BCGA’s Jim Tiviotdale Continues To Make Progress for General Aviation In The Skeena Valley

BCGA member and local pilot Jim Tiviotdale is continuing his work to improve General Aviation at both Terrace Airport (CYXT) and Kitimat Airport (CBW2). Jim just won’t take no for an answer and for that we are grateful! 

Jim has spent the past year advocating for General Aviation in the Terrace, Kitimat and Skeena region. In an article that we published in September of 2019  titled: Progress for GA at Terrace Airport Thanks to Local Pilot, Jim shares his struggles in having his voice heard as he tried to make his concerns known in the area as they pertain to the GA climate. 

Jim’s greatest challenge was an airport manager that failed to see the positive impact of having a GA friendly airport and a local newspaper that refused to publish his letters for political reasons, namely having the airport as a key advertiser and the fact that newspaper publisher was also a sitting airport director. 

Refusing to give up Jim showed the persistence of an Ox and eventually had his letter published and secured a meeting with the President of the airport. We gave Jim full autonomy to speak on behalf of the BCGA and speak on our behalf he did! So much so that the airport sent an email to the BCGA to verify that Jim had our permission to be a spokesperson. 

Jim’s concerns were heard and the airport committed to providing seasonal tie downs at a reasonable fee for local and transient pilots although they did not commit to reducing the airports record high fee structure. 

In the lead up to the Federal Election at an all candidates meeting hosted by the Terrace Chamber of Commerce Jim posed the following question to the hopeful new Members of Parlaiment:

“Over the past 3 years the Terrace Kitimat Airport Society has received in excess of $22,000,000 of federal funding, taxpayer’s money. As candidates, what are your positions and views of the airport management’s practices and policies of turning away and discouraging the safety and economic benefits that general aviation could provide the Terrace Kitimat areas of your riding?”

We continue our wait to see meaningful progress at the Terrace Airport and thank Jim for his efforts. 

Jim isn’t the type to sit around and wait. Not when there is a viable General Aviation alternative just 18 nautical miles south in the Skeena Valley. In a two pronged approach, Jim is leading the charge to rejuvenate the smaller gravel runway wearing Kitimat Airport (CBW2). Jim’s mission is to secure funding to resurface the airport’s 3000ft runway and to add improved helicopter facilities. 

Jim appeared before the District of Kitimat Council and was successful in having two motions unanimously passed:

1. Authorize the District of Kitimat to apply for funding from the 2020-2021 BCAAP Program. (The provincial air access program that was introduced by the BC Liberals)
2. Authorize funding for 25% of the equity requirements in the event that we are unable to rase any, or all of the 25% from private sources.  

Further to this monumental effort Jim and the Kitimat Flying Club gained the support of a local concrete and rebar company to donate two helipads should the bid be successful. 

The BCGA provided a letter of support for CBW2’s BCAAP application which was formally submitted to the Provincial Government today (January 9,2020).

Once again we would like to recognize Jim and the members of the Kitimat flying club for their commitment and perseverance towards improving General Aviation in the Skeena Valley.