June 25, 2025
RED FM News Desk
SURREY, BC – The Province is investing $6.2 million this year through the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) to support 16 crucial airport upgrades across British Columbia, with a focus on meeting the specific needs of local communities.
These projects span a range of vital improvements, including runway enhancements in Comox, Courtenay, and Vanderhoof. The funding will also establish a permanent heliport to serve the isolated community of Tipella, which will be instrumental for air ambulance services and medical visits. Other key upgrades include wildlife-exclusion fencing at Fort St. James, improved weather monitoring at Fairmont Hot Springs, and essential lighting and fuel system upgrades at several airports to boost safety.
“From wildfire suppression to air-ambulance operations, from high-value tourism to connecting Indigenous and rural communities within our province and beyond, the B.C. Air Access Program supports our economy and society,” stated Cathy Press, chair of the BC Aviation Council.
British Columbia boasts over 300 public airports, heliports, and water aerodromes, all vital for connecting communities, driving the economy, and ensuring public safety. While airports fall under federal jurisdiction, the Province acknowledges the critical role smaller airports play for their local areas. Since 2017, the BCAAP has committed over $70 million in grants to infrastructure projects at 80 air facilities, including this latest announcement.
The program is specifically designed to support facilities that serve fewer than one million passengers annually. Eligible applicants can apply during the open intake period each year throughout November and December.
Key upgrades include substantial runway improvements in areas like Comox ($2 million for apron expansion), Courtenay ($66,300 for taxiway and runway rehabilitation), and Vanderhoof ($366,465 for widening runway ends). Isolated communities are also set to benefit, with Tipella receiving $1.2 million to construct a permanent heliport, crucial for air ambulance services. Other notable projects involve a fuel system upgrade in Burns Lake ($802,297), wildlife-exclusion fencing at Fort St. James ($310,727), and various lighting and electrical enhancements in locations such as Dawson Creek ($90,153), Nanaimo ($74,630), and Prince George ($469,480). Additionally, funding is allocated for facility master plans in Alert Bay ($35,000) and Smithers ($35,000), a refueller truck replacement in Masset ($392,883), and fuel-dispensing cabinet replacements in Williams Lake ($233,127), among other vital improvements designed to boost regional air travel and community connections.
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