The city is spending $43,000 dollars to install back up generators at the airport.
In order to launch the stratospheric balloons for the Canadian Space Agency David Laneville the Airport Director of Information and Technology says there needs to be a constant connection to the internet during a balloon flight. This ensures constant communication between the balloon and flight control.
Right now if there was a power failure connectivity would be lost. If connectivity is lost then the connection is lost between the air terminal building and the balloon base.
The CSA balloon launch program will run for 10 years launching balloons from the Victor M. Power Airport every two years. This year there will be eight balloon launched between August and September.
Laneville says the generators will be installed by July.