Kincardine Council got an update on the future of the municipal airport.
The Kincardine Airport Interest Group shared some information during last week’s council meeting.
Engineer Bernhard Schropp shared that over the past three years, the Kincardine Municipal Airport has seen a 50% increase in aircraft activity, with more than 3,700 landings and take-offs.
The airport saw 39 ORNGE medical flights in 2024.
“With the recent investments made in the last 8 years through the support of the Armow Community Benefits Fund, you have extended the life of the primary runway, and added automated weather reporting, and an automated fuel system. It is a self-serve airport.”
It also serves corporate flights, agriculture, and is a community activity hub. The airport also acts as both the origin and destination for flights that are up to 750 nautical miles away. Common destinations include Saint John, Montreal, New York, and Atlanta.
The 56-year-old airport continues to function, but does not operate for free.
Municipal staff have given suggestions on how to ease expenses without sacrificing service.
Schropp says of a staff report, “We support the part-time staffing model as a reasonable, efficient solution.., Seeing the advice of an aviation professional was a good idea, because there [are] federal regulations that overlay on an airport and it’s really important to understand what those mean in terms of your liability.”
Kincardine Municipal Airport also acts as a base for Search & Rescue training for the Canadian Armed Forces with CH-130 Hercules aircraft, OPP helicopters complete surveillance for crime detection, such as looking for marijuana crops, and the Ministry of Natural Resources drops Rabies Vaccine Packets after taking off from the airport.
