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MEMBER PROFILE
Masset Municipal Airport
The Village of Masset has owned and operated the Masset Municipal Airport since its inception in 1989. The Greater Masset area holds a population of approximately 2,500 people and the Island's total population is around 6,000.
Following a runway expansion in the 90's, the airport began to attract new air traffic to the area in the form of chartered aircraft servicing the area's fishing lodges. The airport began to see steady growth in aircraft movements, passengers and fuel sales. Other operational improvements were made such as new perimeter fencing, airport lighting, apron expansions and additional fuel capacity.
With all the updated facilities, the airport was able to attract its first scheduled service with Pacific Coastal Airlines providing service to YVR's South Terminal that commenced in 2005. The airport built a new 9,000 ft. terminal building in 2012 with the main driver being able to accommodate the growth in air traffic.
In the summer of 2010, a Saab 340 aircraft collided with a deer that had run out onto the runway as the aircraft was attempting a take off. The aircraft sustained serious damage that grounded it for 6 days. As part of the airport's long-term corrective action plan, the airport recently completed a 125 acre land-clearing project. The two-month long project contracted a heavy-duty mulcher and excavator to eliminate all the stumps and vegetation within the airport perimeter fence. Despite being an extremely costly project, the airport realized the safety need to modify the habitat that allowed the deer to stay hidden on the airport grounds. Airport personnel now have an unobstructed view of the airport grounds from fence to fence, allowing them to safely deal with any wildlife concerns before they pose a significant risk to any aircraft.
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