Short Final: Resolute Bay

Flying in the north, we had just landed at Resolute Bay (CYRB), a bustling arctic metropolis with a last reported population of 198 people and a 6500‑foot gravel runway that’s surprisingly manned 24/7. Before turning off the radios, we heard the following exchange on the common frequency:

United: “Resolute Bay radio, this is United 1234. Hey, we were just passing overhead and happened to notice the runway down there in the middle of nowhere. Just wondering what y’all use that airport for?”

In the pregnant pause that built before the radio attendant gave a more helpful answer came the deadpan Canadian response from an anonymous radio: “Airplanes.”

While chuckles were shared all around, United didn’t attempt a retort!

Jim Freeman
Greenwood, Nova Scotia