Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 12/99) - Thanks to the federal government, the Yellowknife airport is now a little bit safer.

The airport is now using a refurbished fire truck after a $230,350 upgrade.

"The refurbishment program they go through is not just a touch-up on the engine and a tune up," said director of Arctic Airports Jim Winsor.

"It's a full overhaul and it comes off the assembly line with a new vehicle warranty on it. The cost of doing this is probably half what it would cost to buy a new truck so this is an economical way to go about it."

The refurbished truck has a capacity of 5,500 litres and can spray 3,000 litres per minute.

Before the upgrade, it could hold 4,500 litres and spray 2,000 litres per minute.

"It's for situations like when the Martinair flight came into Yellowknife (for an emergency landing this fall from Amsterdam) with one engine. We were on full standby alert and everyone was ready to respond," Winsor said.

Winsor then suggested other hypothetical situations where emergency equipment is used.

"An example would be if a plane is coming in and a light comes on that says there is a problem with the landing gear. The pilot may not know for sure that there is a problem, but there would be people and equipment on the ground at the ready," he said.

"Or it could be a small plane coming in with one engine out. There might also be a problem with hydraulics."

"I would be the happiest person in the world if the new vehicle never had to turn a wheel," said airport manager Tom Cook.

"Every time there is a need for an emergency standby or emergency presence, that vehicle along with personnel will attend. It's an insurance item."

But Cook said what is just as significant as getting the new truck is being considered eligible to have upgrades paid for through the federal airports capital assistance program.

The program started in 1995 and this is the first project that has been approved for the Yellowknife airport through the program.

In future, Cook said some possibilities for future projects include moving the location of a ditch that isn't in a certified position, repaving the airport's main runway and upgrading the approach lights.