About
About CQX
A single man stands behind the creation of what is today Chatham Municipal Airport - CQX. Canadian-born Wilfred Berube in 1929 purchased 72 acres on George Ryder Road and began “hacking out” a landing strip to support his love of flying.
Berube flew sightseers, fishermen as well as commuters needing a lift to places like Boston as a means of paying for his hobby, while working to improve his airfield anyway he could. One means, according to a variety of histories, “In 1935, he converted a Model A Ford truck into a tree-clearing machine with a large circular saw mounted in the front, just a few inches from the ground.”
A few years after the conclusion of World War II, Berube sold the airport to the Town of Chatham for $1. The airport was certified by the State and the Chatham Airport Commission were both established in 1949.
By the 1951 formal dedication of Chatham Municipal Airport, there was, thanks somewhat to state and federal funding, a paved and lighted runway.
Today, CQX is a general-aviation airport with a 3001-foot runway, operating 24/7/365. Located two miles from the central business district of Chatham, it has a renowned casual restaurant, Hangar B as well as Cape Cod’s only airport-based flight school and aircraft rental operation.
Operations Data:
Airport History – Mon Reve (My Dream) - The Story of Wilfred Berube and his Airport at Chatham on Cape Cod by Bob Whittier (PDF)
General Information:
- Types of aircraft that use the airport with photos.
- Emergency Services
- Whale and Shark Spotting