The 100 Mile House Airport operation is flying smoothly, says airport spokesperson Ken Greenhall.
The District of 100 Mile House took over the operations of the airport a couple of years ago.
As the airport contact and one of the hanger owners, Greenhall says the hanger owners get along great with the District.
He adds all of the hanger fees go towards paying the costs to maintain the airport.
The overnight visitor traffic is stable, Greenhall says, adding it’s because the 100 Mile House Airport is more convenient and has nearly all the services available within walking distance of the airport.
“We are one of the only airports where pilots can land their plane and walk across the street to have something to eat or find a motel room for the night,” Greenhall says, adding that is why there is a lot of visiting traffic.
While there is no fuel available at the 100 Mile House Airport, Greenhall says he feels it is a small issue because there are 24-hour fuel services at the South Cariboo Regional Airport at the 108 Mile Ranch.
“The pilots know which airports have fuel, and if someone needs fuel, they just stop in at 108 before continuing their flight.”
As contact for the airport, Greenhall says he receives about 50 calls a year from Transport Canada, Canadian Armed Forces and others needing weather reports, runway conditions or information on “overdue” pilots.
“I’m available 24/7. I live close by and most issues can be looked after in 20 minutes.”
Greenhall says he believes the contact for the airport should be someone local and it should be a pilot who can provide accurate aviation weather reports.
There are around 50 Medivac helicopter trips to and from the 100 Mile House Airport annually, Greenhall explains.
“The ones that land at the 100 Mile airport are usually critical calls, life-and-death issues, with the helicopter rotors still going as the ambulance arrives.”
He says these patients are then flown to either the Kamloops or Kelowna hospital, adding Medivac helicopters still land at the South Cariboo Regional Airport, but they are usually for patient transfer.
Greenhall says he doesn’t receive pay for being the contact for the airport.
“It’s totally a volunteer situation. Everyone volunteers to do something and this is what I do.”
He has lived in the area since 1953 and got his pilot licence in 1966.
