The Moose Jaw Municipal Airport (MJMA) will officially open its extended runway during the week of June 20, and the Moose Jaw Flying Club (MJFC) will be holding a Saturday pancake breakfast fly-in to celebrate.
The MJMA runway was resurfaced last year for a total cost of $3.7 million. The runway was extended to 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), along with rehabilitation of the apron, taxiways, and lighting.
The longer runway and investment into the airport have resulted in an explosion of activity and renewed interest. New hangars have been built, local businesses are able to fly larger planes in and out, and the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance service can now use the airport more safely.
Other significant developments include the addition of a Flying School to the MJMA, run by Provincial Airways. The flight school’s Chief Flight Instructor, Candace Pardo, is also the director of the provincial chapter of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA Sask). Moose Jaw is COPA Flight 215.
Roger Blager, chairman of the MJFC and flight captain of COPA 215, has said that the extra focus on aviation in Moose Jaw is very exciting for the city’s economic outlook. He views the Moose Jaw airport as an important part of southern Saskatchewan’s history, and hopes opportunities continue to present themselves.
In May, the MJMA, along with the flying club and COPA, hosted Saskatchewan’s first-ever General Aviation and Career Conference fly-in. Vendors came from many aviation businesses, — including the Canadian Air Force and 15 Wing — skydivers from Skydive South Sask made a couple of jumps, and there were presentations on aviation careers throughout the day.
This week, the runway will be officially dedicated. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will have representatives from the various federal, provincial, municipal, and private entities that contributed funding.
The MJFC Fly-in Pancake Breakfast will be on June 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The flying club hopes to see many pilots flying in from Saskatchewan and possibly even farther. The pancake breakfast tends to be a big draw and has a reputation for being a delicious meal.
Members of the general public are welcome to come out and visit the airport for the fly-in. Club members will happily chat about anything to do with flying, and the skydivers love to talk about jumping out of planes.
Fly-ins are a great opportunity to see the airport at a busy time. Many enthusiasts in Moose Jaw and other cities in Saskatchewan have restored old planes or built their airplanes themselves from kits, and will be flying in and parking next to the runway, making for interesting displays.
Blager said that owning a plane or being a pilot isn’t a necessary part of enjoying the airport — anyone who loves aviation should participate.
