'A safety hazard': Concern about proposed cell tower near flight school
A plane approaches the grass runway at Harv’s Air School south of Steinbach.
Nothing is getting in the way of a clear, smooth landing, but owner Harv Penner worries, that could soon change.
“It's an obstruction,” said Penner.
While not the primary runway, this grass airstrip is well-used at Penner’s flight school for takeoffs and landings. Not far away, there's a proposal for a 65-metre cell tower beside Steinbach's landfill. Penner said the tower is in the direct path of the runway and could cause problems for his pilots.
"Our pilots would definitely be concerned about this."
He said the tower is simply too tall, and the location is an issue.
"Anything that sticks up at that height, and that proximity of the approach to the runway is something that's a safety hazard."
The tower proposal is in a public consultation phase, so Penner sent word to Steinbach city council asking for help. The city has no say over the tower, but council did agree to send a letter to Transport Canada and other federal regulators in charge of the decision, to express his concerns about the tower’s location and size.
Transport Canada told CTV News it would not be able to respond until next week.
Penner hopes somebody gets back to him with a solution because he said this would impact his business.
"There would probably be less use of that runway under certain conditions," said Penner.
Proposal documents from the company behind the project were provided to the City of Steinbach. They said there is an increasing demand for cell and internet service with people working from home. They also say the tower is needed to enhance and ensure there is reliable wireless service in the city and the RM of Hanover.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
3 injured after man with knife enters Montreal-area mosque
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's estate sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Teen arrested in New Brunswick after emergency alert; 5 people in custody
A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.
Kamala Harris tells Oprah any intruder to her home is 'getting shot'
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: 'If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot.'
On the trail of the mystery woman whose company licensed exploding pagers
What Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of Hungary-based BAC Consulting, says she hasn't done is make the exploding pagers that killed 12 people and wounded more than 2,000 in Lebanon this week.
Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
'We're still pushing hard': Search for missing Manitoba boy continues, RCMP find tracks
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.
Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.