The South Cariboo Regional Airport at 108 Mile Ranch is taking the next step toward approval for a new Global Positioning System (GPS) of navigational aid.
CRD Area L Director Bruce Rattray, who chairs the South Cariboo Regional Airport Commission, says a contract was awarded to survey the flight paths according to Transport Canada requirements.
He adds the survey developed a kind of 3D template to test for sufficient areas in the obstacle-free zones around the runway, as part of the requirements of the federal government’s approval process for the airport’s GPS system.
“When Transport Canada came in to check it, they found there were a number of trees and poles that interfered with the protected space in and around the airport.”
Until the clearing of these trees and power poles is completed, the GPS approvals can’t go forward, Rattray notes.
“Once that’s cleared up, we can resubmit and seek the Transport Canada approval.”
Airport manager Nick Christianson says this involves significant work to move about 16 poles and the power lines attached to them.
“They have to be all removed alongside the highway there, that’s a major overhaul. It’s a big project for BC Hydro.
“It should have been done years ago, but [Transport Canada] sort of grandfathered it, but this time around, they didn’t let it go.”
The GPS aircraft control system will allow pilots to take off and land much more safely, and enables instrument landings and take-offs in conditions of poor weather and low visibility, which is often impossible with the current system.
Christianson explains this is critical for the firefighting and medical evacuation (medevac) aircraft that use the regional airport as their base.
“We did 70 medevacs out at 108 last year.”
