Trail’s airport manager says work is underway to reinstate a flight approach to the airport that has helped planes land in less-than-ideal weather.
Enrico Moehrle told city council this week the airport has five different approaches, but only one is a straight-in approach that doesn’t require planes to circle before landing.
However, that approach is no longer authorized due to new Transport Canada criteria. Moehrle said while they tried some things to address the problem, nothing worked. So as of this month, planes are no longer able to use that approach.
The straight approach has been “crucial” for Pacific Coastal Airlines and medevac operations because it allows reliable access to Trail “during frequent marginal weather conditions” in the fall and winter, Moehrle said.
The airport is working with Pacific Coastal Airlines through JetPro, the consulting company that manages local approach procedures, to find a way to reinstate the straight-in approach
“So this is an ongoing thing we’re working on,” Moehre said. “Based on preliminary conversations with JetPro, it might involve having to design a new approach, but we’re not there yet.”
City councillor Thea Hanson, who co-chairs the airport advisory committee, said Pacific Coastal and JetPro are seeking an exemption from Transport Canada. She expects city council will be asked to write a letter of support.
Moehrle said he has received an impact statement from Pacific Coastal and is seeking one from BC Emergency Health Services as well. He said they may ask for letters of support from the community as well.
Passenger counts up
Moehrle reported the airport had 1,913 inbound and outbound passengers in April, an increase of about 130 compared to the same month of 2025. So far every month this year has had more passengers than the same month last year.
Of 57 scheduled flights in April, five were cancelled due to weather, three were cancelled due to planned maintenance, and two were cancelled due to last-minute maintenance. The other 47 made it in or out as scheduled.
The airport is also starting a tree removal/pruning project this week that will continue until June 5. Fifteen dead trees will be removed along Highway 22A and 17 other trees will be pruned. It’s intended to prevent damage to the airport’s wildlife management fence.
No grant for master plan
Moehrle said the airport didn’t receive funding toward a master plan from Transport Canada’s airport assistance capital program, simply due to the large number of applicants and a limited program budget.
But the airport will move ahead with the plan anway. A request for proposals is expected to be issued in the next few months and the airport will ask the city for about $35,000 to make up for the federal funding that it didn’t receive.
Moehle said the airport wasn’t successful either with a funding application for a loader and side-mounted snowblower. However, the request has been resubmitted for 2027.
