Salmon Arm is fortunate enough to have a great regional airport which serves and benefits surrounding communities.
Sunday, June 22, is the day to celebrate the many medevac, commercial, recreational, and wildfire-fighting users who depend on and enjoy Shuswap Regional Airport.
Airport Appreciation Day is a bi-annual event to let the public see what aviation and local emergency service activities are all about, and to enjoy meeting and speaking with people who work and play in these activities. The last event in 2023 attracted more than 1,600 aviation, car and emergency service enthusiasts and curious members of the public.
First, a little history about Salmon Arm鈥檚 airport.
Going back to the mid-1930s, float planes used Salmon Arm's shores near where the current wharf is situated. The original airstrip in town was established for small aircraft at Minion Field, bordering 30th St. S.E. and the Trans-Canada Highway, but the approach near Mount Ida, powerlines to the north and morning fog were hazards that could not be tolerated if larger aircraft were to serve the community,
In 1966/67 flight training began at Minion Field, which led to the formation of the Salmon Arm Flying Club.
By 1968, the forward-thinking district and councils started looking for a safer and larger site. Tireless efforts were made in 1970 by Salmon Arm Flying Club volunteers and local contractors, including Bill Angle, Jack Brook, Zappone Brothers, Watson Construction, A.D. Booth, Blackburns and Emil Anderson Construction. They worked nights and weekends to construct the first gravel runway at the current airport site, often volunteering their own heavy equipment.
The new runway was numbered 12 and 30, reflecting the compass direction at each end of the runway. By the late 1970s, the realigned, 4,751-foot (almost 1,300 metres) runway became 14-32, with a paved taxiway and apron. It has recently been repaved and widened, along with improved navigation aids and LED runway lights.
This year, Airport Appreciation Day will have activities for young and old, including firefighters from regional communities who will demonstrate their emergency response skills as they compete against each other鈥檚 teams; the sky diving club will drop in, so to speak; and, local and visiting aircraft, such as the formation flying team, the Snowflakes, and some vintage aircraft and unusual visiting aircraft. There will also be a vintage car collection to look over.
If you are interested in historic aviation, there will be tents for the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) and the marvellous KF Centre for Excellence Museum from 91大黄鸭. The Air Cadets also plan to have a small flight simulator to try out.
If the wildfire situation allows, Rapattack firefighters stationed by the airport may shake things up a bit with their powerful choppers that make a dramatic sound and can really stir the blood.
The gates will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Entry is by donation so feel free to pay what you can. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be on sale, along with pop and lemonade to quench the thirst of families and friends who want a fun and informative day at the airport.
Looking forward to seeing you there for some family fun.
John Crook is a member of the Salmon Arm Flying Club
