Aviation investments support essential services, economic growth

Press Release

May 19, 2023

VICTORIA – The Province is upgrading regional airports to help support economic development, improve aviation services and safety, and enhance access to B.C.’s rural and remote communities.

“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.”

The Province is investing $19.8 million in the latest round of BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) projects, which will support 40 projects at 29 air facilities, improving safety, security and passenger facilities. Projects include runway extensions, improved 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.

Under BCAAP, airports, heliports and water aerodromes submit proposals to access grants to support infrastructure upgrades.

“The continued expansion of the BC Air Access Program is positive news for the province’s remote, rural and Indigenous communities, as well as for fire suppression, air ambulance, emergency response, tourism and economic development initiatives,” said Heather McCarley, chair of the BC Aviation Council. “We are so pleased to see such progressive, strategic thinking.”

B.C. has more than 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes, which play a significant role in connecting communities, supporting the economy and keeping people safe.

“Improving air services in rural and remote communities across B.C. helps serve everyone’s needs and improves our connections with the rest of the province and country,” said Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development. “Aviation provides vital links to smaller communities, and this support will provide these airports and communities with better services, improved emergency-response capacity and more opportunities to grow their local economies.”

Since its launch in 2015, BCAAP has committed $66.8 million in grants to infrastructure projects at 71 air facilities. The program is open to applicants from facilities that serve fewer than one million passengers per year. Applicants are eligible for as much as $2 million in annual cost-sharing grants to help fund infrastructure needs. Air facility operators include local governments, non-profit operating societies and contracted operators applying on their behalf.

A backgrounder follows.Contact:Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Media Relations
250 356-8241

BACKGROUNDER

BC Air Access Program projects

Air facilities in the following communities have received funding through the BC Air Access Program for 2023-24.

• 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

Contact:Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Media Relations
250 356-8241

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