Flying in and out adds up to $1 m

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

The Kings County Municipal Airport kicks in an estimated $1 million per year in economic impact for our region.

Waterville Airport Co-operative Limited chairman Bill Young, at Kings County council’s committee of the whole recently, said the mission of the co-operative is to manage and operate the airport year round, with on-site services to aircraft operators and on-site aviation businesses.

“One very important number you folks have always been interested in is the economic impact of the airport,” Young said.

The co-operative established a business plan in 2007 as part of a new contract. Highlights of the plan include the annual economic impact of the airport, estimated at $1 million. The airport has experienced recent growth with the relocation of the Greenwood Flight School and the construction of three private hangars. Keys for continued growth include land and infrastructure development, building traffic and revenue-generating activities.

The co-operative has formed goal-setting groups focused on operating standards, marketing, land development, maintenance programs and publicity and image.

In 2006, the airport recorded 9,476 aircraft movements, including 6,301 from flight training units, 2,023 from skydivers, 182 from visitors with private aircraft, 114 from companies or individuals chartering flights, 102 from the RCMP air division, 94 from Irving Oil and 70 from government users, including the Coast Guard and Transport Canada.

The airport provides support to Civilian Air Search and Rescue, Medavac Air Lift, Valley Search and Rescue, the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles and fire patrol - all benefiting the greater community.

Young said the airport currently has 10 hangars, 15 privately-owned aircraft, 13 commercially-owned aircraft, a terminal, office building and classroom complex. The co-operative is in its second year of a five-year management agreement with the county.

Skydiving school

Atlantic School of Skydiving president Dave Williamson told councillors the school has been located at the airport since 1981 and there is a 45-year history of skydiving in the Valley. The school employs a number of people part-time, including commercial pilots and skydiving instructors.

Williamson said the school presents recreational and sporting opportunities, and they have clients from Kings County and around the world which generates an estimated annual economic impact of $200,000.

“It’s a unique attraction to the airport and to Kings County,” he said, pointing out they’re the only skydiving school in the province.

Greenwood Flight Centre

Greenwood Flight Centre president Brian Goldie said the centre moved from CFB Greenwood to the airport in April 2005.

It has since expanded to include flight training, aircraft maintenance and flight chartering; with six full time and two part time employees.

The flight centre is recognized by the Department of Education as a college, and it accepted its first students into a two-year professional pilot diploma program this fall.

For the past three years, the centre has been granted the Air Power Scholarship Program. Each summer, 12 to 14 Cadets earn their private pilot’s license, and the centre currently has 20 students working part time toward a pilot’s license. Photographers from across Eastern Canada hire them and they had two aircraft over Halifax to provide media coverage of the 2006 Rolling Stones concert.

The centre’s aircraft maintenance is approved by Transport Canada and it contracts maintenance work to local businesses. The centre is currently in discussions with Air Canada Jazz for a structural work contract and is seeking similar contracts from other companies. The centre has a contract with the NSCC College of Geographic Sciences and is modifying one of its aircraft for vertical aerial photography.

Councillor Ted Palmer said perhaps the negative perception some people have of the airport is due to the fact they’re unaware of how much is going on.

Councillor Wayne Atwater told the airport representatives, although it wasn’t always the case before, “you’re doing a good job selling yourself now.”

Councillor Madonna Spinazola moved, based on the information presented, the county continue to recognize the economic impact of the airport and re-enforce its commitment to the airport. The motion carried.

“We hope you’ll take the pride in the airport we do,” Young said, pointing out the co-operative would make a consistent effort to keep council up-to-date.