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Airfield’s fate in the hands of study |
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The city of Sherbrooke announced plans to conduct an impact study on the viability of the Sherbrooke airport.
The results of the study, expected within the next two weeks, will help direct the Corporation de developpement de l’aeroport de Sherbrooke decision on the future of the airfield. 
COREY BELLAM
The announcement was made by city officials after flights from Sherbrooke to Toronto were grounded last week.
Pascan Aviation was forced to ground the Toronto flights after only three weeks of operations as the air travel averaged only two passengers a day.
A previous study conducted by the city found that 60 people made the trek to Toronto from Sherbrooke each day, and according to municipal councilor and corporation president Pierre Boisvert, they needed to find a way to attract more of those passengers.
“This study will help us determine if we can turn this flight in particular into a profitable venture,” said Boisvert. “This will act as a guide for us to formulate the modifications necessary to the airport.”
Boisvert also noted that the study should be useful in justifying potential funding from different levels of government.
“The runway hasn’t been repaved in 25 years when it should normally be done every 15-20 years.”
In order to qualify for such funding, an airline must be present at the airport, and it must have a minimum of 1,000 passengers per year.
Without the Toronto flight, that number of travelers is unattainable.
However, Boisvert is confident that there is a place for the airport, even if the Toronto flight is permanently removed, as businessmen, military personnel and the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke all make use of its services.By Joe Strizzi
East Angus 2009-04-14 |
Montreal Canadiens
