Supporting Small Airports and Aerodromes: an Interview with Committee Chair Marion Smith about the Potential Impact of OACAP

By: AMCO Staff

Members of the Airport Management Council of Ontario (AMCO) are aware that the Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program (OACAP) has been the focal point of advocacy since the spring of 2024. By its design, the program is meant to provide capital assistance to small airports and aerodromes that do not qualify for federal funding thus resolving a known funding gap. Copies of the program have been shared with municipal and provincial politicians as well as diverse stakeholders to build support for the initiative. Promotion of this important programming continues in 2025.

Yet, how is the OACAP and its hopeful adoption perceived by small airports?

Laura McNeice, the CEO of AMCO, recently conducted a short interview with Marion Smith ─ Airport Manager at the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport and Chair of AMCO’s Small Airport and Aerodromes Committee. As a steadfast advocate for community airports, Marion spoke to the role of the municipal airport in the community, funding challenges faced by small airports, and how programming like OACAP would be beneficial.

LM: What role does the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport play in the municipality and in the region?

MS: The Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport serves several vital roles within our municipality.

Firstly, the airport supports regional connectivity by providing charter services that offer faster and more direct access to larger cities and other regions, enhancing the overall connectivity of our community. This can be tied to the role of economic support through facilitating business travel, tourism, and the movement of goods, which contributes to the economic vitality of our municipality.

Emergency services and medical services, emergency response and disaster relief, and safety and security infrastructure rely on the airport as well. We facilitate critical services for medical flights, including both fixed-wing and helicopter transport, ensuring rapid access to healthcare in emergencies. Further, the airport acts as a base for search and rescue operations, both civilian and military, and providing launch points for emergency response teams and disaster relief flights. The Ontario Provincial Police, Coast Guard, and Ministry of Natural Resources utilize the airport to support their operations which ensure the safety of the region.

Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport is that site that offers aviation education and training. We host a flight school that supports the development of aviation skills within our community and nurtures the growth of future aviation professionals.

We support general aviation and hobbyists. Our site encourages a sense of community among recreational pilots and aviation enthusiasts and supports local organizations such as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA).

It is also important to us to be engaged with the community. We often host special events like COPA’s FlightFest and Timmerman’s Legends of Flight Mustang and Mustangs. These events being the community together, showcases aviation, and generates a sense of local pride and interest in what we do. By extension, the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport is important for tourism promotion, too. There are opportunities for scenic tours of our municipality and assistance of visitors engaged in local activities. Key ones include golfing and hunting. All of this contributes to regional tourism as well.

LM: What funding challenges does your airport face?

MS: As a small airport, we face numerous funding challenges. The main challenge is limited government funding. While certified airports with scheduled services are eligible for infrastructure and development funding through the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), airports without scheduled services are not eligible for this funding, despite being subject to the same operational requirements and regulations.

Though small, we have high operating costs still. Maintenance of movement areas, the terminal, management, and Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) remain significant costs.

Funds are needed for facility upgrades and modernization. Our current facility requires substantial upgrades and modernization to accommodate new technologies and support increased air traffic. However, the costs associated with these upgrades are often prohibitive, and we face challenges in securing the necessary funding due to limitations on municipal funding.

Amongst these issues, small airports face barriers in revenue generation, too. Small airports typically generate lower revenues from landing fees, and in the absence of scheduled services, they are also unable to collect revenues from onboard or passenger service fees. Concurrently, unlike larger airports, we do not have the same opportunities for diversification. Large airports may benefit from real estate development, retail spaces, or other commercial ventures, which provide additional income.

LM: What would the impact of a program like OACAP be on your airport and others?

MS: A funding program would greatly benefit our airport and others by addressing several key challenges we face, ensuring our long-term sustainability, and strengthening our contribution to the local economy.

By offering or assisting with the necessary funding for projects such as additional taxiways, runway widening, and apron expansion, the program would help us enhance our infrastructure to meet growing demands.

With infrastructure funding support, we would be able to free up existing resources, allowing us to better cover ongoing operational costs and maintain efficient day-to-day functions. Operational stability is key.

Funding would help provide the infrastructure needed to introduce scheduled services, thereby improving regional connectivity and supporting local economic development by facilitating business, tourism, and travel.

By supporting the implementation of new technologies, we could improve our navigation systems and ensure the continued operation of essential systems such as our Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS), which is crucial for safety and operational efficiency.

Financial support would help ensure the long-term viability of our small airport, allowing us to continue serving our communities, meeting safety standards, and adapting to evolving aviation demands.

Without support from a program like OACAP, small airports risk facing financial challenges that may hinder their ability to operate or invest in necessary improvements.

Marion embraced the opportunity to share a concise yet overarching view of how a provincial capital assistance program, like OACAP, would be beneficial policy decision. She concluded, “A dedicated funding program would provide vital support for small airports, enabling us to enhance our infrastructure, improve services, foster economic growth, and ensure the sustainability of our operations for years to come.”

We thank Marion for sharing her candid thoughts regarding capital support programming for small airports and aerodromes. AMCO understands the importance of raising awareness and pursuing such programming on behalf of our membership, so the year ahead will see advocacy on the matter continue.