Aviation Infrastructure Funding
BCAAP is a project-based, cost-sharing grant program administered by the Ministry of Transportation and Transit that supports planning and infrastructure investments on eligible aviation facilities across British Columbia.
Offered by Ministry of Transportation and Transit
Amount
Cost-share grants: 75% for safety of flight, airside and environmental projects, 60% for transitional-area projects and 50% for groundside projects, plus up to an additional 15% (and an additional 5% for certain volunteer contributions), capped at $2 million per applicant per year; Airport Master Plans funded at 70% to a maximum of $35,000
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible for B.C. Air Access Program (BCAAP) consideration, the applicant must:
- Operate a public use airport, heliport or water aerodrome
- Serve fewer than one million passengers annually
- Be the air facility owner (local government, non-profit operating society or First Nation) or delegated facility operator
A contracted operator can apply on behalf of a local government or non-profit society. However, the local government or non-profit society must sign the application is designated to receive grant funds should the application be successful.
 Public air facilities located in British Columbia, including aerodromes, airports, heli-
ports, and water aerodromes
 Certification or registration with Transport Canada is required (proponents of new facil-
ities that are in planning or construction must commit to registration when complete)
 Facilities serving fewer than 1 million passengers annually
 The facility owner is responsible for submission of applications.
 Applications may be completed with the support of consultants or the Transport Cana-
da certificate holder.
 Third parties, including vendors, contractors, or consultants, may not apply on behalf of
the applicant.
 In every case, program funds flow directly to the responsible entity.
2.3 Terms & Conditions
 The applicant agrees that the proposed project can be completed within one fiscal year
and all required funding aside from BCAAP support has been secured.
 The applicant agrees that it is solely responsible for any cost overruns.
 The proposed project will comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and local gov-
ernment standards and requirements.
 The applicant agrees to maintain title and ownership on the premises of all fixed infra-
structure and vehicles, as applicable, for a period of five years following project comple- tion, and will maintain the infrastructure in good working order.
 The applicant is responsible for all operating and maintenance costs.
 Other terms are listed in the Contribution Grant Agreement executed with grant awardees.
3.2 Master Plan Projects
Under the BCAAP Master Planning stream:
 Only existing or planned facilities servicing a population under 20,000 are eligible to
apply;
 The plan must be prepared by a qualified professional with suitable expertise in avia-
tion facility planning, regional planning, and regional economic development; and
About the funding
Grant Funding for Infrastructure
The program caps the value of grants to any one applicant (regardless of the number of projects) to $2 million in any given year. Applicants may submit proposals for multiple projects with a separate application for each. As BCAAP is a cost-share program, the specific percentage share that any given project will qualify for is detailed in “Funding Amount”.
Grant Funding for Airport Master Plans
BCAAP will accept applications for Airport Master Plans from small facilities – those that have a service area of 20,000 or fewer people. These grants are capped at $35,000 and are funded at a 70% level.
Show all funding details
Funding Amounts
BCAAP is a cost-share program supporting the infrastructure and environmental needs of airports, heliports and water aerodromes. The percentage of funding that BCAAP provides varies based on a range of factors, including:
- Project type:
- Safety of flight, airside and envrionmental projects begin at 75% funding
- Projects in transitional areas (hangers, terminals) begin at 60% funding
- Groundside projects begin at 50% funding
Applicants meeting certain criteria may be eligible for a higher percentage (up to an additional 15%) of BCAAP funding, thereby reducing the required contribution from the applicant. The following criteria are considered by program staff for additional funding increments:
- Remote communities
- Facilities owned and/or operated by Indigenous governments
- Projects required to bring a certified facility into compliance with minimum federal standards
Successful recipients of a grant will:
- Enter into a Conditional Grant Agreement (CGA) with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, which details the parameters of the grant funding to the proponent
- Receive funding in two or three installments depending on the size of the project, with the initial installment forwarded once the CGA is signed
- Submit progress reports quarterly
- Submit a final claim package upon completion of the project to receive the final payment under the CGA
Base funding is the percentage of the total eligible project cost that is supplied by BCAAP and varies by project type. Certain facility or project conditions may increase the total BCAAP funding by up to 15%, and an additional 5% may be awarded in certain cases of volunteer contributions (see Section 3.3 for details).
Examples of projects that are eligible for BCAAP funding:
- Safety of flight projects such as approach and landing systems, safety area clearance, hazard lighting, deicing equipment, runway surface improvements, snow removal vehicles, and exclusion fencing
- Airside safety projects such as fueling systems and vehicles, signage, and fire equipment
- Airside improvements such as taxiway and apron surface improvements, lighting, turn pads, and floatplane docks
- Transitional area improvements such as terminal expansion and rehabilitation, passenger accessibility improvements, access security, and hangar rehabilitation
- Groundside projects such as access roads, parking facilities, ancillary structures, and maintenance equipment
- Environmental projects such as greenhouse gas (GHG) audits, decarbonization, climate resilience, and site remediation
- Airport master plans for small airports
Project expenditures are considered eligible when they are incurred within the time period established by the Agreement and include the following:
 Design and engineering costs
 Project management (limited to 15% of total grant value)
 Meeting and public communications costs (catering and entertainment costs are not eli-
gible)
 Materials, labour, and equipment required to complete the project
 Project signage (see Section 6.2)
 Applicable taxes (excluding rebated tax such as GST in most cases)
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Grants | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
| Livestock Waste Tissue Initiative (LWTI) | Grant | Up to $435,000 available in total | Open |
| Regional Quantum Initiative in British Columbia | Loan, Grant | $500,000 to $5 million per recipient | Open |
| AgriScience Program – Projects | Grant, In-Kind Support | Up to $5 million per project and $10 million per applicant over the program's duration (2023 to 2028) | Open |
