The Program called the British Columbia Air Access Program is designed to support the connection of communities across the province and build British Columbia's aviation sector's long term potential.
The BCAAP guidelines note that the program will assist airports with funding towards capital infrastructure that meet a number of key conditions.
Help to maintain safe and reliable airport facilities and/or Result in significant, incremental economic benefit.
Projects that are approved for funding will be able to invoice eligible incurred costs from the time an annual call for applications occurs. The province provides its contribution at the completion of the project, or with more complex projects, through milestone payments that will be phased in.
You can review some background on the new BCAAP initiative here, it is part of a larger overview of Aviation by the Government called "Connecting With the World: An Aviation Strategy for British Columbia. More on that blue print for the future on aviation in BC can be found here.
The deadline for submissions related to the BCAAP funding availability is June 22nd. Some of the projects that are eligible for the funding are such items as runway enhancements; lighting; navigation systems, runway extensions; and apron and taxiway improvements.
Many of those items have been part of the list of past and recent work that has taken place at the Digby Island airport, where that leaves Prince Rupert when it comes to the new funding initiative makes for an interesting situation.
It could be that for this new funding program, the prospect of accessing any funding is limited owing to the project timeline already in place, an unfortunate bit of timing considering that the bulk of the work would have fit nicely into the program guidelines.
As noted over the last few years the Prince Rupert Airport Authority, through Prince Rupert City Council borrowed seven million dollars for much needed airport work, some background on the borrowing process and the launch of the renovation project can be reviewed below.
November 2014 -- Councillor Cunningham seeks update on Airport renovations timetable
September 2014 -- Council hears review of Prince Rupert Airport renovation projects to date
July 2014 -- Federal Government provides 10 million dollars towards Airport Runway safety
April 2014 -- Airport loan repayment plan, to cover off portion of city's airport transportation requirement this year
March 2014 -- On buses, boats and planes and the financial pain of airport access
November 2013 -- Airport Approval Process is ready for take off
October 2013 -- A little direction required from City Hall on Airport authorization process
October 2013 -- Airport Loan Authorization Bylaw next up on the city's consultation list
October 2013 -- Council split on airport loan authorization process
August 2013 -- City Council puts Airport Regionalization issue further down the schedule
August 2013 -- City Authorizes agreement with Airport Authority for Airport rehabilitation
March 2013 -- Many kind words, but little funding for airport access initiatives
If the funding window for the current renovation project is closed owing to the application process, the potential to access further funding for future projects will no doubt catch the eye of City officials.
In recent months the challenges in place facing the Airport and its Transportation system between Prince Rupert and the airport have made for a fair bit of discussion.
The scale of the those concerns might fit under the Major projects section of the Air Access Program guidelines, providing the opportunity for Prince Rupert to find a way to at least access some of the new funding for airports that the province is making available.
January 2015 -- Councillor Thorkelson takes issue with some of the Chamber of Commerce Airport Ferry Report findings
December 19 2014 -- Chamber of Commerce Airport Ferry study provides more material for City Council to Review in 2015
More items related to Transportation in the Northwest can be found from our archive page.
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