M.D. to lease airport terminal for proposed flight school

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
The Municipal District of Willow Creek will lease the Claresholm airport terminal building for a proposed flight training school.
At its Sept. 23 meeting, M.D. council was asked by Derrick Krizsan, the M.D.’s chief administrative officer, for authorization to enter into a lease agreement for the airport terminal for the purpose of using the terminal building as a flight school classroom.
The flight terminal portion of the building would remain open for airport use.
He proposed $1,000 per month plus utilities for the lease.
Krizsan explained Canadian Flight Instruction is proposing to bring a flight training school to the Claresholm airport.
The project would include flight instruction for approximately 40 international students per year, and construction of a new hangar on property currently being subdivided at the airport.
Canadian Flight Instruction has requested the opportunity to lease a portion of the terminal building at the airport for classroom instruction of students.
The M.D. of Willow Creek has also undertaken an application for subdivision to create a lot for the construction of the flight school. The lot sale price would include subdivision costs. Cost of utility connection would be at the developer’s expense.
“I can’t imagine a better scenario,” said Coun. Darry Markle, noting the building has been largely empty for years. “Couldn’t be a better outcome.”
Markle also suggested administration talk to the existing users of the airport for their input as development at the airport progresses.
He also noted that airport users who were at the Calgary airport have, by virtue of increasing costs, moved to the Springbank airport, then when costs increased there, moved to High River.
As these facilties fill up, Markle said the Claresholm airport will stand to benefit.
Council then authorized administration to enter into the lease agreement.
(Please page five for related story)