Nakusp Airport is a small community aerodrome that was developed in the 1970s and is owned and operated by the Village of Nakusp. HM Aero was retained by the Village in July 2023 to collect the views of stakeholders and the community, assess opportunities for the airport’s growth, identify future capital project requirements, and prepare a phased implementation strategy.

HM Aero travelled to Nakusp in August 2023 to complete the airport infrastructure inspection and initiate consultation activities. Consultations were completed with eight stakeholder groups including Village Administration, aircraft operators, tourism service providers, and provincial and federal agencies. Community engagement was facilitated through an online survey.

Basing the Master Plan on a careful assessment of the local socioeconomic context, HM Aero identified a series of priorities related to improved air ambulance access and wildfire suppression support, as well as opportunities relating to private hangar development, military training, and tourism. The project team also developed a multiyear grant-supported approach to meeting these requirements, including the extension and renewal of the Airport’s runway, preparation of new airside development lots, and the addition of weather observation capabilities. The Master Plan:

• Identified capital improvements to sustain aviation safety including airfield signage, instrument flight procedure design, airfield pavement rehabilitation, and tree clearing totalling between $500,000 and $1.26M over a four-year period;

• Articulated the importance of the Airport as a point of service for air ambulance activities, wildlife protection, and heli-skiing and summer adventures; and

• Outlined growth opportunities for private hangar development, increased tourism access to the community, air force mountain operations training, and non-aviation industrial growth.