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VICTORIA — This year, the Province of B.C. is investing $6.2 million through the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) to support 16 airport upgrades that span the province.

Projects include:

• runway improvements in Comox, Courtenay and Vanderhoof;
• a permanent heliport to serve the isolated community of Tipella, supporting air ambulance and visits by medical practitioners;
• wildlife-exclusion fencing at Fort St. James;
• upgraded weather monitoring at Fairmont Hot Springs; and
• lighting and fuel system upgrades at several airports to improve safety.

B.C. has more than 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes, and while under federal jurisdiction, the province states in a release it recognizes the importance of smaller airports to their communities. Since 2017, including this announcement, BCAAP has committed more than $70 million in grants to infrastructure projects at 80 air facilities.

The program is open to facilities that serve fewer than one million passengers per year. BCAAP has an open intake for all eligible applicants every year throughout November and December.