News
Peterborough’s new digs open for business

Oct. 18, 2011, Peterborough, Ont. – It seems that any U.S. town with an
ounce of ambition has a runway capable of accommodating narrow body jet
airliners and long-range business aircraft. So, what does a Canadian
city do to upgrade its aviation infrastructure?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces the completion of the work done on the expansion of the Peterborough Airport. Photo courtesy of the Prime Minister's Office.

In the case of Peterborough, Ont., it hired LPS Avia Consulting to develop a business case for the development of Peterborough Airport (CYPQ). Subsequent to accepting the recommendations of that study, the city established an Airport Master Plan in the spring of 2009. That lead to the creation of an Expanded Airport Development Program (EADP) and discussions with federal and provincial authorities regarding financial resources.

On October 16, 2009, the City of Peterborough was awarded $7 million from the federal government and a similar amount from the province of Ontario. Together with the city’s $14.6 million contribution, the EADP now had a budget of $28.6 million.

Upon completion, the airport had a new passenger terminal, an expanded apron and, most importantly, a 40 per cent longer runway. The new 7,000 foot “09/27” can now handle airliners of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families and enables ultra-long range corporate jets to launch on 6,500 nautical mile missions. It is now the longest runway (excluding CFB Trenton) between Toronto and Ottawa.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper (right) and Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty (left) ask Scott Duncan, interior completions manager for Flying Colours Corp., for a little assistance. Photo courtesy of the Prime Minister's Office.

On October 14, the renamed Peterborough Municipal Airport was officially opened in the presence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Numerous local politicians, city administrators and aviation industry players were also on hand to view the results of a two-year project that came in on budget and on schedule.

A key aspect of the airports upgrade is its role in developing local employment through the construction of a comprehensive aviation industrial park on the site. Flying Colours, the airport’s largest tenant, is already busy as a completion centre working on Bombardier Challenger 850/CRJ200 aircraft. It plans to do interior completions and refurbishment work on larger twin-jet airliners and the new runway will assist in that effort.