A new beginning for General Aviation…

The inevitable closure of Buttonville Municipal airport, Canada’s 7th busiest airport, has been looming over the heads of businesses, students and pilots alike since the announced sale. 170,000 aircraft movements per year need a new home and fast because the airport is set to close within 3 years. The combined, “close” proximity airports, Oshawa, Downsview, Toronto Billy Bishop and Lake Simcoe Regional are not able to expand enough to accommodate the massive amount of aircraft movements Buttonville entertains each and every year.

For decades there have been proposals to build an international airport on land in Pickering which has been met with continuous protests since 1972.  The government expropriated the land with the intention to build an international airport 40 years ago and since then, the lands have remained empty and unused. All that may change in the very near future as the Pickering Airpark seems to be gaining some ground and that is only good news for General Aviation folk like me. According to their website, http://www.pickeringairpark.com/, they are hoping to break ground as early as August 2012 and have the airport in operation by the time Buttonville marks their runways with dreaded large white X’s.