The owner of Alberta Skydivers approached Beiseker council to discuss plans to expand operations at the Beiseker Airport on Feb. 10.
Ian Flanagan, owner and operator of Alberta Skydivers, was present in council to explain his plan for expansion and to answer questions from council.
Flanagan proposed expanding into five more lots out of a possible eight that are undeveloped on the property as well as a 12,900 square foot field for a new septic field.
“My immediate problem is that the well and the septic tank are less than 10 metres apart (9.2 metres),” Flanagan told council. “Alberta Health has told me that I need to move either the well or the septic tank this year or they will not issue the permit I need to operate the kitchen.”
Alberta Skydivers has an exclusive contract with the British Military to use the Beiseker Airport and the Suffield base to carry out “Adventurous Training.” Flanagan explained that there are two years left on the current contract.
“The British Military sends us 48 people at a time who spend six days at our facility at the Beiseker Airport,” he said.
“The bunkhouse and the kitchen that I purchased in 2005 are well past their best before date…. I don’t have enough hangar space to store all of my airplanes. I would like to build a new bunkhouse/kitchen, a new aircraft hangar and a new septic field.”
While council looked favourably upon the plans, Mayor Ray Courtman was cautious about allowing Alberta Skydivers to have majority control over the facilities at the airport.
“I’m excited about a few things here, but on the other hand, I don’t want Alberta Skydivers and Beiseker Airport to be mutually exclusive,” Courtman said.
Courtman explained the new plans from Alberta Skydivers would deviate from the existing development plan set out when the Village took control over the airport from the Province in 2010.
“The plan was once all the lots in the south were developed, we would move to the taxi area and then develop in the north,” Courtman said.
“These plans would change that.”
Flanagan explained he plans to contract out to commercial operations on the lots, that would generate income for the airport, and diversify offering at the airport.
“Perhaps a simple coffee shop open during the summer to the civilian clients of Alberta Skydivers or anyone else who happens to be at the airport,” Flanagan said.
“I am actively looking for someone who wants to open an aircraft maintenance facility on the airport.”
Council accepts Flanagan’s presentation as information, and plans for expansion will be discussed later, the date was unknown as of press time.
