The South Cariboo Regional airport at 108 Mile Ranch was recently awarded a grant by the provincial government.
MLA for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett made the announcement June.29/2016 on the airport runway.
“The South Cariboo Regional Airport applied to the provincial government for funding for the graveling and grading for the runway and taxi areas at the 108 airport, so I am pleased to announce that they applied for $18,350 which they are the recipients of the full amount that they applied for.”
Barnett says the airport is the main access point to the South Cariboo for commercial flights, medevacs, RCMP, and firefighting flights and this grant will help improve the safety on the runways.
Airport Manager Nick Christianson explains what the money from the grant will be used for.
“Whats happening is the runway edges are deteriorating and the gravel has been washed away over the years and the water is starting to seep under so its actually to put a layer of gravel on the edge of the pavement and compact it to stop the water seepage from underneath and give it some more life so we don’t lose it.”
Christianson also says the help received from the grant keeps the airport safe for flights including medevacs.
“Both the CRD and the provincial government especially have been really helpful in maintaining this airstrip, it’s very important for the medevacs in the area, we do near 100 medevacs out of here every year, so a lot of peoples lives have been saved because this airport is here.”
Aircraft movements have more than tripled at the airport since 2011.
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