A Jasper resident is calling for the local airstrip to remain open to commercial Medevac planes in case of emergency.

The Jasper Health Advisory Committee forwarded a request to council following a presentation from Bryn Thomas to ensure Medevac emergency planes can still use the airstrip in case of emergency. On June 15, the committee requested council take the issue to Parks Canada, formally requesting the park to amend its commercial airstrip policy to allow for use of the airstrip by Medevac planes, and to allow the strip to be used in case of town emergencies.

Currently, the proposal for the Jasper airstrip under the management plan calls for the continued prohibition of “chartered and/or commercial aircraft, irrespective of class,” which essentially bans for profit aircrafts from using the airstrip. However, Thomas worries that private medical services will be affected by the ban.

“The provincial government ran the Medevac service until three years ago, then they contracted it out” Thomas said. 

He noted that Medevac pilots may not use the airstrip under the current proposal, as they are essentially commercial flights. If they do use the airstrip, they would be required to make several phone calls to gain clearance at the strip, Thomas said.

“When time is of the essence, health services should have the fastest option,” Thomas said.

Currently, aircrafts can use the strip for emergency, diversionary and recreational landings, according to Parks Canada.

Medevac planes are capable of moving several patients long distances. Currently Medevac planes that service Jasper sit in Grand Prairie and Slave Lake. The service is rarely used in Jasper, as most patients are flown by helicopter to Hinton.

Thomas said since Parks Canada is undergoing its management plan review, now is the time to modify the requirements.

Health advisory committee member Roger Maltby questioned whether STARS could be convinced to transport patients from Jasper to Edmonton. Thomas said a STARS helicopter would have to stop and refuel if it tried to transport a patient from Jasper to Edmonton, which would slow response times.

Seaton General Hospital has a helicopter landing pad, which it uses to transport patients to Hinton. Thomas said that flight takes about 15 minutes.

Thomas cites an occurrence in the 1950s, when a Hercules airplane was required to fly in a generator to power the town. He said he has no problem with the continued ban of commercial flights into the airstrip, but is concerned about continuing Medevac services to town.

“Those are the scenarios we’re concerned about,” Thomas said.

Coun. Mike Day later brought the issue to council as an information item.

The issue is not unique to Jasper. Edmonton is also debating the closure of its city centre airport to Medevac airplanes.