A plane landed in the Labrie Industrial Airport Aug. 11 in the evening despite a no landing warning was issued. This was a few hours after the crew finished cleaning up after a drag racing event over the weekend.
Mayor Larry Henkelman also received complaints from leaseholders at the airport they were not notified a drag race was occurring and some could not fly out. He wanted to know, during the council meeting Aug. 13, who should have notified leaseholders. “I personally had some complaints that came in.”
CAO Brad Watson suggests council wait for a report from organizers to find out what occurred but he believes there were no issues. “I have had no complaints so far.”
Watson did place a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the airport was closed and the pilot who landed claims he was unaware of the NOTAM. He is unsure how the pilot would not know that information.
Coun. Rick Bonnett suggests the responsibility to inform leaseholders does not lie on the airport commission or the Ponoka 1/8th Mile Drag Racing Association but on the town. “If we didn’t communicate that…That’s bad on us too.”
No one was hurt and Watson feels this was a small communication error. “I’ll wait for the report from the group.”