When the Saugeen Municipal Airport (SMA) is mentioned, people often say, “What airport? I didn’t know we had an airport around here.”
We do, in fact, have an airport located in Brockton, on Airport Road, just west of Marl Lake. It has been serving our communities and beyond since 1962.
The airport is owned by the municipalities of Brockton, Hanover and West Grey, and the Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission oversees the facility. There are five members of the commission: three councillors, one each from Brockton, Hanover and West Grey; and two members-at-large appointed by the municipal appointees. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of Tim Olds, airport manager, with additional staff who ensure the maintenance of the facility.
The commission’s monthly meetings are open to the public with agendas and minutes posted on the airport website at www.saugeenmunicipalairport.com, which also includes information for pilots, the public and businesses.
Besides being a hub for recreational pilots, the airport is important for emergency services including ORNGE, Ontario’s air ambulance and medical transport service, and the OPP. There is a top-notch flight academy that trains and certifies pilots and provides sightseeing flights. There is a restaurant, which also provides a catering service, and facilities for rent include a 20-seat boardroom and the dining area overlooking the runways which can accommodate events of up to 130 people for events such as weddings and seminars.
The airport has 253 acres of land with 56 acres leased out for crops. It offers hangars for rent, as well as land to lease for anyone wanting to build their own hangar. The airport sells fuel and is a popular stop for pleasure and commercial aircraft wanting to refuel.
The Friends of the Saugeen Municipal Airport, a volunteer group which is a chapter of COPA, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, hosts annual events including Kids Fly SMA that takes kids up in planes, and Hope Air which raises money for patients who must travel long distances for medical care. The group is an active participant in Culture Days, a festival celebrating artists and cultural groups in our local communities.
Look for future articles about the airport, including how it contributes to the economic development of our region. In the meantime, visit the airport for breakfast or lunch, and check out this important regional asset.
– Submitted by the Saugeen Municipal Airport
