Fond du Lac chief renews calls for runway upgrades two years after deadly plane crash

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“In the 1970s, they built the runway for small Piper aircraft,” he said. “Our community has grown. The only way in or out for people, services, medication and food for most of the year is with bigger aircraft, but they use the same small runway.”

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Earlier this year, Fond du Lac received $12 million from the federal government’s Airport Capital Assistance Program and $1.8 million from the provincial government. The money is meant to provide upgrades including the addition of high-intensity lighting, runway markings and resurfacing the runway. The work is supposed to commence in the summer of 2020, but Mercredi would like upgrades to start in the spring with a commitment to lengthen and widen the runway later.

West Wind Aviation CEO Michael Rodyniuk would also like improvements happen to the runway. He stated last year the Canadian Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations for enhancements in northern aviation as a result of the crash.

“West Wind has deployed de-icing vehicles and equipment, however, the runway is the same,” Rodyniuk said. “These are short, narrow airfields. Our flight crew must be on their game to carry out operations in the North. While our operation is safe and regulatory compliant, a wider and longer runway with the associated navigational aids would improve our operations into Fond du Lac.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno