Does Penticton need an airport?

Dear editor: In response to the revelation that Public Works Canada has plans for a major reconfiguration of the Penticton Airport (YYF) terminal building, I offer the following justification for closing the airport:

• Taxpayer subsidies: Last year YYF recorded revenues of $965,000, operating expenditures of $1.2 million and a net operating loss of $245,000. The cumulative operating loss over five years was $1.4 million, increasing to $6.2 million with the addition of amortization expense. Capital expenditures over five years were $14.4 million. The terminal renovation and expansion project is expected to add another $5 million to the $33 million in assets already invested by Canadians.

• Public health and safety: In 2016, YYF reported 15,549 local aircraft movements — predominantly low-level flight training. The risk of injury, death and property damage increases with frequency and altitude of those flights. Excessive noise from aircraft is a recognized contributor to stress in humans and animals.

Transport Canada (TC) appears unwilling to monitor and enforce regulations intended to address these risks, relying instead on pilots to selfpolice. The TC website outlines comprehensive measures for addressing aircraft noise issues, none of which have been implemented at YYF.

• Soil and groundwater pollution: Aviation gasoline contains tetraethyl lead which is dispersed into our environment and accumulates in soil and groundwater. Lead was eliminated from motor gasoline in 1990 because of toxic effects on people and animals, yet continues to be permitted for aviation use. Since the federal government has no timeline for eliminating lead in aviation fuel, the only way to stop it falling into our backyards is to relocate planes that burn it.

• Zoning restrictions: TC currently limits the height of buildings within CoP boundaries to 45.7 meters (approximately 10 storeys) which restricts the ability of city council, city planners and property developers to achieve population density targets in strategic areas of the city.

• Social justice: Land appropriated by the federal government in 1949 should be returned to the Penticton Indian Band who would ideally repurpose it for agricultural, recreational, residential and commercial use. A new residential community would help address the chronic shortage of affordable accommodations so desperately needed in the Penticton area.

• Airfare premiums: YYF serves two markets with scheduled service — Vancouver and Calgary — both of which are well served by Kelowna International Airport. Because of limited service and lack of competition the cost of a round-trip flight to Vancouver is $50 to $150 more from YYF.

Consolidating flights at YLW could make reliable low-cost ground transportation between Penticton and Kelowna more viable.

I believe it is essential for those who benefit financially and otherwise from the existence of Penticton Airport to make their case to taxpayers — and Penticton/PIB area citizens — for keeping this airport open and justify why we need to continue to pay the social, environmental and financial penalties for doing so. Patrick Gayler Penticton