Lindsay Chamber Airport Survey Results

January 18, 2008

LINDSAY – Recently the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey where it explored its membership’s views regarding the Lindsay Airport. A media announcement was made inviting the public to attend an information session on January 14, 2008 at City Hall where input on the future operations of the Lindsay Municipal Airport was heard from the Airport Task Force. This task force consisted of 4 councillors and the Mayor.

Survey results are as follows: based on a membership of 610, the Chamber received a response of 16.5 percent, a commendable response as on average the response ranges between 7-9 percent. The survey covered a respectable cross section of businesses within the area, and the majority of members felt that the airport is an important and necessary piece of infrastructure to our business community.

View Survey Results

Of the 99 members that responded, 87 felt that multiple modes of transportation for Economic Development were very important, 8 felt it was somewhat important, 2 felt it was moderately important and 2 felt that it was not at all important. When ranking the different modes of transportation in level of importance, respondents felt that highway infrastructure was most important, then air transportation, shipping rated third most important and it was felt that rail was not at all important. Given the proper infrastructure, members ranked the following potential uses for the airport: 86 members felt incoming Business Travel was most important, 85 felt that Air Ambulance was an essential use of the airport, 69 relayed that outgoing Business Travel was of value and 52 saw the use of Air Transportation as being important.

In response to the survey, several respondents commented on the importance of the Airport to their business, from incoming visitors not only from Canada but the USA, as well outgoing business flights was an attraction to business in this area. It was very clear in the survey results that MedEvac (Air Ambulance) was a significant contribution to this community. Whether used as an incentive to employers and potential employers, relocating employees, or through personal experiences, the Air Ambulance service was mentioned continuously throughout the survey.

In summarizing, the survey results showed that the airport has significant regional impact throughout the entire city. This includes the air ambulance service for the hospital; as well it has an important method of transportation and linkage for business. Major uses of the airport include commercial tourism, business flights incoming and outgoing, MedEvac, aircraft maintenance and recreational flying. The airport is an essential piece of infrastructure that should be maintained.

The Airport Task Force will be holding more public information sessions in the future to assist in gathering the facts and figures needed in order to present their final report and recommendations to city council. Watch the Chamber website for dates and locations of these sessions.

For further information contact:

Gayle Jones, General Manager
Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce
705-324-2393

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