By IAN ROSS
New hangars are going up and a terminal expansion is in the works at Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport.
The construction is part of an ongoing expansion effort.
Airport commission chairman Doug Sainsbury is “hugely optimistic” of a banner year in landings and revenue in 2006 and beyond.
The tiny but bustling regional airport, located 20 kilometres south of Parry Sound, is being fueled by growth from existing and new tenants, spinoffs from a robust cottage market, more fly-in golfers and a surge of American aircraft landings not seen since the pre-Sept. 11, 2001 days.
The expansion plans received a big boost with the arrival of a combined $700,000 in government money from FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, along with a $120,000 contribution from Seguin Township and the Town of Parry Sound.
About $2 million has also been pooled by private investors to build seven new hangars with 12 more on the way this summer.
“Obviously there’s been a pent-up demand for the hangars,” says Sainsbury, who has a waiting list of nine people.
A year ago, the commission decided to utilize some vacant land by leasing their property to private pilots on a five-year renewable lease basis. Private individuals build their own hangars.
In mid-May, the facility was weeks away from starting a much-needed terminal expansion, which will include a two-story addition of meeting rooms, a public observation deck and more office space for tenants.
Blue Sky Gear, a local web catalog pilot supply business, is opening its first retail store on-site, and B. P. Flight Training is diversifying operations after receiving a charter licence approval from Transport Canada. The company has plans for golf charters, sightseeing and aerial survey work.
The airport also added a small café to their terminal lounge. “I’ve been a pilot for 20 years and flown in here for many years,” says Earles, who was installed as general manager last June. “I liked the idea of a snack bar in the lounge area.”
The café has been thriving with year-round business thanks to the 75 to 100 workers who work at nearby aviation companies.
Earles says the commission is very pro-active. Three of its five commissioners are pilots who have “a real interest in seeing this succeed.”
Sainsbury says the facility is well on the way to financial self-sufficiency, expecting to break even by next year. It should allow them to reduce the municipal levy on Seguin Township and Parry Sound, but should still generate enough money in reserve funds for runway upkeep.
Most of the revenue comes from fuel sales, outdoor aircraft tie-downs and car parking fees. Last year, the airport generated approximately $225,000 including $72,000 in municipal levy money, mostly from Seguin Township (80 per cent) and the Town of Parry Sound.
Plans include eventually extending the 4,000-foot paved runway to 5,200 feet to allow private jets and possibly a regional carrier to deliver scheduled flights. But the cost to extend the runway is about $1 million per 1,000 feet.
With many upscale golf courses having fractional ownership, “it makes sense to fly in to take advantage of those ownership properties,” Sainsbury says.
The commission was looking for ways to work with area golf resorts to offer tourism packages.
Earles says some pilots and cottagers come from as far away as Florida to play upscale courses like Rocky Crest and The Ridge at Manitou.
The commission is seeking to attract even non-aviation-related businesses as part of their industrial expansion project.
A tool-and-die maker, Axt Machine Shop, is moving in from Parry Sound. On a buy-back lease basis, the commission is building them a small shop with part of the grant money.
Sainsbury says there are further negotiations underway with other companies.
Some existing aviation companies on site continue to do well. Lawrence Aero Aircraft Maintenance has added a new maintenance hanger last year and bush plane manufacturer, Found Aircraft, is thriving from a stable aviation industry and international exports (see related story).
To accommodate the expansion, a new septic system was installed and a $100,000 water treatment plant will be built this summer.
