South Cariboo Regional Airport upgrades completed

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

The Cariboo Regional District is celebrating the completion of critical upgrades that have been completed at the South Cariboo Regional Airport. Members of the South Cariboo Airport Commission, including Electoral Area Directors Al Richmond (Area G), Margo Wagner (Area H), Eric de Vries (Area L), District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney, and Member-at-Large Larry Davis  were on hand to celebrate their completion.

The South Cariboo Regional Airport rehabilitation work included reconstructing the subbase and asphalt surfaces of the runway, taxiway, and airside apron, as well as converting to LED lighting for runway edge lights, apron lights, and navigation aids. This marks the first overhaul of the asphalt surfaces in 20 years, and allows the airport to provide critical connections to the sky for recreational pilots, BC Wildfire, RCMP, and BC Emergency Health Services’ Air Ambulances, which completed over 40 med-evacs each year.

“We are pleased to see the runway resurfacing and lighting upgrades completed. The runway surface had reached the point that Air Ambulance jets were no longer going to able to use the airport for medical evacuations,” said Cariboo Regional District Area "G" Director Al Richmond, also Chair of the South Cariboo Regional Airport Commission, “These aircraft will now be able to continue to offer vital services to the residents through the South Cariboo Regional Airport.”

These upgrades were made possible through extensive provincial and federal grant funding – $1.45 million from the BC Growing Communities Fund, $1 million from the federal Community Works Funding, and $2 million from the BC Air Access Program. The remaining costs were financed through short-term borrowing which will be paid back through taxation over the next five years.

The South Cariboo Regional Airport has been operated by the Regional District since 1981, and serves the BC Wildfire Service, BC Emergency Health Services, RCMP, and private aircraft operators. On average there are 1,000 flights per year served by the airport, increasing to over 2,500 flights during years with significant wildfire activity. The airport is partially funded by residents and property owners in Electoral Areas G, H, and L as well as the District of 100 Mile, along with revenue from airside hangar agreements, landing fees, and fuel sales.

Aviation Grants provided to BC Airports

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- South Cariboo Regional Airport at 108 Mile House (Cariboo RD Area "G") received $2 million to complete a runway rehabilitation project as well as the Williams Lake Regional Airport receiving $83,750 to complete an apron lighting upgrade project as well as installing 2 new automatic security gates

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 the Hon. Rob Fleming, BC's 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.