The Olds-Didsbury Flying Association (ODFA) and the Sundre Flying Club (SFC) have agreed to enter into negotiations with Mountain View County to come up with contracts that would see the groups manage and operate county-owned airports.
During the June 12 council meeting, club representatives made presentations to council.
Greg Neufeld, president of the ODFA, presented the association's proposal to manage and operate the Olds-Didsbury airport, located just off Highway 2A between the towns.
The association presented an operating concept to MVC council in April, and since that time has received “encouraging feedback that has resulted in considerable effort with respect to obtaining the information, service and advice required to operate and manage the airport in a professional and transparent manner that will satisfy all the requirements of the county,” said Neufeld.
The association is proposing an initial two-year contract term similar to that already in place for the county-owned Westward Ho Campground, “with anticipation of an extension to a longer contract contingent on a successful trial period,” he said.
Under the contract the association would maintain appropriate insurance coverage and would ensure that the airport operations are compliant with regulations.
Funding could be provided based on current tax assessed on the property, and would include the requisition portion of tax paid, he said.
Surplus revenue would be directed to a capital reserve fund for future upgrades and maintenance, he said.
Development of a long-term business plan would be undertaken.
The association's commitments would include to “promote and provide educational events to local school boards and for general aviation,” he said.
The association would also “promote and encourage commercial activity”, including maintaining the fuel system and call-out service, support flight school, encourage agriculture spray operations, and continue support of cloud seeding operations.
Neufeld identified more than a dozen businesses and operations that currently make use of the airport.
Councillors passed a motion instructing administration to enter into negotiations with association representatives to come up with a contract for the management and operation of the airport.
The reeve will also take part in the negotiations on behalf of MVC.
Following his appearance before council, Neufeld said he looks forward to the upcoming negotiations.
“It will be a unique contract, I believe,” said Neufeld. “It is their (MVC) asset so we need to make sure we take care of it for not only the county but all the airport.
“I think it puts some pride of ownership back to the people who are involved in aviation. We have a lot of people out there who are capable of running a good airport.”
The budget for yearly operational costs remains to be worked out through negotiations, he said.
“I think we are looking to live within the county budget and do the best we can,” he said.
Reeve Beattie said he is pleased things are now at the official negotiations stage.
“We've really talked about this in the past and we've given them clear direction of what we would expect in a contract,” said Beattie. “We want to reach a conclusion. I think negotiations will move quickly.
“We have to make sure we protect the county's interest. We want to put some clarity and some clear direction around where this airport is going. It is to everyone's benefit to operate the airport well.”
Once the contract is in place MVC would be involved in an “oversight management” role, similar to that in place for the Westward Ho Campground, he said.
Myron Bignold, representative of the Sundre Flying Club, also made a presentation to council.
The club is proposing to operate and manage the Sundre Airport, located west of Sundre in the McDougal Flats area.
“The Sundre Flying Club would like to enter into an arrangement with Mountain View County,” said Bignold. “The SFC are intimate with the operations of the airport and with decades of local experience, we would be pleased to negotiate an agreement whereby the membership of the flying club operates the Sundre Airport.
“The Sundre Flying Club would endeavour to operate the Sundre Airport in a sustainable and financially and fiscally responsible manner. The future of the Sundre Airport is great and we would like to participate in its development.”
Councillors also passed a motion instructing administration to enter into formal negotiations with the Sundre Flying Club.
Reeve Beattie said he is pleased those negotiations are also moving forward.
“The intention is to move forward on the same basis (as with Olds-Didsbury),” said Beattie. “It is a valuable asset. There are lots of pilots out there who want to see the airport succeed and we do too. We want to make sure it works. It (negotiations) will be a longer time frame.”
With the Olds-Didsbury association and the Sundre club agreeing to enter into negotiations with MVC, councillors defeated second reading of a proposed bylaw that would have created new advisory committees for the airports.
