Category: Flight Simulator 2004 - Scenery
Albian CAL4, Firebag CFG6, Horizon CYNR, Mildred Lake CER4, and Muskeg Tower CFW4 in Alberta Canada

Images related to this file:

• tarsands_v1-1.jpg
• tarsands_v1-2.jpg
• tarsands_v1-3.jpg
• tarsands_v1-4.jpg
• tarsands_v1-5.jpg
• tarsands_v1-6.jpg
• tarsands_v1-7.jpg
• tarsands_v1-8.jpg

File Description:
All of these airfields are in or close to the Athabasca Tar Sands in Alberta, modelled here along with the airfields. The tar sands workings extend along the Athabasca River for over 60 miles north of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, and the huge cleared areas, surface mining, tailings ponds, and refineries along the Athabasca are right up there as Alberta's biggest VFR landmark. One look at a tailings pond (sea? ocean?) makes it clear that someone was worried about public reaction to the size. As well as the surface mining there are also large areas where there is underground extraction with a grid of dirt tracks between equipment installations. There are four airfields associated with the tar sands. Horizon CYNR is a public service airport operated by Canadian Natural Reources Ltd. Mildred Lake CER4 is owned and operated by Syncrude. Albian CAL4 is owned and operated by Shell Canada, and Firebag CFG6 is owned and operated by Suncor Energy. The fifth airfield is the nearby Muskeg Tower CFW4, which is there solely to support folks during their fire watch in the 120 feet tall tower. There is also a sixth airfield east of Horizon across the river and still visible, Bitumount; this is no longer in use. There is Ai included involving Canadian North, North Cariboo, Wasaya, HTS, First Air, Suncor, etc.