Flashing lights bode well for airport
By Kyra Hoggan
Airport manager (and fire chief) Gerry Rempel said residents need not be alarmed if they see flashing red lights on the mountainsides surrounding Castlegar.
He said the lights will indicate the testing of the airport’s new beacons, a million-dollar project that will soon, hopefully, allow for nighttime departures from the airport.
“There are six red beacons on the mountainsides,” Rempel told city council at its regular meeting Monday night. “I’ll be doing regular testing of them to make sure they’re working properly, like we do with any and all emergency equipment.”
He said the city has applied to the Ministry of Transport for approval of the beacons’ installation, and he hopes to hear back in the next couple of months.
In related news, Rempel said air-tanker-base improvements begun at the airport this spring are now complete, including a larger apron and other improvements that allow for the refilling of two air tankers simultaneously – an important time-saver when a forest fire is raging.
“It’s all working great,” he said.
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