The Oshawa Executive Airport is “Supporting Business and Building Community, One Flight at a Time,” but it’s more than a tagline, it’s a significant business offering a variety of services including corporate, medical, police, military, flight training, and recreational flights with a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) commercial Port of Entry, and is home for two regional Air Cadet flight training programs.
“Collectively the airport and the airport businesses combine to be one of the largest employers in the Region and while creating jobs in aviation and generating GDP is great,” says Stephen Wilcox, Airport Manager. “The primary role of the airport is to support the hundreds of jobs across the Region which the airport does every day with over 5000 corporate flights in 2016.”
As part of Oshawa Executive Airport’s commitment to being a good neighbor, the airport has limited after hours operations, has established a new Airport Community Liaison Committee, and flight training strategies to minimize impacts. These strategies are an integral part of Oshawa Executive Airport’s strategic plan: as one of the top 30 busiest airports in Canada; one of the 5 primary airports serving the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area (GGHA); the only commercial airport located east of the Don Valley Parkway (DVP); and as a vital component of the Region of Durham and East Greater Toronto Area transportation infrastructure.
Statistically, corporate and medevac traffic has increased by 50 percent in the last five years, with overall movements through the airport forecast to increase a further 60 percent over the next five years. To support this growth over the coming years, the Airport is undertaking a $6M reconstruction of the 4250 foot primary runway later this year.
The two flight training schools located at the airport – Durham Flight Centre and the Oshawa based Canadian Flight Academy (CFA) – have both invested significantly in their growth at Oshawa Executive Airport. This growth addresses what a December 2016 Global News report calls “a looming shortage of aircraft mechanics and pilots in Canada.”
“The aviation industry is predicting a demand for over 600,000 pilots in the next 20 years,” says Stephen Wilcox. “The airport is pleased to be home to two state of the art private career aviation colleges offering Durham’s youth a chance to obtain their commercial pilots license.”
Oshawa Executive Airport continues to be an important part the social fabric of the Region. To learn more about the broad range of services available visit www.oshawa.ca/airport
