Government money for airport upgrades

The Prince Rupert Regional Airport has received an infusion of cash from the federal government in order to upgrade its electrical system.

A new generator and improvements to the runway lighting system is on the 2 million dollar agenda as the airport prepares for a period of growth spurred on by the container port development.

The Daily News featured the developments on its front page Wednesday.

AIRPORT FLYING HIGH AFTER OTTAWA HANDS OVER $2 M
Money will help improve facilities before anticipated boom in passengers
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Pages one and three

The Prince Rupert Regional Airport has received almost $2 million in federal funds for work that the average passenger may never notice.

But it’s important stuff, said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

“This is great news. It’s regrettable this isn’t the sort of thing that is going to be visible to passengers, it’s not going to make the world obviously better. But it’s necessary work and it very much keeps the Prince Rupert airport in the game and speaks strongly of the federal government’s view of the Prince Rupert airport,” said Pond.

William MacNeil, airport manager, explained that the funds will go toward upgrading the airport’s electrical system.

“What we are doing is replacing all the underground cabling that connects to the lights on the runway,” said MacNeil. “We are changing over our emergency generator because that’s at the end of its life… we are changing the electrical mechanism on the two security gates that we have… and replacing a lot of the components in the electrical field centre is to bring up to the current standard.”

The funding is provided under the Government of Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program. Prince Rupert will receive $1,903,892 to pay for more than 80 per cent of the total estimated cost for airfield electrical systems restoration.

It’s good news, given that Prince Rupert should see an increase in airport traffic beginning with the opening of the Fairview Container Terminal, said Pond.

“It’s an upgrade, improving what we have there,” said MacNeill.

“It needs to be replaced before it collapses and we are trying to be proactive about replacing things,”

The upgrades will also make Prince Rupert’s airport current with regulations.

For example, some of the standards for the spacing of lighting on the runway have changed and this will now be brought up to code.

The airport is still seeking funding for the remaining 20 per cent of the electrical upgrade, including electrical cabling to the NAV Canada sites.

However, MacNeil is hopeful this additional funding will be in place in time to allow for the completion of the work this year.

“We have the bulk of the funding done through the Airport Capital Assistance Program,” he said. “We hope to complete it all in 2007.”

The Airports Capital Assistance Program finances capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction.

“The safety and security of the traveling public is a top priority for Canada’s New Government,” said federal Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon, who mad the funding announcement. “These projects will improve airport safety and protect Canadians. They will also boost the economic potential of the airports and surrounding communities.”