Welcome to our frequently asked questions page

The two runways at Drummondville airport, which is under federal jurisdiction, are available to pilots 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Aircraft can, therefore, land or take off at any time. However, airport office hours are as follows:

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 1^st to October 31^st
• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 1^st to March 31^st
• Exceptions: December 25 and January 1^st

The following services are offered according to the office hours mentioned in the answer to question 1.

• Canpass customs service to facilitate customs formalities for private aircraft carrying up to 15 people
• Aircraft and seaplane fuel sales and service
• Motor oil sales
• Tie‑down parking available by the year, month or day
• Seaplane launching and retrieval
• Snacks at the terminal (water, chips, soft drinks, coffee and hot cocoa)

A single runway with two (2) directions: 06 (to the northeast) and 24 (to the southwest). Runway dimensions are 6000 feet (length) by 150 feet (width). Both runways are asphalted. It should be noted that runway 06 accounts for around 20% of all flight activity, while runway 24 accounts for around 80%.

Interestingly, the runways are numbered according to their magnetic orientation. Runway 06, for example, is oriented at magnetic degree 060 with respect to magnetic north. Conversely, track 24 means that it is oriented at magnetic degree 240.

The pilot chooses which runway to use based on a number of factors, including wind direction, which helps determine which direction to take (runway 06 or runway 24). For safety reasons, aircraft always take off and land facing into the wind. Take‑off and landing distances are directly affected by the wind. For example, when winds are calm, pilots give priority to Runway 24.

Noise is mainly caused by the rotation of the propeller and the engine.

Yes, because the engine is always at full power, regardless of climb speed, and the propeller is at full rpm.

Since weather conditions are closely linked to the opportunities for aircraft to fly, it’s normal to hear more aircraft noise when the weather is nice.

The circuit pilots must use has a defined dimension depending on the type of aircraft. Therefore, whenever possible, and for obvious safety reasons, pilots in training must remain within gliding distance of the runway when downwind, on base and on final, throughout their training. It’s good practice for both student and experienced pilots to maintain a glide distance from the runway at all times.

A touch‑and‑go is the landing of an aircraft immediately followed by a take‑off, without making a complete stop. It’s an aeronautical maneuver often used during pilot training to practise take‑offs, landings, proper communication and simulated emergency procedures. At the start of their training, student pilots must perform these exercises at the base airport, as they have not yet acquired the skills to fly away from it.

The aerodrome can be used under both VFR and IFR conditions (see glossary in this FAQ). It’s equipped with a non‑directional beacon (NDB) and an approach slope indicator (PAPI) (runway 24). A non‑precision approach (NDB) is available on runways 06 and 24 with minima of 612′ and 575′ AGL respectively. The location of the Drummondville AWOS “site” is N45.84361 W72.39750. Since fall 2019, NAV Canada has added two cutting‑edge GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) approaches equivalent to precision approaches on runways 06 and 24, giving minima of 277′ and 250′ AGL respectively.

• A landing counts as one (1) movement and a take‑off also counts as one (1) movement
• A touch‑and‑go counts as two (2) movements
• An instrument flight rules (IFR) approach without landing also counts as one (1) movement

Drummondville airport is owned by the Ville de Drummondville.

The Ville de Drummondville has entrusted the management of the Drummondville airport to Drummond économique (formerly known as the Société de développement économique de Drummondville [formerly SDED]). You can read our story to learn more about Drummond économique’s role as manager.

To file a complaint about the noise surrounding Drummondville airport, please fill in the form entitled “Filing a complaint or comment about the noise at Drummondville airport”. To facilitate management, please note that only complaints submitted using the above‑mentioned form are recorded and logged by the manager for submission to the Vigilance Committee following the filing of the complaint. The information provided when a complaint is submitted is treated confidentially but may be discussed at Vigilance Committee meetings, for the sole purpose of meeting continuous improvement objectives.

It’s important to note that the number of complaints submitted via our online form has no influence on the processing time or the response provided by the Drummondville airport manager. Also, if a complainant submits a new complaint on a subject for which he or she has already received a response from the airport manager, including all available information, the latter will advise the complainant that he or she will not receive a new response. However, the complaint will be duly registered.