Deputy Mayor Don Cody, Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Airport Manager Cory Nygaard pose in front of one of the pieces of equipment purchased with support from the federal government. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Airport improvements

Local airport shows off new safety equipment

Sep 5, 2019 | 3:30 PM

The Prince Albert Airport is showing off some of its new equipment and infrastructure which the city says will make the facility safer for users.

This year with funds from the federal government, the airport purchased a new grader to better clear runways and other areas. There are also plans to upgrade the runway lighting.

Airport Manager Corey Nygaard said the new lighting will be a big help for pilots, while also being more efficient and easier for staff to use.

“On the main paved runway, the lights at each end [are] very specific to help the pilots realize where the beginning of the runway is and where the end of the runway is,” he said.

Nygaard said they are working to apply for more grants to pay for more equipment.

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On Thursday, federal Minister for Fisheries and Oceans Jonathan Wilkinson made a stop to get a first-hand look at the equipment and upgrades.

According to the City of Prince Albert, since 2016 the airport received nearly $2 million from Ottawa to pay for upgrades and equipment. The new equipment has included blower and a sweeper along with equipment to help with runway condition reporting. Last year federal funds were used to build a sand storage facility. In 2012 the federal government committed nearly $6 million to repave the runway.

Speaking to media after his tour, Wilkinson said putting money into airports like P.A.’s helps the overall community.

“These are the kinds of investments that actually allow mid-sized communities to function and grow and I think this is actually what the federal government should be doing,” he said.

Wilkinson added it’s important to support mid-sized airports to improve safety. He said smaller airports don’t have access to the same resources as facilities in larger places where airport authorities are able to access more resources.

“They have the same kinds of challenges and it’s incumbent on the federal government and obviously in some cases the provincial government, to step up and ensure that you’re providing the kinds of infrastructure investments that will help communities to thrive,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Don Cody said upgrades for the city’s airport are important on a variety of fronts.

“We like to have our airport as safe as possible and this is certainly of those things that gives us safety and secondly airports are becoming far more of an economic development driver,” he said.

Cody added the city has a good working relationship with Transport Canada over the last three years and that they couldn’t do the work without their support.

Going forward the city is working to put together a committee which Cody said will look at what can be done at the airport to help grow the economy. Cody said the airport has seen a downturn which he attributed to the slow down of uranium mining in the North. In terms of growth the long-time city councillor sees tourism potential.

“We think there’s more things that can be done here,” he said.

Cory Nygaard, shows Deputy Mayor Don Cody and Minister Jonathan Wilkinson in the sand storage building (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn