The federal government is making a major investment in the expansion of industrial and commercial land at Kelowna International Airport.
Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr announced $22.4 million from the Build Communities Strong fund to support a $58.8 million development of the east lands at YLW.
“The Kelowna International Airport is already a major economic engine for our region. This investment will unlock valuable airport lands, attract new investment and aerospace companies, and create skilled Canadian jobs.
We’re strengthening Kelowna’s economy while creating new opportunities for Canada’s aerospace industry to grow, right here in the Okanagan,” said Fuhr.
The funding will help cover the cost of construction of water, sewer, electrical and communications infrastructure to service 165 acres that is being opened up for companies like FireSwarm Solutions, Wildcat Helicopters and De Havilland Canada.
“We have letters of intent with them, and we will be working with them towards agreements,” said Phillip Elchitz, director of airport operations and innovation.
“We’re already starting to work on the actual parcels,” he added. “We have a pretty good idea of where De Havilland is going to go and where FireSwarm is going to go and where Wildcat is going to go. So, really a lot of progress so far, and we expect things to be in the ground pretty quickly.”
Work on the first phase of development is slated to begin in the spring and wrap up in 2028.
The three companies who have signed letters of intent were taken on a tour of the site on Monday, along with local dignitaries.
“There’s endless possibilities,” said Sherry Brydson, co-chair of the De Havilland Canada board.
“For a long time now, we’ve been looking for a warm place in Canada where we can do finishing for our aircraft.”
Extreme weather in places like Calgary creates challenges for the aircraft manufacturer.
“Winter is obviously very difficult to fly and to test,” said Neil Sweeney, VP of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada.
“The water bombers in particular are unable to be tested in winter, but equally difficult is the summers, because sometimes you have very large hailstorms that come through Calgary. Hail and aircraft do not mix.”
Emerging businesses like FireSwarm Solutions, will get the chance to grow alongside bigger players in the aerospace industry. The company is developing ultra-heavy-lift drone technology for aerial wildfire suppression.
“We will be able to deploy these machines at scale in the decades to come. So having this drone innovation hub co-located at an airport alongside De Havilland and Wildcat Helicopters is a perfect mix,” noted FireSwarm CEO Alex Deslauriers.
On top of the $22.4 million from the federal government, another $36.4 million has been authorized by Kelowna city council to be financed through the Municipal Finance Authority, with repayment through airport reserves.
Article sourced from Castanet.
