The economic importance of the Vernon airport was spelled out to city council Tuesday when Ian Hawes from the Vernon Airport Corporation 
put forward the airport’s business plan.“The goal of the airport ought to be the creation of economic activity in Vernon,” said Hawes.“The Economic Impact Study shows there are in excess of 100 jobs at the airport right now which in terms of wages and benefits accounts for about three and half million dollars. The indirect impact is closer to 375 jobs, with an economic impact of close to 14 million dollars.”Hawes said he is concerned that many residents don’t appreciate this fact. “It’s very clear the airport has significant impact on Vernon and unfortunately it does so under the radar and a lot of people don’t know that there are a lot of businesses and so many people working out of the airport,” he said. He also added that, “it’s important for the overall economic future of the airport that we have a longer runway,” he said. “We have recently extended the runway 200 feet which is as far as we can go without having to deal with Vernon Creek.”Extending the runway 400 feet will will require relocating
Vernon Creek, Hawes said.The cost, Hawes estimates, would be around $4 million and the Corporation was seeking funding from the provincial government. Hawes sees the longer runway generating business from flights servicing local resorts and possible scheduled services for small commuter aircraft, as well as enhancing overall safety for all aircraft. However, Coun. Barry Beardsell questioned parts of the plan which proposed the airport should exploit a niche in which it would service charter operators bringing in people to resorts.“That, to me, sounds like spending a bunch of money so the rich and famous can come in and out and that really bothers me,” Beardsell said. “We’re not here for the rich and famous but for the overall benefit of the community.”Hawes replied that, “the goal is to get an infrastructure in place so that resorts can get their guests here . . . certainly a lot of them are rich and we want them here spending their money.”In order to make a regular scheduled air service in Vernon Hawes said the airport needs a 4,000 foot runway but the high cost makes that “a real tough sell.”
put forward the airport’s business plan.“The goal of the airport ought to be the creation of economic activity in Vernon,” said Hawes.“The Economic Impact Study shows there are in excess of 100 jobs at the airport right now which in terms of wages and benefits accounts for about three and half million dollars. The indirect impact is closer to 375 jobs, with an economic impact of close to 14 million dollars.”Hawes said he is concerned that many residents don’t appreciate this fact. “It’s very clear the airport has significant impact on Vernon and unfortunately it does so under the radar and a lot of people don’t know that there are a lot of businesses and so many people working out of the airport,” he said. He also added that, “it’s important for the overall economic future of the airport that we have a longer runway,” he said. “We have recently extended the runway 200 feet which is as far as we can go without having to deal with Vernon Creek.”Extending the runway 400 feet will will require relocating
Vernon Creek, Hawes said.The cost, Hawes estimates, would be around $4 million and the Corporation was seeking funding from the provincial government. Hawes sees the longer runway generating business from flights servicing local resorts and possible scheduled services for small commuter aircraft, as well as enhancing overall safety for all aircraft. However, Coun. Barry Beardsell questioned parts of the plan which proposed the airport should exploit a niche in which it would service charter operators bringing in people to resorts.“That, to me, sounds like spending a bunch of money so the rich and famous can come in and out and that really bothers me,” Beardsell said. “We’re not here for the rich and famous but for the overall benefit of the community.”Hawes replied that, “the goal is to get an infrastructure in place so that resorts can get their guests here . . . certainly a lot of them are rich and we want them here spending their money.”In order to make a regular scheduled air service in Vernon Hawes said the airport needs a 4,000 foot runway but the high cost makes that “a real tough sell.”
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