Prince George is the site for a top-flight meeting next week., when the city's airport authority will host a two-day gathering of the BC Aviation Council.
"This is the first time the BCAC has hosted an event outside of the Lower Mainland," said Lindsay Cotter, manager of marketing and communications at the Prince George Airport.
The reason Prince George was chosen, said BCAC officials, is the economic activity happening across the northern region, which is having a positive effect on the air transportation industry. Economic development in the north is the main item on the agenda.
"Oil and gas companies have done it. Mining companies have done it. Hydros done it. And now the BC Aviation Council is doing it," said Mark Duncan, chair of the BCAC referring to its northern choice.
"Economic development and the role played by the regions airports will be front and center as industry leaders gather to discuss how aviation infrastructure keeps pace with rapid growth in this booming part of the country," Duncan said. Traditionally, weve held our airport forums in the southern part of the province, primarily in Metro Vancouver. But lately, weve seen exceptional passenger growth and new carriers and businesses at our northern airports as they scale up to meet the demands of energy companies and resource developers."
Scott Clements, CEO of Fort McMurray International Airport, will be a keynote luncheon speaker describing techniques he has used to meet 30 per cent year-over-year growth and sharing solutions with Northern BC Airports.
Topics for discussion will include airport safety, security, new airport regulations, economic impacts, funding models for key infrastructure expansion, airport law, aviation history with author Trelle Morrow, and more.
The meetings take place Wednesday and Thursday. Some of the events will be held in the acclaimed architectural environs of the Prince George Airport terminal and some of the meetings will be held at the Ramada Hotel downtown.
Anyone interested or involved in aviation or the air transportation (passengers and cargo) sector is invited to attend. There are rates for BCAC members, non-members and students, and price options for specific events within the conference. For more information visit their website at bcaviationcouncil.org.
