
Parliamentary Secretary visits Nanaimo Airport to view ARFF Shelter
22 October 2018
Parliamentary Secretary visits Nanaimo Airport to view ARFF shelter
Nanaimo Airport today hosted Terry Beech (MP Burnaby-North Seymour), parliamentary secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport, for a tour of the airport’s newly-completed Aircraft Rescue Firefighting vehicle (ARFF) shelter.
The shelter was funded with the assistance of the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), a Government of Canada program to help local airports get the safety equipment they need and to make safety-related infrastructure improvements.
The building will “help to enhance safe and efficient transportation operations,” said Beech, visiting the airport on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, the Minister of Transport.
“We offer our sincere thanks to our Federal government and the ACAP program for the funding that has been provided to build this shelter,” said Nanaimo Airport Commission chair Lucie Gosselin.
“At the Nanaimo Airport, safety is our Number 1 focus,” added airport CEO Mike Hooper. “Ongoing funding through ACAP allows us to maintain our commitment to providing a safe and secure gateway for travelers. As we grow, we will continue to invest in projects that ensure safety of the public.”
The shelter houses Nanaimo Airport’s ARFF vehicle, firefighting chemicals, and personal protective devices such as face masks, oxygen tanks, and fire resistant clothing.
The airport’s trained fire fighting staff has a three-minute response time to handle on-site emergencies. Additional assistance would be provided by the Cranberry Fire Department and other
local fire departments as required.
The federal ACAP program supports projects that include:
- rehabilitation of runways, taxiways and aprons;
- improvement of airfield lighting and airside electrical systems;
- purchasing snow and ice removal equipment.
“We recognize the important role played by Canada’s local airports in supporting jobs and tourism, enabling investment and facilitating trade,” Beech said during his visit. “Our investments are helping airports increase safety and accessibility for travelers, while supporting the growth of local and
regional economies.”
Nanaimo Airport is on pace for another year of record-setting passenger volumes. A major economic driver for the region, it is forecast to generate $358 million and 2,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2021. The airport is currently expanding its Air Terminal departure lounge as part of a 20-year, $55-million development plan that will proceed according to demand and availability of investment.
About Nanaimo Airport (YCD):
Nanaimo Airport is a 10-minute drive south of downtown Nanaimo on 224 hectares (550 acres), which includes the nearby Cottonwood Golf Course. YCD is a not-for-profit authority owned by the Nanaimo Airport Commission. Vancouver Island’s third largest airport, Nanaimo Airport serves a primary central Vancouver Island area with a total population base of approximately 250,000. The YCD service area extends north from Nanaimo to Qualicum, west to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and south to Duncan and the Cowichan Valley. YCD is ideally situated as the most convenient departure/arrival point for customers from the mid-Island area.