Editor:
In my opinion, the airport runway extension project is vital to the economic growth of the Sunshine Coast.
I have lived and worked on the Coast since 1978. Having extensively travelled all over the world, I know how important an airport with reliable scheduled service is for a community.
Some readers suggest the present situation is adequate. It is not — far from it.
There is no scheduled service. The runway is too short, which makes it impossible to transport critically ill patients from the Coast in all weather conditions. The helicopter service is great, but they cannot operate in icing conditions (an average of 15 days a year). The floatplane service only operates in daylight hours and limits the baggage to 25 pounds.
Certain mayoral candidates and councillors have taken the airport expansion issues on to their platform. They offer no alternatives.
This project has been well researched over the last three years and certainly would make very good use of a totally underutilized asset.
Hans K. Kuck, Sechelt
