Airport services unchanged
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Service levels at the Williams Lake Regional Airport will remain as they are, at least for now, says NAV CANADA, which has decided to defer further studies on the airport and its flight services station until at least fall of 2010.
In February, NAV CANADA released a paper containing proposals for changes to airport traffic services at a number of airports.
NAV Canada had proposed to close Williams Lake Regional Airport’s flight services station, following the completion of the first phase of its level of service review.
The company had been planning to remote services now provided on site to another location.
Quesnel would also be affected if Williams Lake flight services were remoted since Quesnel’s services are remoted to Williams Lake.
According to NAV CANADA’s Discussion Paper on Airport Services Review, traffic at the Williams Lake airport has been declining since 2006, which saw a total annual movement of 15,450.
In 2007, movement dropped to 12,706, and in 2008, from January to December, traffic declined a further nine per cent “and is well below that normally requiring an on site FSS.”
According to an airport traffic service review update from NAV CANADA, the company recognizes that traffic levels are currently depressed due to uncertainty in the global and local economy and other related factors.
Traffic levels across Canada were six per cent lower in 2009 than in the fiscal year of 2008 as measured in weighted charging units, the company says.
“Rather than risk making decisions on airport level of service requirements based on temporary factors, the company has decided that it will not complete the required aeronautical studies at this time but will instead continue to monitor traffic levels and service requirements at the subject airports,” the update says. “We anticipate this deferral will remain in place until at least the fall of 2010.”
After that time, examinations might find that adjustments in service levels are warranted, NAV CANADA says.
If so, consultation and traffic analysis will be updated and aeronautical studies completed as per legislative and regulatory requirements.
Dave Ligertwood, a CAW local 2245 shop-steward for flight service in Williams Lake, says the decision is good news.
“I think our staff will be really happy about that,” Ligertwood says. “It’s good for the flying public. It means that level of safety will remain at least until then (fall 2010).”
Ligertwood adds that about six or seven people work at the station. Those jobs, he says, would have been lost from the local economy if the station was closed.
He says while he doesn’t know why NAV CANADA made the decision, he says it may be due to political pressure NAV CANADA and the federal government received.
A coalition comprised of the Cariboo Regional District and its four member municipalities — the District of 100 Mile House, the District of Wells, the City of Quesnel, and the City of Williams Lake — had been formed to lobby to keep services.
The local governments were joined in their efforts by the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA), as well as the Chambers of Commerce within the Cariboo.
According to the Cariboo Regional District, many aviators were concerned that the proposed curtailed service levels would have a detrimental impact on safety levels.
Local government leaders and the business community were also concerned that the changes would have had a negative impact on the region’s economic recovery.
“While we appreciate NAV CANADA’s decision to curtail any further consideration at this time, we require greater certainty to aid our efforts in renewing our economy,” says CRD chair Al Richmond.
“We ask NAV CANADA to agree to a five-year period in which no further service downgrades will be considered. That will provide the certainty required for businesses to make investment decisions that will assist in seeing the economy of our region recover and flourish.”
“We are relieved by this decision, as a downgrading of service levels would have provided another challenge to our travel sector that we just don’t need,” says CCCTA board past chair Pat Corbett.
“We thank the CRD and the municipalities for their leadership in dealing with this issue.”
v2
