RFP Sechelt Airport Master Plan

awarded

Please see full RFP documents for complete list of instructions and requirements. The District of Sechelt (the “District”) is inviting proposals from proponents for the provision of consulting services to develop an Airport Master Plan for Sechelt Airport in the Wilson Creek neighbourhood or Sechelt, BC. The Airport is technically a registered aerodrome but is colloquially referred to as “Sechelt Airport”, so for the purpose of this RFP it will be referred to as such, and as further described in Schedule A of this RFP.The Sechelt Airport is in Wilson Creek southeast of Downtown Sechelt on Hilltop Road at the northern end of Field Road and is the regional airport for the Sunshine Coast. It is located near the geographic centre of the region, approximately 27 km from Langdale and 54 km from Earls Cove along Highway 101.The Airport is also a short flight from several major centres in BC including:• Vancouver International Airport – 50 km• Nanaimo – 43 km• Powell River – 69 km• Victoria – 94 kmThe Airport has a small building which serves as a passenger holding room for charter passengers. The facility has one asphalt runway which was extended in 2021 and fully paved to become a 3100 ft x 75 ft wide runway. The Airport features apron space for approximately six (6) small aircraft and one (1) helicopter pad. Fuel (AVGas 100LL) is available onsite. There is also a long-term parking area off the apron.The Canadian Flight Supplement recommends that only pilots who are familiar with the local terrain should use the Airport at night. At the moment, there are no regular night operations except for military, BC ambulance, and police with night vision. However, conditions will be safer with the addition of airport lighting. Sechelt Council approved funding for the installation of a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system of medium intensity runway lighting. The new lighting would meet all the current TP312 regulations. These upgrades to the airport lighting system were completed to be able to obtain a certified airport status, which requires meeting more stringent Transport Canada standards.Airport Development StrategyThe District’s policy is that the Airport be self-sustaining and that it must meet operational, maintenance and capital costs through revenue raised at the Airport alone, supplemented by occasional capital grants from Provincial and Federal governments.The District’s long-term vision includes attracting more airline operators to provide scheduled air services. Extension of the runway supports this long-term vision. Adequate taxiways, lighting and terminal structures will also need to be developed. To generate revenue for the airport, the airport lands can be developed to provide leasing opportunities for business and industry. The District of Sechelt Airport has an inventory of lands that can be developed into an airport subdivision to support the expansion and growth of the Airport.Some additional information and early planning documents that attempted to develop a future vision for the Airport are available for review as follows:• 1 - Business Case for the Sechelt Airport Sunshine Coast British Columbia - November 22, 2012• 2 - Marketing Plan Summary for the Sechelt Airport, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia – August 27, 2013• 3 - Sechelt Airport Runway Improvements and Extension Technical Memo – Associated Engineering – October 2019• 4 - Aerodrome Development Assessment Report – Associated Engineering – June 2021• 5 - SC Drag Racing Association Business PlanAirport and aerodrome facilities in the lower mainland are becoming busy and there is interest from the flying community in southern British Columbia for more facilities. The Sechelt Airport is recognized as an under-utilized asset with unrealized potential to drive further economic development on the Sunshine Coast. An Airport Master Plan would guide future development of the Airport to realize the facility’s full potential for the community.