A watchful eye on the north.
DYE-MAIN sits on the eastern tip of Baffin Island at Cape Dyer. It opened in 1957 as one of four Canadian Main stations and served as the hub for the DYE Sector, which extended east into Greenland (DYE-1 through DYE-4) and onward to Iceland (DYE-5). The site converted to a North Warning System (NWS) Long Range Radar (LRR) in August 1989 and remains active today.
Site layout
The station consists of two primary areas: an Upper Camp on the peninsula’s high ground (approx. 2300 ft ASL) and a Lower Camp with the airstrip about eight miles to the southwest (approx. 1200 ft ASL). The adjacent shoreline features steep coastal cliffs in excess of 2000 ft.
Radar and communications
During the DEW era, DYE-MAIN used the AN/FPS-19 L-band search radar, typically installed as paired units back-to-back for range and elevation coverage. Long-haul traffic used large troposcatter antennas (the “DEW Drop” system) linking to Greenland sites and westward stations. With the NWS transition, the site adopted a solid-state 3-D LRR (AN/FPS-117).
Operations and logistics
As a Main station, DYE-MAIN hosted sector command and a communications hub. Terrain and weather often cut the Upper Camp off from ground movement. Fuel, rations, and spares arrived by airlift and seasonal sealift. Civilian and military staff (Canadian and American) sustained 24/7 operations; one-year military tours and ~18-month civilian contracts were common in Canada’s DEW chain.
Transition and current status
DEW Line operations ceased at DYE-MAIN in August 1989, with conversion to a minimally attended NWS LRR in the same period. Several former DEW buildings remain in use. Cape Dyer Airport is listed as abandoned in the Canada Flight Supplement.
Visiting and safety
The site is remote, weather-bound, and hazardous. Do not attempt access without permits and professional logistics. Expect severe winds, low visibility, loose rock, and legacy contamination. This page does not endorse or encourage visits.
