News - Stephenville International Airport

Speaking to representatives of municipal councils from the area, he stressed the need to take Stephenville airport through to where it’s a viable operation once again.

“It’s no secret that in recent weeks our town council has put a lot of money into the airport with up to $200,000 for supplies and wages to take it through the winter; another $135,000 for work on beacon lights located on the hills near approaches to the runway; and money to have a consulting firm to first get the airport’s financial books in order, then to carry out a business plan,” he said.

He explained that he looks at it as they are where they are and they have a vision of where they want to be, and Stephenville town council feels confident the airport can be returned to a viable state.

It is hoped the consultants, Grant Thornton, will complete the business plan for the airport by the first week of November.

O’Brien said they will then have something to present to government.

“The bottom line is we feel Stephenville airport, while located in our town, is a south west coast airport,” he said. “We believe a business plan can be put into place and hopefully be accepted by both levels of government.”

O’Brien noted up until now it has been 100 per cent of Stephenville taxpayers money that has been pumped into the airport, but it’s getting tougher for the town to “go it alone.”

“Moral support is appreciated as the more voices heard, the better; but we can use financial help as well,” he said.

Right now it’s difficult to get a mainstream carrier to go into the airport because of the uncertainty there, according to O’Brien.

He said they wouldn’t take a chance on plugging into an airport that might not be there next week.

Questioned by Peter Fenwick, president of the joint council, about what the main financial problem is at the airport,

O’Brien said there is a combination of things, but the single biggest problem is servicing aircraft that want to come in.

Bread and butter
He said the airport’s bread and butter is in corporate and heavy aircraft, but there have been many times when they had to be turned away due to there not being enough fuel in stock to supply them.

The fuel storage capacity is only at about one-quarter of what they need.

O’Brien said maybe they could become a mini Transport Canada and have oil companies provide the service.

He said all these companies will pay to be on your airfield and each of them have their own customers.

In relation to the issue of providing the repairs to the beacon lights for the airport, Coun. Mike Tobin of the Stephenville town council said this was a soul-searching exercise for him.

However, he said he found his comfort level in the fact the provincial government said they would look at the business plan when it was ready to be presented.

He said the fact the airport could lose its certification might mean there would be no looking back and if the provincial government is in with providing help for the airport, the federal government would follow suit.

“If the certificate is pulled, you’ll have a hell of a time to get it back,” O’Brien said.

Following O’Brien’s presentation, Fenwick put the matter to a vote with those in attendance agreeing the South West Coast Joint Council is supportive of Stephenville to develop a new business plan and they would be discussing the matter further at their new meeting once the business plan is completed and is presented to them as well.