The Yorkton Regional Airport apron is earning some extra breathing room for its airplanes thanks to a provincial-municipal government grant.
The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $128,667 in the Yorkton airport through the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program. The money will go towards expanding the airport’s apron (the space where aircraft are parked).
MLA Greg Ottenbreit and Yorkton City councillor Aaron Kienle announced the funding during a press conference at the Yorkton airport on May 18.
“Yorkton has benefited from the Community Airport Partnership,” Kienle said. “Since 2008, we’ve received $1 million in funding for the Yorkton Regional Airport.
“The city has matched those dollars.”
The Government of Saskatchewan launched the CAP program in 2007. CAP doles out funding annually. Eligible applicants must demonstrate the economic and social benefits of their airports, while also being ineligible for the federal government’s Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). CAP has invested $7 million in airports across Saskatchewan over the years.
Last year, Yorkton airport received $46,500 to seal the cracks on its runway and taxiway. This year, it received the second-largest donation in the province. Of the 12 airports that received CAP funding, only the North Battleford airport gained more money than Yorkton, collecting $275,000 for rehabilitation of its runway.
“The Yorkton Regional Airport is the busiest regional airport in southern Saskatchewan,” Ottenbreit said. “[It’s] somwhat unique.”
The airport has recently allowed fixed-base operators (FBOs) to build three hangars near the apron. Samuel Twumasi, Economic Development Officer with the City of Yorkton, said the expanded apron will allow for additional hangars, which will permit more aircraft and customers to visit the airport.
“We’ll be able to expand our taxi base,” he said.
During the press conference, the speakers said the expanded apron didn’t mean a connected airport service would be coming to Yorkton tomorrow, although they didn’t rule it out as a possibility.
“The more investments that are brought here, the more possible [connected service] will be,” Twumasi said. “There has to be a business case for it.”
“I’d love to see a connected service in the Yorkton airport in the near future,” Ottenbreit said.
