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The Melfort Heliport located outside the hospital has gone through a preliminary inspection and now waits for Transport Canada certification. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)
Heliport Waiting For Green Light

Melfort Heliport completed, Transport Canada to inspect by month’s end

Nov 20, 2020 | 1:25 PM

The Melfort Heliport is nearly certified as an aerodrome in Canada.

By the end of Friday, Nov. 20, all the work on the heliport located on the corner Higgins Ave W. and West Street will be complete and Transport Canada is expected to conduct its on-site inspection prior to the end of November.

Even though the $600,000 plus project should be inspected by month’s end, Melfort’s Director of Development Planning and Community Relations Brent Lutz said they’re unfamiliar with the timeline of Transport Canada’s inspection process.

“We’re not sure if it’s a few weeks or longer… but as soon as that is received, that will become part of the normal operating procedure for STARS when they have to do transfers from Melfort,” Lutz told northeastNOW. “We don’t anticipate that they’ll find any issues with the inspection. Our consultant completed a preliminary inspection to make sure we fulfilled all the requirements of the regulations. We don’t see there will be any follow up work required.”

Originally, a grand opening was planned for the heliport’s completion where Melfort and area residents could celebrate during a masked gathering, but Lutz said it’s currently not possible due to COVID-19 health regulation. The inaugural flight will occur when a trauma emergency transpires and STARS is required to land in Melfort.

(Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

However, Lutz said the City of Melfort is working on a donor recognition wall to be installed in the link between Melfort Hospital and the Wellness Centre.

“That wall is going to include information of all the people that supported this project,” he said. “It is something we will make the community aware that it’s been installed, and we will celebrate it likely in a virtual fashion through social media and other online and advertising means. We’ll be looking to what type of event we may be able to host in the future to celebrate the success.”

aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow