Overview of Drummondville airport’s history

1947

• Mr. Robert Bernard, the owner of a plot of land along Route 19 in Saint‑Nicéphore, has built a 1,500 x 150‑foot grass runway. A hangar is moved from Bagotville to Drummondville, where a mechanical workshop is set up.

1953

• Philippe Bernier, who holds a flight instructor’s license, founds a flying school with the help of a few helpers. The first two pilots to obtain their license were Suzanne Bernard, a 16‑year‑old girl, and Gérard Perron, mayor of Drummondville’s Saint‑Joseph parish.

1961

• In the late 50s, Drummondville’s city council bought the existing runway from Mr. Bernard, Union Nationale deputy for Drummond County, and acquired land adjacent to it, with the firm intention of providing Drummondville with a runway capable of handling larger aircraft.

1962

• A pilots’ association is formed. It sets up the infrastructure needed to obtain a hydrobase permit, given the proximity of the Saint‑François River.
• With financial support from the federal government, a 4,000‑foot‑long, 75‑foot‑wide runway was built. At the inauguration on September 25, 1963, many dignitaries and some 10,000 people were treated to a splendid air show.

1964

• The airport’s management is entrusted to Larry Morin, who holds a pilot’s license. For 12 years, he served as manager. He was succeeded in 1975 by Claude Gaudet, who stayed on until 1981. Services aériens Drummond took over from 1982 until March 1999.

1993

• The late 80s and early 90s brought some concerns. The economic context called into question the relevance of an airport structure and its management. Marc Leclerc, André Veilleux and Jacques Scalzo, all passionate about aviation and involved in the community, became involved in the airport project with Jean‑Guy Spénard, treasurer of the Drummondville municipal council.

1995

• The Corporation de l’aéroport régional de Drummondville was founded on November 13, 1995. This non‑profit organization’s mandate is to promote the development and management of the airport. Mr. Veilleux, Mr. Leclerc, and Mr. Scalzo will act respectively as president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer on the Corporation’s board of directors, but also as volunteer members. A three‑phase plan for infrastructure revitalization and improvement is developed.

1999

• The City of Drummondville begins Phase 1 with a substantial initial investment, enabling the construction of a new airport terminal and the installation of new fuel tanks. The entire infrastructure of the parking area has been revamped, making it possible to accommodate 25 aircraft on an asphalt surface. The Corporation injects $100,000 into the purchase of equipment.

2003

• The City of Drummondville implements Phase 2, making significant investments in infrastructure redevelopment: the manoeuvring area is enlarged to accommodate larger aircraft, the taxiway width is increased from 45 to 65 feet, and the lighting system is completely redone. A helipad and a PAPI category 1 approach lighting system are also installed. The Corporation reinvests a substantial amount in expanding the terminal building and installing a new communications tower.

2004

• The Corporation has created a website for the airport. A development plan for the airport park is drawn up in conjunction with elected municipal officials.

2005

• The Corporation proceeds with the development plan for the new airport park submitted to the City—infrastructure construction (Phases 1 and 2). The development plan includes zoning changes to allow private, commercial or industrial use, the possibility of purchasing or leasing land, and work planning for the first development phase. The same year saw the refurbishing of the seaplane landing platform at the hydrobase.

2006

• We completed the infrastructure for Phase 1 of the airport park. The new park underwent two new constructions in the same year. The Corporation continues to work with elected municipal officials on the planning and implementation of Phase 3, which will see the redevelopment of the existing runway into a new 6,000′ x 150′ runway.

2010

• The City of Drummondville entrusts management of the airport to Drummond économique (formerly Société de développement économique de Drummondville [formerly SDED]).
• The Corporation de l’aéroport régional is dissolved.
• The airport becomes an economic development tool.

2011

• Drummond économique (formerly SDED) begins a 5‑year strategic development plan for the airport. The Drummond économique team also foresees the possibility of developing an industrial hub linked to the aeronautics sector.

2017

• Extension of the airport strip to 6,000 feet and widening to 100 feet, notably for safety and economic development reasons.
• Total investment: $8,260,000 plus taxes
  
  • City of Drummondville contribution: $5,765,000 plus taxes
  • Federal government contribution: $2,495,000 plus taxes