Smoke Disrupts B.C. Aviation


Heavy smoke from forest fires have disrupted airline schedules and virtually ended most general aviation traffic in much of B.C.  Smoke blanketed the interior of B.C. late Friday and many GA airports were reporting visibility below VFR minimums. Huge fires, particularly in northern B.C. combined with a stagnant airmass over most of the West have allowed the smoke to settle in valleys with a significant loss of general visibility.

At least two airline flights into Kamloops Airport had to be diverted, one to Vancouver and one to Kelowna but Kelowna is also under some pressure from the sombre skies. Several Saturday evening flights were diverted to Vancouver. In Penticton, numerous cancellations were reported.

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