Airport activity in Okotoks is being grounded until October.
Residents and stakeholders were notified on April 6 by Air Ranch airport manager Bryce Medd the site would shut down as of 6 p.m. on April 18, and all aircraft must be removed from the site by that time.
Breaches to the Obstacles Limitation Surfaces regulation of Transport Canada, such as increased wildlife on and near the airport, and an increase to safety regulations for registered airports are listed as some reasons for the closure.
“In the current situation we could not meet the requirements and regulations of Transport Canada,” said Medd. “Inspectors deem us a certified airport like Calgary or Springbank, but the level and complexity of operations are drastically different.”
There are three levels of airport operation, he said. The first is unregistered aerodromes, such as runways in farmers’ fields. The second is registered aerodromes, which are recognized by Transport Canada but not heavily regulated.
The third level, he said, is a registered airport like Calgary International.
“We’re measured by the same standards because of the residential development,” said Medd.
In 2009, Transport Canada changed its practices and enacted the safety management system (SMS), he said, which piled on layers of safety standards required for any registered airport.
On his own, Medd said he could not maintain those standards and complete the necessary upgrades and paperwork. After an inspection in November, Transport Canada gave the airport an opportunity to comply.
At the beginning of April, a deal was negotiated that would allow Medd six months to bring the airport up to code, but all flight activity had to be frozen effective April 18 - short notice for airport users.
“It was not a happy day when I had to send that notice out,” said Medd. “There are a lot of concerned people.”
One of those people is Wesley Metz, president of the Air Ranch condominium association. He built his house in 2007 and purchased an airplane to enjoy the runway in his backyard.
He said the airport is a feature of the Air Ranch community, similar to lake communities around town.
“If you lived in Crystal Shores and you came out on your deck on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and found out the developer had drained the lake, you wouldn’t be very happy,” said Metz.
He said he doubts the closure will be temporary, and is preparing for news in October that the airport will be shut down indefinitely.
Closing the airport will allow the developers to add more houses to the community, he said, which he believes is their end game.
There are no personal safety concerns at the airport, he said, but Transport Canada has listed in its deficiency report items like use of the wrong type of light bulb.
Metz said the developers are overwhelmed with the work to bring the airport into compliance. He said the best course of action would be to involve the Town, which may have staff familiar with safety management systems.
“The residents of the Air Ranch want the Town of Okotoks to get involved and have an active voice, or development is going to level our future,” said Metz. “I don’t think there’s a ton of money involved to make it work, but there would be a commitment there.”
However, the airport manager said the cost of implementing all of Transport Canada’s standards at the Okotoks airport is substantial. It would mean increasing his current budget by three to five times, he said.
“To make this work, I would need about $350,000 to $600,000 annually,” said Medd. “The whole issue comes down to money to make the changes and hire people to maintain the standards.”
As for claims the intent is to add development to the Air Ranch community, he said the focus is on keeping the airport operational and there are no plans to apply for rezoning or develop the land.
Pat Gropp owns GeodesyGroup Inc., an aerial imaging company that has operated out of the Okotoks airport since 2006. The temporary closure has forced his business to move all its aircraft to the High River Airport at the head of its busiest season of the year.
If the situation is not cleared up soon, he said, the office – which is also located at the Okotoks airport – will have to relocate to keep operations of the $2 million business together.
“It’s very unfortunate and negative circumstances for us,” said Gropp. “We live here, we work here, and we would prefer to stay here.”
He does not believe the operating certificate will be renewed in October without some major changes on the horizon and a commitment by the Air Ranch to maintain the airport.
The Town also needs to step up and take control, he said.
“The Town doesn’t have, and hasn’t had, a passion or an interest in the airport, and they should be involved in its operation,” said Gropp. “This is potentially a significant loss for Okotoks.”
Okotoks Coun. Carrie Fischer said council cannot make any decision without seeing the Transport Canada report detailing the 14 deficiencies with airport operations.
“We really don’t have a position right now, or anything to go on,” said Fischer. “We certainly hope the airport remains operational, because a lot of people bought their homes because of the airport, and they’re invested in that.
“The commitment to operate the airport should be maintained for the sake of the residents.”
Medd said he is personally committed to keeping the airport open, and will do everything possible in the next six months to make it operational.
He said the issue requires stakeholder input.
“It needs a bigger voice and wider participation,” said Medd. “People need to have a say in the airport, and the Town needs to be involved.”
Anyone interested in becoming involved in maintaining airport operations can email [email protected].
