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Canadians, tourists and businesses benefit from safe and well-maintained airports. From visiting friends and family, to travelling to medical appointments, or getting goods to market, we rely on our local airports to support and sustain vibrant communities. These airports also provide essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue and forest fire response.
Harjit Sajjan, minister of National Defence and member of Parliament for Vancouver South, on behalf of Marc Garneau, minister of Transport, visited the Trail Regional Airport to highlight the recent completion of two safety improvement projects — the rehabilitation of the airside pavement and the purchase of a runway condition reporting system.
The project to rehabilitate the airside pavement included the removal of asphalt on runway 16-34, the taxiways and apron A, the excavation of the granular base and the installation of new asphalt and pavement markings.
Well-maintained runways, taxiways and aprons ensures safe usage by aircraft, passengers, and crews, and helps protect costly airport safety assets during airport operations.
The runway condition reporting system provides timely, accurate and precise wireless recording and reporting of runway conditions and relays the information directly to aircraft to help ensure safe landings.
Funding of $4,426,845 was provided for these projects through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program.
“The Trail Regional Airport is an important hub for residents, businesses and tourists in the West Kootenay region. This investment will help ensure continued safe and reliable operations for aircraft, passengers and flight crews, while supporting tourism and social and economic development in the region,” said Sajjan.
“Our government recognizes that local airports are major contributors to the economic growth and social well-being of smaller communities. In addition to supporting travel and tourism, local airports are key connectors for business, health care, social services, and emerging resource development sectors. These investments will improve access to safe, efficient and accessible air transportation options, and will help us deliver on our promise to build safer, healthier and stronger communities across Canada,” added Garneau.
