The Saugeen Municipal Airport has some big plans for 2011.
Airport officials are urging member municipalities to open the purse strings wide at budget time.
The member communities are Brockton, Hanover and West Grey.
Vice Chair of the Airport Commission Dave Schmidt says the money is needed to upgrade the airport facilities and its infrastructure.
He says in order for the Saugeen Municipal Airport to maintain its status as a registered airport — it needs to keep its facilities and equipment up to par.
Schmidt says the status is something they can’t afford to lose as it is directly linked to government grants as well as corporate flights to the airport.
There are plans to add a hanger, runway, equipment and upgrades to the building — plus the board also wants to create a strategic plan this year.
Schmidt says forging stronger municipal partnerships with the Airport will be a key focus.
Schmidt notes the airport brings tourist dollars to the region — and it’s now time to collaborate with the municipalities on how to better market the area to these pilots.
Last year the airport boasted the equivalent of three thousand round trips.
