3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Washroom are very clean.”
Llyanina Lora5★ on Google
Airports / Canada / YSM
Medium airport · YSM
Fort Smith Airport.
Fort Smith, Canada · 671 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.6/5
Google rating
25 ratings
1
Operators based
671
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Fort Smith, CanadaELEV 671 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.6
Google rating
25
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
671
Field elevation
feet above sea level
80
Nearest alternate
nm to YPY
Field standing
#61 / 229
Canada airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 25 Google ratings , ranked against 229 rated Canada fields.
80 nm
To the nearest alternate
Fort Chipewyan Airport (YPY).
Overview
Located in Fort Smith, Canada, Fort Smith Airport (CYSM / YSM) operates as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 671 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
The airport anchors local charter capacity, Northwestern Air Lease Ltd is based here. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Fort Chipewyan Airport (YPY, 80 nm), Fort Resolution Airport (YFR, 86 nm), and Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport (YHY, 123 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,000-foot paved runway, YSM can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from YSM depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Fort Smith.
Run an FBO at CYSM? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Service was friendly and on time.”
Llyanina Lora5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Fort Smith Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CYSM
IATA
YSM
FAA / Local
CYSM
Elevation
671 ft
Coordinates
60.0203° N · 111.9620° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Canada fields
state range 6–3,940 ft
At 671 ft, YSM sits lower than 57% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,000 ft
- 12/306,000 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
- 03/211,800 ft × 100 ftOtherLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,000 ft
YSM's 6,000 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 80nmYPYFort Chipewyan AirportFort Chipewyan
- 86nmYFRFort Resolution AirportFort Resolution
- 123nmYHYHay River / Merlyn Carter AirportHay River
- 163nmYZFYellowknife International AirportYellowknife
- 180nmYOJHigh Level AirportHigh Level
- 191nmYSFStony Rapids AirportStony Rapids
Location
Open the full mapCYSM · Fort Smith Airport · Fort Smith, Canada
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Fort Smith Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from YSM on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 837 nm | 2h 21m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 986 nm | 2h 42m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 1,107 nm | 2h 58m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,155 nm | 3h 5m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 1,238 nm | 3h 17m |
| Denver (DEN) | 1,241 nm | 3h 17m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 1,263 nm | 3h 20m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 1,398 nm | 3h 39m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use YSM?
- Fort Smith Airport's longest paved runway is 6,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at YSM?
- Fort Smith Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at YSM?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Fort Smith Airport as a home base, including Northwestern Air Lease Ltd. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to YSM?
- The closest alternate is Fort Chipewyan Airport (YPY), about 80 nm away, followed by Fort Resolution Airport (YFR) at 86 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from YSM to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Seattle about 2h 21m (837 nm), Jackson Hole about 2h 42m (986 nm), Anchorage about 2h 58m (1,107 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.