Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
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Maintenance services.
We suggest the following initiatives:
• Review the status of existing airport users that were identified during the 2009 Airport User
Survey. Update the results with a future intended utilization survey to understand
satisfaction levels with current services as well as users’ long-term plans and required
services. This will assist with capital and service planning at the airport.
• Take an economic gardening approach to help grow existing airport businesses. Connect
businesses with the additional services and supports that users expect, and provide
technical assistance to help them expand or develop new services. For example, Air
Creebec may be constrained by lack of hangar space. Skywrench, an aircraft maintenance
facility at the Cochrane Airport, may be constrained by specific labour challenges
(attracting aircraft maintenance engineers (AME)). Actively work with current businesses to
remove constraints and assist them with their business development.
• Develop an airport attraction strategy that supports and is complementary to the current
main users and service providers (e.g., Air Creebec and Skywrench respectively). For
example, attract a fixed wing and/or rotary wing flight training school and/or Aircraft
Maintenance Engineer program. The airport and EDO can work in partnership with
Apitisiwin or Northern College to offer additional credentialing similar to Sault College’s
Flight Services program or the Canadore helicopter training school. Cochrane could, for
example, specialize in remote location flight skills.
• Promote awareness of airport-related opportunities locally and within the region. Conduct
tours of the airport, including ‘cockpit’ orientations with prospective pilots. Work in
cooperation with local and regional high school guidance counselors.
• Conduct special events based out of the airport such as Canada Day skydiving.
• Attract specialty niche users at the airport. For example the Canadian Armed Forces,
forestry spray program operators, airborne mining exploration companies, or ‘hotshot’
delivery services. Create a “unique” services airport.
Potential community leaders
• The Town of Cochrane’s new EDO (See Project 7.1.1) can support this committee.
• The town should establish an advisory aviation committee comprised of the current
aviation companies within Cochrane (Cochrane Air Services, Expedition, Skywrench,
Cochrane Airport).
Potential funding sources
• NOHFC (page 100).
• FedNor (page 95).
• Additional contributions provided by the Town of Cochrane.
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