UHI students to design terminal for Skye airfield
Architectural students at Inverness College UHI have been asked to come up with designs for a terminal and other facilities for an airstrip on Skye.
The project is connected to the Fly Skye campaign which is seeking the resumption of commercial flights at the isle's Ashaig airfield.
The students will work as a team to plan a hub building and a hangar for a Twin Otter-size aircraft.
They will also layout plans for road links, parking and landscaping.
Ross Cairns, programme leader of architectural technology at Inverness College UHI, described the project as "high-profile" and "a once in a lifetime opportunity" for the students.
Ian Blackford, of Fly Skye, has welcomed the college's involvement in the project.
Loganair flew commercial flights out of Ashaig until the late 1980s.
The Scottish government has no plans to fund the return of flights to and from Skye.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said in July the air services would need significant capital investment and subsidy.
However, he added that government-owned Highlands and Islands Airport Limited would be willing to give advice to groups that have been calling for the flights.
Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and transport body Hitrans have jointly been looking at what it would cost to resume commercial services.
The organisations' Skye Air Services Feasibility Study suggested that it could require capital spending of between £9.7m and £15.3m and that it could cost between £500,000 to £600,000 a year to run the airport.