Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the recent and ongoing improvements made by NAV CANADA at 17 of our airport sites with Community Aerodrome Radio Stations and at Wekweeti and Colville Lake Airports.
NAV CANADA is the private corporation responsible for civil air navigation services and weather within Canadian airspace. It has recently invested in the weather observation systems at 19 of our airports in the NWT. This improved weather information; now available 24-hours a day and 365 days a year, will support safer and more effective air transportation services for our communities and residents. The Department of Transportation has assisted NAV CANADA in these installations by providing land, material, and construction and coordination assistance.
Mr. Speaker, reliable weather data is critical to airport and air carrier efficiency and safety. Airline operators make decisions on whether to fly or not based on available weather information. In a potentially critical situation, such as a medevac flight, the availability of current and accurate weather information allows operators to make flight decisions quickly.
The changes made by NAV CANADA mean pilots can now rely on improved data and tailor their flight schedules to respond to weather conditions with a higher degree of confidence. The new weather observation systems can operate in an unattended mode to deliver sufficient, real time, accurate weather 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. This information will be accessible even when Community Aerodrome Radio Stations are closed for any reason.
In addition, the new automated weather observation systems in Colville Lake and Wekweeti provide cameras which can be accessed remotely to provide airline operators with views of the airport and runway without ever leaving their offices.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that all 27 airports in the NWT now have access to weather information that is no more than 75 nautical miles from their sites.
The real-time, accurate weather data provided through these investments to the Weather Observation Systems will benefit our residents and communities through improved air services between communities and allow for improved decision-making and faster response times by the medevac service contractor.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation continues to work with our partners, such as NAV CANADA and airline operators, to make improvements to our air transportation system.