In what could be a major blow to Prime Air’s efforts to start an air service in Pemberton, former Whistler mayor and current MLA Ted Nebbeling has come out in firm support of Intrawest’s airport proposal.
Nebbeling, who is set to retire from provincial politics at the next election, indicated that after years of deliberating Pemberton council would be making a mistake if they continued to endorse Prime Air’s airport proposal.
"To try what Prime Air has tried in the past and has never got off the ground would be the best example of what happens if you try to go with a sub-standard system," said Nebbeling.
"To make Whistler the catalyst (for an airport) you have to think much bigger.
"Quite frankly what they (Pemberton council) have in mind is, in my opinion, not what we’re looking for.
"If they have an airport they should have a quality airport with quality linkages with other airports and people should be able to come in from wherever they live.
"That’s what’s going to make the difference and a success.
"It will certainly create a lot of justification when it comes to job opportunities, not just for the workforce that is there today but for the kids who are growing up there.
"If they make the right decision then I think it will benefit not only Pemberton but the corridor as a whole."
Intrawest and Prime Air are the two companies that have presented airport proposals to Pemberton council.
Prime Air wants to start chartered air services now and build their operation as more capital is generated and work is completed around the airport.
Prime Air has also advocated for Pemberton council to retain control over the airport, rather than establishing an airport authority.
The problem Prime Air has is that it’s been trying to start an air service in Pemberton for more than 10 years.
Intrawest has proposed revamping the entire area over a number of years, installing all the necessary weather equipment and getting the airport classified to accept regularly scheduled passenger aircraft.
It also wants to extend the runway by two kilometres so it can take larger passenger aircraft and elect an airport authority.
Intrawest’s problem is the idea of an airport authority, because the Pemberton council wants to retain control over the airport.
But Nebbeling said the Pemberton council had to engage the private sector if it wants the airport to be developed and contribute to the creation of an airport authority.
"At this stage there is nothing that has been done over the last 10 years," he said.
"The investment made in the past hasn’t really paid off and I think for the provincial government it would certainly be something that they would look at (investing in), but only when there is a solid proposal and an authority to work to make that airport happen.
"I believe there would be substantial interest from the flying public to get to Whistler if regular flights were available.
"The Prime Air people have been around for many years and they have never been able to get it off the ground and quite frankly how many people want to fly to Pemberton?
"People will fly to Pemberton like they fly to small communities outside Banff, to get to Whistler and in order to do that you have to have facilities and you have to have airplanes that can handle the load.
"And we are not talking about jumbo jets, it’s planes up to 100 passengers, so to try what has been tried before they would be doomed to failure again."
Nebbeling explained that the flaws in Prime Air’s plan became clearer when the bigger picture was taken into account.
"It (Prime Air’s proposal) might become questionable if they tried to establish a customs base, for example, and they don’t have enough passengers to justify a customs officer in Pemberton.
"I know in the past they have tried to work with customs but they have not shown any interest under the Prime Air scenario.
"I think it is very timely to at least see a debate within both communities if Pemberton wants to go at it, and they have been trying this for 20 years.
"I think there is an opportunity with the private sector to make it happen."
As a member of the provincial government Nebbeling’s opinion carries some weight, and whoever is successful in developing the airport would need to seek provincial and federal funding.
"As far as funding is concerned you must remember that $540,000 (in the late ’80s) of federal funding was given to the airport proponent for a landing system and of course nothing has happened since then.
"The landing system that was funded with that money was never really used and it wouldn’t be used because technology has gone far beyond what was then available.
"I think what has to happen now is that we need to see proponents, which could come from different elements of the travel and tourism industry, make a deal with the Village of Pemberton.
"At that time, no doubt, part of their approach would be to see… what kind of federal and provincial funding is available."
The next Pemberton council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14th and the airport is expected to be on the agenda.
