After pilots and some airport tenants made it clear they didn’t approve of plans to charge landing fees, the city won’t be going ahead with them.
Piston-powered aircraft will remain able to come and go from the Campbell River airport without paying landing fees, council decided last week.
However, they did approve going ahead with some other new fees, allowing the airport to charge for services that were previously provided for free. Those include fees for aircraft towing, permits, gate keys and area passes.
At their regular meeting last week council gave first, second and third readings to amendments for the Airport Operation, Maintenance and Management Amendment Bylaw. In a previous report to Council, the bylaw proposed landing fees for piston-powered aircraft, it has now been removed.
The landing fees were nearly universally condemned in numerous letters and comments from local pilots and some businesses at the airport.
The city says it’s trying to balance support for the aviation industry, while covering some of the airport’s costs.
Council will give final approval to the bylaw amendments at a future meeting.
