Page 27 - October 2018

five-year contract, it is proposed that WASCO will
appoint a qualified Airport Manager who will be based
primarily in Winnipeg but will travel on-site as required
to support the operation. Main priorities for the Airport
Manager include rectifying current regulatory
deficiencies, primarily due to a lack of designated Airport
Manager but also due to other Transport Canada
regulatory findings. As a result, WASCO is tasked with
updating all regulatory programs including the Airport
RCAC MEMBER AIRPORT PROFILE: The Pas (CYQD), Operations Manual, Safety Management System,
MB The Town of The Pas was incorporated in 1912. Emergency Response Plan, Wildlife Management and
The Town’s name has been altered several times Airport Maintenance Program. WASCO will also engage
over many years. It was initially known as with Transport Canada to rehabilitate aging airport
W’passkwayaw then switched to Opasquia and is equipment and infrastructure through the Airports
now known as The Pas. Prior to the incorporation Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) and continue to
of the Town of The Pas, the Town was governed by pursue passenger and revenue growth opportunities.
a northern government service which stretched as
Although WASCO is capable of taking over the entire
far as Churchill Manitoba and was run by a single
airport operation, this hybrid solution which provides
administrator. Prior to the incorporation, there experienced airport management services to
was no Mayor or Council and all decisions of the
supplement local resources while also maintain local
community were made by one independent control of the airport through the Town and Council. In
employee. The Pas Airport is a certified airport
the case of The Pas Airport, the core airport operation
located 18 km northeast of the Town of The Pas,
was solid, it was only missing airport management
Mantioba. Dimensions of the paved and lighted expertise which is now being provided by WASCO
main runway 13/31 is 5901’ X 150’. Transport
through the long-term services contract. There exists a
Canada classifies The Pas Airport in the
number of similar examples throughout Canada where
regional/local category under The National Airports this hybrid airport management solution may be viable.
Policy. WASCO (Winnipeg Airport Services Corp.) is
contracted to act as Airport Manager and provide
Technical Services to the Town of The Pas.
The Pas Airport is a regional airport located
approximately 525km northwest of the Winnipeg
International Airport providing twice-daily
scheduled passenger service to residents of the
Town of The Pas, the Opasquia Cree Nation and
other surrounding communities. In 2017 WASCO
was approached by the Town of The Pas to provide
Airport Management and Technical Services to
support the on-going management, administration
and continuous development of the operation of
the airport. The airport remains under ownership
and operation of the Town of The Pas, with all staff

except the Airport Manager being Town of The Pas
Staff. Due to the difficulty in attracting a qualified
Airport Manager in The Pas and under increased
regulatory pressure from Transport Canada, the
Town of The Pas reached out to WASCO to identify
an alternative solution. During this