The Lacombe Regional Airport is getting a $160,000 safety boost, with most of the money coming from the province. A grant of up to $120,000 from Alberta’s Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program will cover the bulk of the work, while the City of Lacombe, Lacombe County, and the Lacombe Flying Club are chipping in the rest. The upgrades mean better lights and a new windsock to help pilots land safely, especially when it’s dark or the weather turns bad in winter.
Plane traffic at the airport has more than doubled since General Lee Aviation opened a flight school there in 2024. That school trains people for private and commercial pilot licenses, and the extra activity has put a spotlight on the need for modern approach tools. The project will install Precision Approach Path Indicator lighting, which gives pilots a visual guide on their landing angle, and an LED windsock that stays bright even on gloomy days.
The total bill of $160,000 is being split four ways. The Government of Alberta is putting in up to $120,000, the City of Lacombe is adding $20,000, Lacombe County is paying $10,000, and the Lacombe Flying Club is contributing $10,000. This teamwork shows how much the airport matters to communities beyond the city limits, including Blackfalds and Lacombe County.
The airport isn’t just for student pilots. It handles business flights, charter services, and critical medical runs. Fixed-wing medevac planes and STARS Air Ambulance helicopters use the strip to get patients to hospitals fast. Having reliable lights and a clear windsock means those flights can happen safely around the clock, which is a big deal when every minute counts.
“This investment is about safety, reliability, and supporting the continued growth of our regional airport,” Mayor Thalia Hibbs said in a statement on the Lacombe County website. She added that the upgrades will make the airport a stronger community asset for Lacombe and the whole region.
The safety fixes come as Lacombe County, the city, and the flying club work on an Airport Master Plan to guide future growth. Residents and airport users can share their thoughts in a survey that stays open until July 12, 2026.
