OSHAWA – Members of Council, dignitaries and business and community leaders celebrated today the official re-opening of the new main runway at the Oshawa Executive Airport.
The official take-off of the renewed runway included a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the runway followed by a bus tour of the rehabilitation project. On hand were Region of Durham Chair and Chief Executive Officer Roger Anderson, Oshawa Mayor John Henry and members of City Council, dignitaries, Regional and City leaders, local businesses and airport users.
The ceremony began in the Enterprise Airlines hangar, which overlooks the main runway, Runway 12/30. As a thank you, Mayor Henry and Councillor Aker presented the air charter company with an Oshawa flag, which an Enterprise flight crew will fly down to Antarctica this winter.
Built in 1941, Runway 12/30 underwent a complete rehabilitation beginning in early September 2017 with the project completed on-time and within a short timeframe of five weeks.
The rehabilitation work included: a full depth excavation of the runway to remove all organic material; placement of a new granular base and new aviation grade asphalt; painting of all runway markings and replacement of all runway lighting with new, low-cost L.E.D. lighting; addition of runway safety areas; and construction of a berm to the north of houses along Jane Avenue.
“The all-new runway is a tremendous asset for the regional Oshawa Executive Airport,” said Councillor John Aker, Chair of the Development Services Committee. “Offering two runways, a contemporary terminal, hangar space and service support, the Oshawa Executive Airport is fully positioned to continue to support the growing aviation needs of Durham Region, the Greater Toronto Area and southern Ontario.”
“The Oshawa Executive Airport continues to have a crucial role in the Durham Region economy,” added Oshawa Mayor John Henry. “The airport serves as a much-needed connection and landing space for corporate, private, medical, police, military aircraft, travel and provides a full suite of aviation services.”
Flight training, air ambulance, passenger charter services, freight services, aerial police operations, aircraft maintenance and aircraft restoration services are all provided at the Oshawa Executive Airport. For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca/airport.
