Qualicum Beach Airport (CAT4)
Medium airport · Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Airport data
| Name | Qualicum Beach Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | CAT4 |
| IATA | XQU |
| Elevation | 191 ft (58 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 49°20'15" W 124°23'35" 49.33746, -124.39309 |
| Location | Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29 | 3,565 ft (1087 m) | 75 ft | ASP | Yes |
Qualicum Beach Airport at a glance
Qualicum Beach Airport is a medium airport in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada, known to airline systems as XQU. The field elevation of 191 ft (58 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at CAT4 are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 11/29, offers 3,565 ft (1087 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 11 points roughly 110° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for CAT4 shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Qualicum Beach Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nanaimo Airport | CYCD | 49 km (26 NM) |
| Comox Valley International Airport / CFB Comox | CYQQ | 55 km (30 NM) |
| Powell River Airport | CYPW | 56 km (30 NM) |
| Vancouver International Airport | CYVR | 89 km (48 NM) |
| Campbell River Airport | CYBL | 93 km (50 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Qualicum Beach Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 191 ft field elevation of Qualicum Beach Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 250 airports and airfields we list for Canada — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Qualicum Beach Airport
What is the ICAO code of Qualicum Beach Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Qualicum Beach Airport is CAT4, and its IATA code is XQU. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Qualicum Beach Airport above sea level?
Qualicum Beach Airport sits at an elevation of 191 feet (58 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Qualicum Beach Airport located?
The airport lies at 49.3375, -124.3931 — in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Nanaimo Airport, about 49 km away.
Does CAT4 publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for CAT4 appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Qualicum Beach Airport?
Qualicum Beach Airport has one runway. The longest, 11/29, measures 3,565 ft (1087 m) with a ASP surface.