The airport runway is the most important main street in any town. - Norm Crabtree, former aviation director of Ohio

The airport runway is the most important main street in any

town.- Norm Crabtree, former aviation director of Ohio

Almaguin Highlands Air Park

“the winds are calm, ceiling is unlimited…..

Opportunity…

Prepared by: Jason Ready 2013

You are cleared for take-off!”


Background

In the early 1930’s our national economy had yet to recover from the stock-market crash of the late 1920’s. Faced with record unemployment, several “make work projects” were commissioned by the federal and provincial governments. Some of these projects included the creation of a Canada

wide network of airfields to serve the route system of a fledgling Trans-Canada Airways (the forerunner to what we

now know as Air Canada).


Background

The property in Joly Township where the airport now exists was identified as a prime location for

one of these reliever airports.

A work gang of local men were hired and used horse drawn slush-scrapers (similar to the ones shown

in this picture) to carve out two runways from what was at the time

crown land.


Background

The airport immediately saw the arrival of bushplanes that used the airport as a stop-over on their way north to the gold and silver mining and exploration camps of northern

Ontario.


Background

In May of 1934, this part of Ontario was thrust into the international spotlight with the birth of the Dionne Quintuplets in nearby Corbeil. The airfield at North Bay was still being built, therefore the airport at South

River became the closest airport available to print and radio media outlets.

Aircraft from all over North America, like this Waco cabin bi-plane from the New York Daily

News were regular visitors, with reporters in tow.


Background

Famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart was one of the many celebrities of the

era that visited the Dionne Quintuplets. There is even some unconfirmed speculation that she

and her husband landed at Almaguin for their visit (North Bay airport didn’t

exist yet). This was mere weeks before she tragically disappeared

over the Pacific Ocean.


Background

With the advent of the second world war, the

airport had more military value. (There was some training done here and it retained its value as an

emergency landing field.)

After WWII, the airport remained dormant for quite

a while. The military continued to use it

periodically from year to year.


Background

Later, according to federal government policies, it was turned over to the province of Ontario. It fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of

Lands and Forests (now the MNR). The ministry was considering replanting trees on the airport property when local opposition put a halt to

the project.

Local municipalities were then asked if they would be interested in re-developing the airport. A lease agreement was negotiated, allowing the

airport to be owned by the Village of South River.

The MNR to this day maintains control of the surrounding property not occupied by the aircraft maneuvering areas

(runways, taxiways and airport buildings).


Background

During subsequent years, the Village of South River entered into an agreement with the Village of Sundridge and the Townships of

Machar, Strong and Joly and this partnership ran the airport through municipal committee. The Village of South River maintained administrative responsibilities on behalf of the partnership.


In 2010, the airport committee, with grant assistance from FedNor and the NECO Community Futures Development Corporation, contracted world class airport planning consultants LPS-Avia to

develop a Master Airport Development Plan.

This professionally prepared plan continues to provide managers and stakeholders with a concrete blueprint for short, medium and

long term strategic direction. It also recommends industry recognized options for developing the airport.

It is the intention of the current stakeholders to pursue the opportunities and direction laid out in the plan. This is being done in

order to realize the full value of their investment in obtaining this invaluable airport development expertise.


Current Status

In late 2011, the Village of South River notified the other partnership members of it’s intention to opt-out of it’s ownership

interest effective 2012.

Early in 2012 the Township of Machar also announcedtheir intention to rescind their ownership interest.

Today the the airport is jointly owned by the Village Sundridge and the Townships of Strong and Joly. The administration of the

airport is handled by the Township of Joly.


Current Status

As stated in a previous slide, the surrounding crown land and property remained the jurisdiction of the MNR, as illustrated on the

following slides:

The airport was (and continues to be) classified by Transport Canada as a public aerodrome, with designated airport identifier “CPE6” by NavCanada.

Since the beginning of it’s history, it has continued to operate and be maintained to the standard of public aerodrome, and owned as an

asset of the community.

Approximate Air ParkBoundary

Approximate Air ParkBoundary

Approximate area thatbelongs to the MNR

Approximate area thatbelongs to the MNR


Current Status

The airport currently has the following facilities:

• 2 turf (grass) runways with retro-reflective runway markings

• float plane access to the South River waterway systemvia a graded ramp on the northeast airport boundary

• an ad-hoc “terminal building” with meeting / office space, “pilot lounge”, basic flight planning facilities and washroom

• airport maintenance equipment and indoor storage for same

• on site aviation fuel storage and sales

• 5 privately owned hangers


Regular Users

• South River / Sundridge Flying Club (based at the airport)

• DTR Enterprises (owner of the new hanger, 2 planes)

• a handful of privately owned aircraft

Almaguin Highlands Air ParkOccasional Users

• MNR – spring fish stocking program

• OPP – highway patrols/enforcement

and other criminal investigations

• Canadian Owners & Pilots Association(COPA) Flight 23

• itinerant aircraft (those only stopping for fuel or rest while enrouteto other destinations). We need to give them a reason to stay!!


Who else could use our airport??

An airport is a “port-in-the-storm” for any aircraft in need of a place to land when the weather deteriorates. This was

evidenced by the 2010 tragic crash of a private aircraft in Algonquin Provincial Park. The aircraft was enroute to Sudbury

from Kingston, at night, in deteriorating weather when it crashed. Four lives were lost. Our airport, with the appropriate facilities

and lighting could have been their “port-in-the-storm”.



Medevac flights to take sick and injured members of the community to distant hospitals. The airport was used as a staging area for the emergency response to the incident in Algonquin Provincial Park mentioned in the previous slide.



MNR forest fire-fighting aircraft can operate fromand perhaps be based at the airport when they are needed.

For the reasons outlined above, community airportfacilities are defined as a major resource by the policy doctrine of Emergency Management Ontario (EMO).



Courier operations – for moving mail and packages into and out of the communities,

including banking support services.



Aircraft bringing business and commerce leadersinto the community.



Aircraft bringing tourists and visitors to the community to spend their money. They will visit the local sights, stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and thereby greatly

contribute to the local tax base through those businesses.



Charter operations to carry people and goods in and out of the community.

THE LIST IS ENDLESS!!!!!!!


Vision

In order to grow and become a regional economic engine, the airport needs to accomplish the following:

• improve on current facilities and create new ones

• establish a new airport governance and managementstructure to foster airport self sufficiency

• attract a broader base of users by joining industryassociations such as AMCO and Chamber of Commerce

• develop opportunities for businesses to co-locate at the airport

• create much needed sustainable employment


Immediate Plans

Improving current facilities

• leverage the Master Airport Development Plan to obtain federal and provincial infrastructure dollars to pave the runway and apron (to meet modern airport standards)

• dovetail with green energy industry for the installation of low operational cost runway lighting, effectively doubling available

runway usage (currently daylight hours only) • purchase and installation of “card lock” system for

the fuel facility, allowing self-serve access 24-7

• investigate options for high-speed internet access, required for modern flight planning facilities and

marketability of business development


Immediate Plans

New opportunities to explore and follow through with

• a current letter of intent by a “green economy” industry to lease land and build a facility at the airport

• current letter of intent for a permanent flight school and First Nations training facility to be located on site

• redevelopment and expansion of float plane operations

• Pursue the handover of surrounding land controlledby MNR creating room for future development

• an aircraft maintenance facility – there is strong interest currently being shown from two companies

looking to locate here, pending development direction


Immediate PlansAttract a broader base of users

• marketing campaign (print, web, trade magazines)

• partner with local Bed & Breakfast Association to promote airport’s role in Almaguin area tourism

(already started with links on new airport website)• attract users through “flight events” throughout the year in partnership with COPA, Almaguin Flying Club, UPAC

• make the airport “business aviation friendly” via discounted fuel pricing, pilot / crew facilities

• draw non-traditional users to the airport by making it a place to take the kids and see what’s going on –

viewing area, aviation themed restaurant/cafe


Long Range Opportunities

• aviation manufacturing facility (airframe completions, modifications, parts production)

• links to local school board to establish aviation based course curriculum where classrooms are located at the

airport (this could include technical/shop courses, marketing, small business studies – the options are endless!!)

• creation of sustainable employment

• Establishment of a permanent aviation trade school

• Become a top airshow destination – huge tourism draw


Important Points to Remember

• an airport is much more than just a place for planes to land and take off

• with the four-laning of Highway 11 now complete, this region is even more open to prime investment

• brand new airports are too expensive to build – we are in a great position…. we already have one!!

• the airport is a valuable resource we can’t afford to lose

• planned improvements will create sustainable employment now and in the future

More importantly……..

A mile of highway takes you a mile...

...a mile of runway takes you to the world!!- Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Documents

The airport runway is the most important main street in any town. - Norm Crabtree, former aviation director of Ohio