Major upgrades planned for Fond du Lac airport

The provincial government is planning extensive upgrades for one of the most remote airports in Saskatchewan, with the aim of making it accessible for larger aircraft.

Procurement documents show the government wants to add 1,200 feet to the 3,800-foot runway at the Fond du Lac airport, about 1,100 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

Other work outlined in the tender includes new runway lights and the rehabilitation of the existing runway, taxiways and apron — all aimed to accommodate “current and anticipated air traffic.”

The province hopes part of the funding will come from the federal government’s Airports Capital Assistance Program, which will provide about $34 million to 14 projects this year.

It isn’t clear when construction will begin, but the documents show the government expects the proponent to file an application to the federal program by Sept. 1.

Fond du Lac Denesuline Nation Chief Louie Mercredi told reporters Thursday he believes the airport, especially the runway, is too small to handle the traffic it currently gets.

“The planes are getting bigger, more people travelling, there’s up to 28,000 people that come through my community on an annual basis,” Mercredi said.

“The (request for proposals) is out for the design and the engineering part, but I’m going to keep lobbying until I see equipment, people working on the runway.”

Fond du Lac is not accessible by road; the only ways in are by air, ice road in the winter and barge in the summer.

The government issued its tender five months after a West Wind Aviation ATR-42 crashed moments after taking off from the airport on the east side of Lake Athabasca.

All 25 people aboard were injured,

some of them critically; 19-year-old Arson Fern Jr. died on Christmas Day, two weeks after suffering serious injuries in the crash.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has not completed its probe of the crash, but in the days afterward investigators ruled out engine failure as a possible cause.

Last month, the watchdog confirmed that the aircraft had not been de-iced and attempted to take off while contaminated with ice — though it stopped short of identifying a specific cause.

Fond du Lac is one of 17 airports, most of which are in northern Saskatchewan, owned by the provincial government.

Together, the airports cost about $2 million each year to maintain.

Crumbling airport infrastructure in other parts of the province has become a significant issue since the Humboldt Broncos bus crash resulted in 11 people being airlifted to hospital.

Some pilots and politicians have said there simply isn’t enough money to maintain privately-owned airports in the province, which don’t qualify for federal funding but are nevertheless vital.

The province spends about $700,000 each year on a program aimed at cost-sharing upgrades for private airports.

More people (are) travelling (with) up to 28,000

... that come through my community on an annual basis.