She agreed to check up on some of the airparks we shared with her and recently she sent us the following information about Telford:

“The AirPark at Telford never got off the ground. It was subject to a public enquiry and planning was denied even though every residential plot was spoken for and the industrial units too. Funnily one of the Directors is now my flight instructor – she’s excellent. Just passed my Air Law and hopefully 1st solo soon.”

“In this country, the Mackenzie District Council subdivided 33 sections on land next to Pukaki Airport in 2008, which returned more than $1.5 million.”

Gary Gallagher, Bill Armstrong and Tom Donald of the Big South Fork Airpark began planning the community in 2006.

The Big South Fork Airpark has realized over 19 properties and homes sold or reserved in the initial development phase. However, houses at the peaceful community are still available, and work on the next phase has already begun. With the announcement of phase one completion, all infrastructure and amenities are in place, including fiber optics, natural gas, city water and sewer, roads, hangars, airport access, equestrian and hiking trails, equestrian training areas and stables. Every current and future home site has easy access to all of the exciting activities in the area. By setting strict rules about how and where homes could be built, the community has worked hard to leave the environment intact, preserving its natural beauty for the residents, while providing the luxury of modern facilities.

One of the most unique features of the Big South Fork Airpark Community is that it also offers a full-care, full-boarding equestrian facility, truly catering to aviation and horse enthusiasts alike. The 450 acres of the BSF Airpark connect directly to 180 additional miles of horse trails in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

BSFA offers 1-3 acre home sites, starting at $99,000. Two personal hangars, starting at $95,000, are still available. BSFA grounds total 450 acres and include a 5,500 foot runway with 4 instrument approaches served by the Scott County Airport complete with on-site maintenance facilities and 24 hour fuel. There are endless outdoor activities in the bordering Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area including: camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and river rafting.

“Airparks have proven successful elsewhere. Twin Island Airpark, 20 km southeast of Edmonton, and Okotoks Air Ranch, 50 km southeast of Calgary, have offered similar opportunities to those who like to keep their heads in the clouds. The idea has proven popular in the U.S., where more than 600 airparks have been developed.”

Mr. Sclair,

Could you please, help me with:

1. Do you think that Americans already living in a Fly-In Community could be interested, as a secondary home, to by one in Canada?
2. How popular is it to have a home in more than one Fly-In Community? Is that the exception?
3. How would you promote a new Fly-In Community?

Many thanks,

Isabelle

Ms. Turcotte:

Thanks for inquiring about secondary fly-in homes in Canada.

There is a certain number of Americans who live in residential airparks and other pilots who don’t live in airparks who probably would be interested and financially able to acquire a second home in Canada, particularly on an airpark. I think the primary group of interested pilots are ones who enjoy fishing and hunting and could find a place on or near a lake or other somewhat remote area where they could enjoy their sporting activities.

I think the idea of having a second home in a fly-in community is very popular, but I don’t think there is a large segment of the aviation community that currently enjoys such a lifestyle. In other words, I think it is the exception.

Finally, promoting a new fly-in community is relatively easy. We constantly print stories about such projects and our advertising section lists numerous fly-in communities.

I’m copying our advertising manager, Larry Price, who can assist you in preparing an advertising budget for your project. Please send us details about the community, whether it is currently existing or in planning, so we can add it to our list in the appropriate category.

Please keep in touch.

Sincerely yours,

Dave Sclair

“FREE 3-acre lot to the first person to move with your plane to our airpark at www.OzarkSkies.com. $50,000 value. Identifier: 05AR. Contact Bob Rutz, 479-665-2887.”

Additional information about Ozark Skies from Bob Rutz:

1. Right in the middle of our airpark, Gary Ciocco and his family have moved recently. He has an A&P license and refueling certificate (in case our Homeowner’s Association decides to buy a fuel tank.) Gary also has years of experience working on military helicopters. He is our first anchor owner.
2. The reason we’re offering a FREE lot to our second anchor owner is our grass airstrip looks a little different from what most airstrips look like. As you land (always) on 24, the first 1500′ has a 1% to 2% upwards slope. The last 500′ of our 2000′ strip is even steeper, and will quickly kill any airspeed you may have left. Gary says it’s the kind of airstrip a C130 was designed to land on. For takeoff (always) on 06, you will have all the airspeed you need in the first 500′ downhill, with the last 1500′ seldom needed. This works good with the prevailing winds. The reason we need an owner flying in and out of there is to show newcomers how safe it is. Pilots of the planes who have already landed here see no problems with it.
3. Ozark Skies Airpark is part of Living Springs, the established community at www.ChristianCommunities.com described as making an effort to become self-sustaining by putting greenhouses on its 60 acres of bottom land which can be gravity-fed by our 40-acre fishing lake.
4. There are a number of beautiful $250,000 to $400,000 log homes here. We will finish drafting the Airpark Homeowners Association covenants with the help of the first Homeowners who join the flying part of our community!

“The extension is part of a multi-pronged investment in the airport. Other initiatives will see the construction of a new 1,800 square-foot terminal building, resurfacing of the existing runway and a feasibility study on establishing an airport industrial park and airpark. The majority of the money – 90% or $2.1 million – came from the federal Community Adjustment Fund.”

Does anyone know if the Community Adjustment Fund and/or Transport Canada has any restrictions against thru-the-fence operations on a federally funded airport? If you know, comment below. Either way, click through to read the story. Hopefully some exciting things happening in Tillsonburg.

“The proposed subdivision, dubbed Appalachee Bluff, is eventually going to include more than 50 lots — each with a 2,400-square-foot home, including 30 overlooking the runway itself — as well as hangars, a riverside view for 12 lots and, of course, an airstrip running down the center of the entire design.”