Art Patton, manager of the Kings County Municipal Airport, says there is a lot of uncertainty within the airport community over the future of the site.
Kirk Starratt
A feasibility study announced May 1 to explore moving Kings County Municipal Airport, has stirred up more questions than answers.
Airport manager Art Patton said the study would determine whether or
not to relocate the airport or close it in order to allow a possible
expansion of the Waterville Michelin plant. The plant and airport are
both located in Cambridge.
“The conclusion is obvious,” Patton said. “The only thing they can
decide is to close the airport. I don’t think anybody believes the
county can afford to build a new airport.”
Patton said the provincial and federal governments are not likely to spend that kind of money either.
“We feel it’s an asset to the county and an important part of the
infrastructure,” Patton said. “Lots of people who fly in here tell us we
have one of the nicest airports around.”
He said there are significant costs associated with maintenance and
it would be nice to know what the future will hold. One potential hangar
owner has approached the municipality and another has picked a site.
“Those are dead. No one will build here now,” Patton said of the
hangar projects. “There’s a lot of uncertainty now. We’re totally in the
dark.”
Patton said the $100,000 the province has committed to a feasibility
study would be better used compensating hangar owners who would have to
take their structures down.
Patton said the airport spends $247,000 a year on operating costs,
most of which is spent locally, and there are three businesses located
at the airport that depend on the facilities, pay taxes and have
employees. The airport spent $158,000 on fuel last year.
He said the 70-year-old facility, once a private airstrip and later a
municipal airport, has been a flight training facility throughout its
existence. Hundreds of successful pilots have been introduced to
aviation there, he added.
Patton said if there were 200 jobs to be added by a Michelin
expansion, the airport wouldn’t like to move, but would support the
added employment for the county.
District councillor Basil Hall, a former pilot and aircraft owner who
flew out of the municipal airport for 12 years, will serve on a
selection committee for the study project. He also serves as a municipal
representative on the Waterville Airport Co-op’s board.
Hall said he has mixed feelings because his attachment to the airport
goes back a long way. However, if a Michelin expansion were to happen,
the positive economic benefits would outweigh his personal feelings for
the airport. The economic impact of the airport is significant, he
added, but wouldn’t compare to an expansion at the plant.
Hall said he hopes the study doesn’t show the airport should close.
“We’re hoping for the best possible recommendation for the airport at the end of the day,” Hall said.
He added the co-op board members remain positive but there are concerned people in the airport community at the moment.
“If you’re a hangar owner, what do you do with your hangar?” Hall said.
He said he hopes he can make a contribution to the steering committee
with his perspective on the airport and bring pertinent questions
forward.
In 2007, the annual economic spin-off of the airport to Kings County was estimated to be in excess of $1 million.
Airport by the numbers
The Kings County Municipal Airport is located on the 94-acre airport site 16 kilometres west of downtown Kentville.
The airport features a 75-foot wide, 3,500 feet long paved runway and a 30,000 square foot paved apron with tie downs.
There are 11 hangars at the site, housing 32 aircraft.
The airport has averaged 750 aircraft movements per month, 8,800 per year, since 2000.
There are three office buildings at the airport and Valley Search and Rescue’s headquarters are located there.
Source: http://www.kingscountynews.ca
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