Air Station for the Royal Canadian Air Force in Mar 1939 as tensions grew in Europe. It had opened as a training base for Canadian and Empire pilots and a Pacific seaplane base by Christmas that year. 
After a significant contribution during World War II, civil aviation grew from 1948 and by 1952 the RCAF had moved out. With further growth it became Victoria International Airport in 1959.
Although helicopters had operated from time to time, the Canadian Armed Forces returned to a permanent presence at Pat Bay when 443 Squadron (MH443) moved into the West Camp in 1989 as part of 12 Wing (at CFB Shearwater), in support of the Pacific Fleet. |