Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (July 20/01) - A $258,464 repair was made at Fort Simpson's airport last weekend, before anyone has even seen a report with recommendations about its future.

A large dip in the runway was resurfaced amidst pressure from the territorial government on small aviation companies to stop using an airstrip right in the community.

The main airport, 16 kilometres from the village, is underutilized because the charter airlines prefer the in-town airstrip. A study that will be used by the government to plan airport improvements is almost finished, says one of its authors, Kevin Hodgins. The wide-ranging assessment and development plan will be turned over to the Transportation Department within a month, he said.

Citing safety, local pilots fighting to maintain the in-town airstrip aren't questioning the resurfacing.

"They had to fix it, it was getting worse and beginning to be unsafe," said Wolverine Air owner Chris Yarrow. He suggest timing the repair work just before the report's release may not be a co-incidence.

Project engineer Bill Chapel said the 110-metre-long dip has forced planes to overshoot the first 500-metres of the 2000-metrerunway.