Transport Canada Responds To Questions About Renovations Underway on Cortes Airstrip

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Given the amount of neighbourhood concern about the renovations underway at the Cortes Island airstrip, Cortes Currents asked Transport Canada: Do the owners of private airstrips have a duty to consult with their communities before undertaking extensive expansions?   What will Transport Canada do when, as appears to be the case on Cortes Island, this does not occur?  Sau Sau Liu, Senior Communications Advisor at Transport Canada, replied, “All aerodromes on private property are required to meet the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), regardless of their registration status. Aerodromes that are building a new runway, or increasing the length of a runway by more than 100m or 10%, are required to consult communities, as per Canadian Aviation Regulations 307 and the related Advisory Circular 307.01."  Note that she did not mention hangers and this also implies that there is no requirement to consult if increases to the length of the runway are less than 100m or 10%. Liu continued, “This is a regulatory requirement that compels the aerodrome developer, in advance of construction, to proactively consult with interested parties, with the intent of hearing their comments or objections to the proposed aerodrome’s work and to propose actions to mitigate any concerns. Aerodrome operators may be subject to monetary penalties if they do not properly consult with communities. Concerns can be reported to Transport Canada at:[email protected]." “It is also important to note that the Aeronautics Act and CARs do not absolve an aerodrome proponent from complying with valid provincial or municipal laws of general application. Other federal laws may also be applicable.” “For more information about consultation construction at the Cortes Aerodrome, we recommend you reach out to the aerodrome directly.”