I appreciate that. I'm just saying that if I were building a new airport, those are the things that I'd be looking at if I were Transport Canada. It would not be to utilize a back-course localizer or an NDB; I would be looking to build an airport to make an economic case for it. Transport Canada does not look at any of those things. That was shocking to me.
This committee has heard about issues in the Arctic related to planes not being able to land on gravel runways in the far north. Talking about economic viability and Canada's sovereignty, this is obviously a concern for consumer air travel as planes with those capabilities are phased out.
What about the Royal Canadian Air Force? How can we ensure our Arctic security and sovereignty when our planes can no longer land in the north?
Mr. Cook, you know that the Boeing 737-200 is the only aircraft for which you can have a gravel kit. They're going to be phased out. This committee heard testimony here about gravel runways in the north. It has now become very concerning, and very concerning for food costs. The Government of Canada has just purchased F-35s that cannot operate on gravel runways at all.
I'm out of time, Mr. Chair.