Economic Impact and Infrastructure Review

Prepared for the

Prepared by:

925-550 Airport Road, Peterborough, Ontario K9J OE7 Phone: 705-775-5022 I Fax: 705-743-4129 www.loomex.ca

Funding support for this project has been provided by t he Government of , through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario's (FedDev Ontario) Eastern Ontario Development Program, administered by the Community Futures Development Corporat ion of .

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Pembroke & Area Airport Commission contracted the Loomex Group, an aviation management and consultant firm to conduct an Economic Impact and Infrastructure Review of the Pembroke & Area Airport (YT A). The purpose of this study is to identify the socio-economic impact of the Airport, assess the existing infrastructure and facilities, and provide recommendations for viable growth and development opportunities to improve the Airport's impact as an economic driver for Renfrew County.

Stakeholder consultations were conducted as part of the preparation of the Economic Impact and Infrastructure Review. The consultation included face-to-face and telephone meetings with elected officials and economic development representatives for the various communities in the county. General aviation users and businesses in the community were also consutted through an online and mail-in-survey. The general consensus from the stakeholder meetings revealed a renewed desire to fully utilize and leverage the Pembroke &Area Airport's potential as an alternate transportation mode and a vital component for economic development of Renfrew County.

The Airport currently handles approximately 4,300 aircraft movements per year with 75% of traffic classified as civil movement and 25% military traffic. The Airport supports a range of activities from military operations to medevac services, law enforcement activities, and general aviation traffic.

The economic impact of the Pembroke &Area Airport to Renfrew County is estimated to be just under $1 million per year with 10 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). The Pembroke & Area Airport also serves as a support facility for medevac flights facilitating the timely transportation of patients for specialized medical treatment, emergency service responses, and military and law enforcement operations; valuable services to Renfrew County that cannot be quantified.

The Pembroke &Area Airport is the only Transport Canada certified airport between Carp and North Bay with a 5,000 ft. (1 ,524 metres) runway capable of accommodating regional commuter aircraft and business jets. The location of the Airport as the last transient point to Northern Ontario, its proximtty to the largest military base in Canada, and the availability of abundant land, are the Airport's greatest assets. The availability of over 300 acres of available land provides an excellent opportunity to attract investment opportunities that would promote the Airport and foster both aviation/aerospace growth and non-aviation related business developments in Renfrew County.

This report evaluates the Airport facilities against industry norms and provides recommendations on opportunities for development that contribute to the economic stability of both the Airport and Renfrew County.

Page 1 Economic Impact and Infrastructure Review for the Pembroke and Area Airport

RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY Immediate Term (0·2 years) • Outline a strategic vision for the Pembroke &Area Airport • Secure federal and/or provincial funding to help finance the Airport infrastructure and facilities rehabilitation • Consult with Garrison and CFB Trenton with respect to providing the optimal infrastructure needs to meet DND operational demand • Rehabilitate existing airside pavement infrastructure priorities: Runway 17-35, Taxiway Alpha &Apron I • Intensify efforts to increase the Airport's economic impact to Renfrew County by seeking and attracting aviation related business opportunities with special focus on : small scheduled passenger services, ad-hoc charter flights, flight training school, and aerospace and defence companies • Diversify revenue generation by encouraging non-aviation related business development in the designated Groundside/Landside Areas (Zone II-IV) • Review, restructure and adjust airport fees accordingly in line with other similar sized airports • Promote land use compatibility in the vicinity of the Airport through consultation and coordination with municipal planning departments, NAV CANADA, and Transport Canada in matters regarding development requests such as buildings and tall structures within an eight-kilometre radius of the Airport to protect the current approaches and future growth • Seek private financiers to invest in the construction of additional aircraft storage hangars

Short-term (2·5 years) • Secure funding to conduct Airport Master Plan, Business Plan, and Marketing Plan studies • Convert current incandescent airfield lighting system to LED as a maintenance cost and energy saving measure • Replace existing underground fuel tanks with above ground tanks equipped with card-lock payment system to reduce maintenance, operations and inspection costs • Extend utilities to service Airside Commercial Area phase I • Rehabilitate Taxiway Bravo, Charlie, and Apron II • Implement Fleet Replacement Program to replace older and uneconomical equipment in a timely manner to minimize maintenance and repair costs • Implement an airport maintenance fee program to help improve and maintain airport infrastructure

Medium-term (5-10 years) • Extend utilities to service Groundside/Landside Area - Zone I • Extend utilities to service Airside Commercial Area -Phase II • Realign Len Hopkins Drive Long-term (10-15 years} • Construct new access road for Airside Commercial Area Phase Ill • Extend utilities to service Airside Commercial Area Phase Ill

Page 2 Economic Impact and Infrastructure Review for the Pembroke and Area Airport

• Review and assess airport infrastructure requirements • Review strategic Plan and update Airport Master Plan

SUMMARY OF AIRPORT MARKET POTENTIAL

AVIATION RELATED OPPORTUNITIES NON-AVIATfON RElATEtl OPPORTUNITIES

Medium to Low Medium to Low High Prospect High Prospect Prospect Prospect Small Scheduled Skydiving Business Self Storage Units Government Agencies Passenger Service

Ad-hoc Charter Flights Rental Car Business Hotel/Motel

Professional Service Aerospace and Defence Industry Restaurant Offices

Aircraft Hangar Development Recreational Facility

Warehousing and Fixed Based Operator Logistics Centre

Flight Training School Maintenance Facility

Page 3 Pembroke & Area Airport Facts & Figures

500 Acres $69,000 6.5KM The Airport's land area. Approximate municipal levy NAV Canada operates and maintains contributed to the Airport annually a Non-Directional Beacon located at 300 Acres by the six owner municipalities. 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 kilometres) Airport land available for south of the Airport. development. $550,000 Average annual budget of the 12,000 Square Feet 365 Days/Year Airport. The size of the Airport hangar. Airport operational days. 103,000 3,000 Square Feet 5,000 Feet The catchment area of the Space in the hangar that is available The length of the runway. Pembroke & Area Airport. for office space.

100 Feet 4.300 3 The width ofthe runway. The number of aircraft movements Types of fuel available at the the Airport handles per year (355 Airport: 100 low lead, Jet A-1 Fuel 38 per month). and MOGAS. The number of general aviation aircraft based at the Airport. 75%-25% 145,000 litres Aircraft movements that are civil Capacity of the Airport's fuel tanks. 13 (75%) and military (25%). Number of hangars at the Airport. 60 1986 Parking stalls available at the 1954 The year the runway was Airport. The year the Airport was lengthened to 5,000 feet. Previously established as Brown's Airfield. it was 4,000 feet in length. $917,433 The annual economic impact of the 1968 4 Airport. The year the Airport was purchased The number of taxiway systems by 11 municipalities. available at the Airport. 100+ Number of business and 2000 2 government users of the Airport. The year the Airport's 11 owner Number of aprons at the Airport. municipalities became 6 due to For more information on the amalgamation: , 14 Pembroke & Area Airport, visit: Deep River, Petawawa, laurentian Number of guidance signs on the www.flycyta.ca or Valley, Pembroke and Whitewater airfield. www. Facebook.com/flycyta Region. 40 9 Passenger capacity at the Airport Members on the Pembroke & Area terminal building. Airport Commission.

Pembroke and Area Airport I 176len Hopkins Drive, RR#6 I Pembroke, Ontario I K8A 6W7 Phone: 613-687-5300 I After Hours Phone: 613-732-3525 I Fax: 613-687-8293 I www.flycyta.ca I [email protected] AIRPORT BACKGROUND

• The Airport occupies a land area of approximately 500 acres with approximately 300 acres available for development. • The Airport is operated 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. • The Airport supports various aircraft aviation activities including medevac flights, military operations, fire protection services, charter flight services, flight training and recreational flights. The Airport is mainly utilized by general aviation traffic, Garrison Petawawa, government agencies (OPP, MNR, Hydro One), flight schools, aviation businesses and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. • The runway (5,000 feet x 100 feet) is dassified as Code 3C non-precisions approach, which is capable of supporting day and night time operations with visibilities down to half a statue mile. • There are 38 general aviation aircraft based at the Airport, stored in 13 different hangars. • The Airport (YTA) is the only certified airport in Renfrew County, and the only certified airport between Carp and North Bay.

AIRPORT OWNERSHIP

• The Airport was established in 1954 as Brown's Airfield. It was purchased by 11 municipalities in 1968 and operated with financial subsidies from Transport Canada. In 1994 the federal government began the process of divesting airports under the National Airports Policy. On April10, 1996, Transport Canada ceased financial assistance to the Pembroke & Area Airport. At this time, the municipal owners created the Pembroke & Area Airport Commission (PAAC). Through amalgamation, the 11 municipal owners were reduced to six, which remain today. They are: o Town of Laurentian Hills, Town of Deep River, Town of Petawawa, Township of Laurentian Va lley, City of Pembroke, Township of Whitewater Region • PAAC is comprised of one representative from each of the owner municipalities, and two from the City of Pem broke and Town of Petawawa. A member from Garrison Petawawa also sits on the Commission in a non-voting capacity. • The six owner municipalities contribute an annual levy based on assessment as follows: o Town of Laurentian Hills o Town of Deep River o Town of Petawawa o Township of Laurentian Valley o City of Pembroke o Township of Whitewater Region

CATCHMENT AREA

• The Airport has a catchment area population of approximately 103,000: the primary catchment area has a population of 82.000 and the secondary catchment area has a population of 21,000.

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS

• The Airport handles approximately 4,300 aircraft movements annually, comprised of 75% civil and 25% military traffic.

Pembroke and Area Airport 1176 Len Hopkins Drive, RR#b I Pembroke, Ontario I K8A 6W7 Phone: 613-687-5300 I After Hours Phone: 613-732-3525 I Fax: 613-687-8293 J www. flycyta.ca I [email protected]