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$275,000 will help give North Battleford Airport a lift

Jun 18, 2016 | 4:26 PM

The Airport in North Battleford is getting a hefty sum of money to smooth out its runways.

The airport is receiving $275,000 of the $700,000 the Government of Saskatchewan is investing towards the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) Program. The program enhances infrastructure at community and regionally-owned airports.

“It’s a great project,” James Puffalt, North Battleford city manager said. “We have studies that show there’s a definite life time to the runways. We will be doing a quarter of the runways per year and look to get them done over a four-year time period.”

Puffalt said he believes the reason North Battleford received so much was because they made a great case for a rehab of the runways.

The project is part of North Battleford’s Asphalt Program and is expected to begin in the fall.

A committee composed of the Saskatchewan Aviation Council, the Regina and Saskatoon Airport Authorities and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure review the funding eligibility for the CAP Program.

Airports must support economic development, accessibility and safety to qualify for funding. North Battleford’s Airport is not used commercially but services STARS Air Ambulances and airmail planes.

Since 2007, the government has invested $5.7 million in 36 locally-owned airports through the CAP Program.

Carlyle Airport is receiving the second most funding of $68,252 to widen taxiway at the east end and expand the existing apron area.

The North Battleford Airport was built during World War II as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After the war it was called North Battleford Cameron McIntosh Airport, after Cameron Ross McIntosh, a Canadian politician and newspaper publisher in North Battleford.

 

ghiggins@jpbg.ca

@realgreghiggins