The Columbia Valley Airport Society is inviting you to it’s first public open house.
You will be able to learn about the Fairmont Hot Springs Airport while participating in family-friendly activities and welcoming pilots as they fly in for the event from all over Canada.
Society Secretary Andrea Tubbs says the airport is entirely volunteer operated.
“Especially during wildfire season, but throughout the year there are planes almost daily in and out of the airport,” says Tubbs. “It could be private planes, it could be air ambulance from Golden all the way down to Canal Flats, there’s helicopters in and out, there’s military training from time to time, lots of different user of the airport.”
Tubbs says the open house will show the airports improvements, funded with a $242,528 funding grant from the Provincial Government.
“Crack sealing, weed pulling, which sounds silly but if weeds get all the way through the whole runway then it deteriorates the entire structure, and the runway is 6,000 feet long, so it’s quite a large thing to maintain,” she says. “The volunteers have also removed some old buildings on the site, they take care of grass cuttings, weed pulling and other general maintenance.”
The open house is happening at the airport from 8:30 am to 11:00 am August 27.
View more information from Columbia Valley Airport Society below:
The Columbia Valley Airport Society is hosting its first public open house and aircraft fly-in event on August 27 from 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the Columbia Valley Airport (5192 Fairmont Airport Road).
The event focuses on raising public awareness of the airport’s role in safety and security for the Columbia Valley, with the opportunity to view airplanes, have breakfast and more.
“We recognize that many residents and visitors alike don’t know there’s a public airport located in Fairmont,” says Pascal van Dijk, President, Columbia Valley Airport Society “and we know there is much less public awareness about the importance that the airport plays for public safety in the Columbia Valley.”
The airport has undergone many changes and infrastructure investments since the Columbia Valley Airport Society began overseeing it in April 2020; changes include an all volunteer staff, removal of old buildings, significant runway/taxiway and apron maintenance, updating of fueling services, updating of washrooms (in progress), many with financial support from the Regional District East Kootenay and the Province of British Columbia.
The Airport Runway Refurbishment Project included a significant refurbishment of the runway, apron and runway markings was made possible with a $242,528 funding grant under the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program, from the Province of British Columbia.
The changes and investments over the last two years at the airport have been made through a continued focus by the Society on upholding the standards preferred by frequent users of the airport such as BC Air Ambulance and BC Wildfire Service.
The Society recognizes the importance of this public asset for the safety and security of the Columbia Valley.
Visitors to the event will be able to learn about the airport’s history, who currently uses the airport and how the airport is operated.
This family friendly event will offer a pancake breakfast available by donation to the Windermere Lions Club, games for kids of all ages, information from BC Wildfire Services, a 50/50 raffle and helicopter tours, for a fee, offered by Glacier Helicopters.
More information about the event can be found here.
– Submitted by Columbia Valley Airport Society
– Andrea Tubbs, Columbia Valley Airport Society secretary
Comments