Rural airports across B.C. will get some money from the provincial government for upgrading services and safety.
Some of that money will be coming to the Kootenays, with investments at the Fairmont Hot Springs and Creston Valley airports.
$48,000 will go to the Creston Valley Airport for an airport master plan and fuel cardlock system upgrade.
Meanwhile, the Fairmont Hot Springs will get $64,000 for an airport master plan and washroom facilities.
“The BC Air Access Program helps communities, especially smaller ones, with important improvements to their aviation facilities,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This investment will help move people and goods, improve safety and benefit front-line services, like air ambulance and wildfire fighting, as well as making for more secure access to remote and Indigenous communities.”
B.C. government officials said the local projects are part of a $19.8 million investment from the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP).
The money will be split between 40 projects at 29 air facilities aimed at improving safety, security and passenger facilities.
Some of the projects include runway extensions, runway lighting, pavement improvements, terminal enhancements and better fire protection.
“These investments are improving local airports across the province, making a difference for travellers, the aviation industry and the businesses that count on reliable air service to export their products to markets worldwide,” said Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit.
A full list of the projects set to receive funding can be found below.
- 108 Mile
- $2 million for runway rehabilitation.
- Bob Quinn Lake
- $87,650 for an airport master plan and for a solar-powered weather camera with altimeter and satellite uplink.
- Chilliwack
- $1.9 million to extend the runway and upgrade lighting.
- Comox
- $374,550 to install solar power and provide electrification of ground support equipment and utility vehicles.
- Courtenay
- $131,450 to pave an air ambulance patient transfer area and replace a floatplane dock.
- Creston Valley
- $48,000 for an airport master plan and fuel cardlock system upgrade.
- Dease Lake
- $88,200 for an airport master plan and new batteries for solar-powered hazard beacons.
- Fairmont Hot Springs
- $64,000 for an airport master plan and washroom facilities.
- Fort St. James
- $2 million for the runway end safety area, lighting improvements and a master plan.
- Fraser Lake
- $55,650 for pavement markings and an upgrade to runway shoulders.
- Golden
- $2 million for airfield pavement rehabilitation.
- Kitimat
- $511,250 for a greenhouse gas emission audit, and taxiway and apron improvements.
- Masset
- $26,550 for a temporary runway, taxiway and apron lights.
- McBride
- $259,000 to rehabilitate runway and airside pavement.
- Merritt
- $304,100 for airport security fencing.
- Nakusp
- $25,000 for an airport master plan.
- Nanaimo
- $2 million for runway instrument approach lighting.
- Pitt Meadows
- $1.6 million to pave the runway and rehabilitate and resurface the taxiway.
- Princeton
- $916,000 for airport lighting.
- Qualicum Beach
- $289,300 for avgas fuel system replacement.
- Revelstoke
- $772,100 to widen the runway.
- Salmon Arm
- $1.2 million to rehabilitate the runway.
- Squamish
- $63,250 to survey and clear obstacles and replace airfield signage.
- Sun Peaks
- $950,000 for a new heliport.
- Tofino (Long Beach)
- $737,100 for fire protection and fire pump system improvements.
- Vanderhoof
- $330,984 for runway and apron lighting.
- Victoria Harbour Heliport
- $986,850 for a fuel system upgrade.
- Williams Lake
- $83,750 for an apron lighting upgrade and two automatic security gates.
- Winter Harbour
- $27,300 for a helipad improvement project