The Moose Jaw Municipal Airport has come a long way since the airport authority board was created in 2018. 

Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Authority Chair Greg Simpson presented the airport’s strategic plan to Moose Jaw City Council on Monday night. 

Simpson said, when the airport took the reins in 2018, they had an airport that was built in 1979 and needed work. 

At the time, the airport was a single paved runway of 2,954 feet and 75 feet wide with lighting and a supporting taxiway. 

The airport was home to Provincial Airways, Skydive South Sask, 12 hangars and about 30 privately owned aircraft with no land available for new hangars. 

Fast forward to 2024, the runway has now been expanded to 4,000 feet. About 2,600 linear feet of new taxiways have been constructed and the airfield lighting and power distribution system to the point the airport’s power is maxed out and an upgrade would be needed for further expansion. 

A new hangar access road has been constructed at the airport and surface drainage has improved. Since expansion, there have been four new hangars built and one more is currently under construction. 

The airport now employs 22 full-time staff and over 300,000 acres of farmland is served by two crop dusting companies. The number of privately-owned aircraft at the airport has grown to about 35. 

As of 2022, 3,100 flights originated from the airport, an increase of 70 per cent from 2015 with more than 90 per cent of those flights being related to business activities. 

“I don't think most people realize how many local businessmen are using the airport for business purposes and I think that's going to be a big part of our economic development future,” said Mayor Clive Tolley. 

Simpson said one of the biggest partnerships the airport has is with the Royal Canadian Air Force and 15 Wing Moose Jaw. 

“All I have to do is remind you of the 600 drivers of cars who were at the airport last year to come and see the Snowbirds. We see the RCAF Harvards doing daily practices, touch-and-goes there,” said Simpson. 

Simpson hinted that an announcement could be coming soon from SkyAlyne about the future of training at 15 Wing that could open up more opportunities for the airport. 

Coun. Crystal Froese added that 15 Wing benefits by allowing the Snowbirds to use the municipal airport airspace for training. 

“Without being able to allow the Snowbirds to practice out there, that would not allow 15 Wing to maximize their training schedule and meet their needs out there. Without the municipal airport, that wouldn't be possible for them,” she said. 

The airport is looking at creating a second apron, a multi-purpose terminal and an education centre which could help the airport a Canadian Board Services Agency Area of Entry designation for flights from the United States, and the replacement of the airfield lighting system. 

“I think the key here is to, as an airport authority, doing infrastructure investment. We want to know that we are putting buildings and taxiways and roads in the right location,” said Simpson. 

The airport authority’s biggest challenge is funding these projects. The apron is estimated to cost about $1.5 million, the multi-purpose terminal would have a price tag of $1.7 million and the lighting system replacement would cost $1.15 million. 

There are limited surplus funds that the airport authority can put towards those projects, but they would need help.  

The provincial Community Airport Partnership matches up to $275,000 in funding. However, Simpson said the program was oversubscribed this year. 

Meanwhile, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is no longer available. 

Simpson also put a bug in city council’s ear about possibly using Land Use Funds for airport projects.