Close to $1 million will be coming to the Campbell River airport for fuel system upgrades.
The $966, is part of a provincial program to invest in two dozen regional airports across the province. A total of $11 million will be invested this year supporting 26 projects through the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP). The program is open to facilities that serve fewer than one million passengers every year.
North Island MLA Michele Babchuk said that the money will be used in part to provide improved wildfire supports for the region.
“Our airport in Campbell River helps support the needs of the whole region, and we’ve especially seen the importance of having this local airport during wildfire season” said Babchuk. “This investment will help the airport handle more air traffic and provide better service for the community, including wildfire supports throughout the warmer season.”
Other projects include runway improvements in the Interior, improved accessibility at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, and other emergency preparedness improvements.
“Airports play a key role in bringing together communities and people, and provide the vital links that keep goods moving and our economy strong,” said Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit. “This provincial support will help our regional airports with a wide range of upgrades that will increase safety, reliability and capacity for the services that British Columbians rely on, including access to health care and support for firefighting.”
There are over 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes in B.C.
“The BC Air Access Program provides front-line funding that supports wildfire suppression, air-ambulance, emergency-response, tourism and economic-development initiatives for British Columbia’s airports,” said Heather McCarley, chair of the BC Aviation Council. “These strategic investments are particularly important for the province’s remote, rural and Indigenous communities.”
This program has been in place since 2017, and over $63 million in grants have gone to infrastructure projects at 71 facilities. While airports fall under federal jurisdiction, the province said that the BC Air Access Program helps ensure the government fulfills its responsibilities related to medevac, fire suppression, emergency response and access to remote and Indigenous communities.
BCAAP has an open intake for all eligible applicants annually from November to December, and for Indigenous applicants and for small urgent safety-related projects throughout the year.
RELATED: Campbell River flight school in the forefront of electric aviation history