Night air-ambulance service for Texada Island is on its way to being reinstated, says Texada/Gillies Bay Airport manager Russell Storry.
Texada has been without the service for the past nine months. Powell River Regional District, owner and operator of the airport, has been working with a consultant to reinstate night helicopter landings since June.
In January, BC Air Ambulance service provider Helijet suspended service to the island after a Transport Canada investigation into helicopters landing at BC airports not certified for night landings.
“We’ve heard from Transport Canada and we know what the minimum requirements are,” said Storry. “We are just waiting to hear from BC Ambulance and their contractor Helijet to find out if they are comfortable with the minimum regulations, or if they want more.”
BC Air Ambulance service operates as part of the BC Ambulance Service, an agency of BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS).
BCEHS chief executive officer Jodi Jensen said Transport Canada provided some clarification last week that night operations are permitted under specific conditions, including temporary lighting.
“We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to clarify the situation and the modifications required are fairly minor,” said Jensen.
Regional district chair Patrick Brabazon said if the island was deprived of night air-ambulance service because of a bureaucratic problem in the federal government, it was “extremely unfortunate.”
Jensen said the regional district’s consultant and Helijet met after the clarification was sent to confirm lighting and landing procedures.
“There’s just been an identification of some additional turbo flares required to be put in place and a reorientation for Texada Island first responders to make sure they are familiar with the lighting required, to ensure they understand what is required to clear the space and ensure it’s safe for an air ambulance to land,” said Jensen. “We expect that should be completed within the next week or two and then we’ll be able to resume night operations.”
Brabazon said the regional district will be looking at creating a permanent solution for the problem through the construction of a helipad with appropriate lights at the airport.
