The following is a Letter to Tom McEwan CAO, MOK – 14 January 2016:
“Regarding proposed 31 March 2016 access to 14 Wing Greenwood for general aviation
Freedom Aviation Society (FAS) has been working with MOK and 14 Wing Greenwood staff to establish general aviation at CYZX by 31 March 2016. 14 Wing has been very supportive and cooperative in this effort. Major Deutsch and I believe 14 Wing will be ready to establish general aviation activity by 31 March 2016. This will include ability to fly in and out of the airport and secure outside parking for aircraft wishing to base there. It is anticipated to also include use of an office trailer for terminal building and washrooms until FAS is able to construct hanger and office buildings. I also believe we will have 100LL available for purchase on site although I do not have that finalized.
If lease paperwork is delayed I have been assured 14 Wing will allow us to establish under provisional terms until the lease can be finalized with MOK.
There are 18 aircraft recommitted (Jan 2016) to operate at CYZX and another 3 that expressed interest in Dec 2014 (who have not yet contacted me this Jan) which I expect will want to. Some of these will move 31 March 2016 and some will wait for construction of hangers to move. These are all private aircraft with the exception of one commercial twin aircraft. In addition to this there are 2 people who intend to purchase aircraft should we be successful accessing CYZX. There are over 40 pilots supporting civilian aviation at CYZX including a large majority of CCW3 current users and some members of 14 Wing Greenwood.
Yarmouth airport has non heated hanger space for 6 to 8 small aircraft available for 31 March 2016 occupancy for those wanting a hanger while waiting for one to be constructed at CYZX which I have confirmed today. The cost quoted was $150 per month per aircraft. First come first served bases.
There is confirmed demand for 6 heated and 6 cold storage hangers. I believe we would require an additional 6 heated spaces to accommodate maintenance, flight school, rental and temporary aircraft.
There is a charter company who will base the twin aircraft there that have additional aircraft based at Halifax allowing charters to be booked from CYZX.
A flight school operator is evaluating establishing a flight training and aircraft rental operation.
Governance in place now will continue until construction is complete at which time expanded depth of directors will be considered.
Potential;
The infrastructure at CYZX is capable of handling everything from small aircraft to large passenger, cargo and of course military aircraft. For the most part anything that Halifax can. The weather is better for flying there than any airport in NS. There is a large amount of ground space not utilized. Air traffic control is capable of handling significant increases in volumn.
The cost to access CYZX infrastructure is very reasonable when compared to owning an airport. On going costs to use CYZX are significantly less than operating your own airport.
Air cadets base their power and glider aircraft maintenance at CYZX and could gain savings from operating their training there. This is a “built in potential” for general aviation expansion.
14 Wing air traffic control has already stated the general aviation activity would be an advantage to them. There are many more operations at CYZX that could hold potential for expanded activity on the general aviation side.
This would be a great start to building significant aviation economic activity in Kings County.
However,
Not one dollar of this will happen unless MOK votes to support establishment of general aviation at CYZX by signing the main lease with 14 Wing and funding the initial infrastructure. By doing this MOK, 14 Wing Greenwood and the aviation community will have a great general aviation start at CYZX. User fees received from the aviation community will pay for ongoing costs. MOK will be planting a seed with potential to expand.
I know unlocking this potential has risk. The most significant is what future expansion will be allowed by 14 Wing. There is evidence at several other airports in Canada and the United States that military and civilian aviation can thrive together.
Freedom Aviation Society, 14 Wing Greenwood, Minister of National Defense, over 40 pilots and 20 aircraft are all committed to establish general aviation operations at CYZX. As stated by councilor Atwater, “ I can not think of a better partner to have than 14 Wing Greenwood (Canada) can you?”.
Thank you for everyone who played a part in making this possible. I encourage every MOK councilor to vote yes on 19 Jan.
Paul Easson
Chairman
Freedom Aviation Society”
