Located equadistance between the Cities of Barrie and Orillia in the Township of Oro-Medonte, adjacent to a major Canadian Highway, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is situated in one of the fastest growing areas in Canada.  Within minutes of the airport, there are numerous facilities which can meet the needs of both pilots and passengers visiting LSRA.  In addition, the airport is less than an hour’s drive from the Greater Toronto Area. 

History

The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport came from an idea that was born back in 1975. In that year a committee, known as the Barrie Airport Advisory Committee, was appointed with the purpose of pursuing funding for airport development through the Province of Ontario. Following expansion of the Provincial Airport Development Program in 1976, the Committee regrouped and, in 1977, published a report entitled "Report on a Proposed Barrie and District Municipal Airport". This report examined the merits of the existing airport in Barrie (Barrie Executive Airpark - Anne Street), and concluded that its 640 m. (2100 ft.) runway was not capable of expansion due to urban encroachment. A recommendation was made that a municipal airport constructed on a new site would benefit the district, and selection of a site for an airport should be initiated.

Site selection for a new airport was carried out in three phases. The first site selection study reported on its findings in a report entitled "Preliminary Selection and Evaluation of Potential Sites". This study examined an area of 18 km radius from the intersection of Highways 11, 90 and 26, excluding an area 8 km radius from the CKVR television transmitter tower. From a total of 31 potential sites, 4 of 13 sites were were finally short-listed as having the greatest potential for airport use.

The second phase of the site selection process, carried out by the engineering consulting firm of R.E. Winter & Associates Limited in 1979, evaluated the four short-listed sites and reduced the selection to two, the "Drive-In Theatre" site and the "Caribou Restaurant" site, noting that there was little difference to choose between them. One of these sites, near the Caribou Restaurant, included the area in Oro Township (now Oro-Medonte Township) in which the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport was finally located.

In the third phase of site selection in 1980, a further evaluation was carried out to assess the merits of a site in Innisfil Township and compared this to the "Drive-In Theatre" site. Some four years later, in 1984, an Airport Master Plan was prepared by the same consultants for a site near Thornton in Innisfil Township, but development of this site did not proceed.

As the "Caribou Restaurant" site in Oro Township had been among the final two sites short-listed in the evaluation carried out by R.E. Winter & Associates in 1979, the City of Orillia became interested in the prospect of having an airport approximately midway between Orillia and Barrie. In 1983 the City of Orillia commissioned a study to determine the economic impact of an airport located in Oro Township. This study, entitled "Economic Impact of a Proposed Municipal Airport in Oro Township" focused on the impact of an airport at the Caribou site and concluded that a positive economic impact would be realized.

No further progress was made on the airport issue until 1989, when following a publication of the Ontario Airport System Plan by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Barrie area was identified as having a deficiency in air accessibility. A new airport for the Barrie district was recommended in this study in order to service the growing area population and to support economic development. Consultation between the City of Barrie and the Township of Oro resulted in an expression of interest and support by both parties for development of an airport in central Oro. With the support of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the two municipalities proceeded to acquire land in the 6th and 7th Concessions of Oro Township, close to the Caribou Restaurant.

In late 1989, with virtually all of the necessary lands acquired, consultants were appointed to undertake a detailed environmental and engineering evaluation of the acquired site, and to prepare preliminary plans for airport development. The airport development proposal was presented to the public at meetings held in February, 1990.

The City of Orillia formally joined in partnership with the City of Barrie and Township of Oro (now known as Oro-Medonte Township) in March 1990, and became a full member of the Oro-Barrie-Orillia Airport Commission.

Construction of the new airport commenced in the spring of 1990. The initial stage of development, funded by the Province of Ontario, comprised a 1067 m (3500 ft) section of runway which was opened at a public ceremony held on November 1st, 1991. Construction of the remaining works within the first development stage (runway extension to 1525 m - 5000 ft, public apron, terminal building, car park and access road) was delayed pending approval of federal funding. Approval for construction of these elements was finally obtained in November 1991, following completion of an "Initial Environmental Evaluation", a requirement under the federal Environmental Assessment Review Process. In the meantime, so that opening of the airport would not be delayed into 1992, an interim apron, car park, access road and services were constructed on the north side of the runway.

In January, 1992, the Airport Commission approved the designation of the airport as the "Oro-Barrie-Orillia Regional Airport".

The initial stage of development extended the runway to 1525 m (5000 ft) along with the completion of a modern terminal and apron facility on the south side of the airport, and construction of taxiways to the runway and to future hangar development areas. The new terminal building was officially opened on May 14th, 1993. In 1993, management of the airport was awarded to Bayflight Ltd. Bayflight had managed the Georgian Bay Airport in Parry Sound since 1979.

The airport became an Esso (Imperial Oil) dealer and two 25,000 L tanks were installed to provide 100 LL Avgas and Jet A-1 (with Fuel Icing Inhibitor) to aircraft.

On May 1st, 1996, the name of the airport was officially changed to Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, to better reflect the areas that the airport now services.

In 1997 traffic numbers at LSRA skyrocketed. There were 21,088 toal movements in 1997 compared to 12,161 in 1996. Many local companies now use LSRA regularly for flying executives to and from, and emergency freight shipments. Medevac flights are a very important part of LSRA's traffic - with Ontario's newest hospital, Barrie's Royal Victoria Hospital, only 15 minutes away. Plans for expansion at LSRA are on the go, which will help to accommodate the increased traffic.

The new mid-point turnaround was completed in 1998. Traffic numbers continued to grow with 1999 fuel sales projected to be at their highest level yet. In 1999 LSRA was approved for a GPS Approach. On September 1, 1999 the management of LSRA took a new direction. Mike Drumm officially became Airport Manager with the staff being hired directly by the Airport Commission.  A new tenant, Canadian Flyers International came on board operating out of the main terminal building.

In 2000, The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport was selected by Nav Canada for a non-precision, stand-alone GPS (Global Positioning System) approach.  The grass taxi-way area was also paved, allowing for easy access to the North tie-down area by general aviation aircraft.  As traffic and fuel sales continue to grow at LSRA, and with the growth in Simcoe County, the airport is planning for increased exposure and expansion to take it into the new millennium.

In May 2001, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport was officially granted status as a Commercial-Port-of-Entry by the Canada Customs Revenue Agency.  In the past, as a General Aviation Port-of-Entry, the airport was only allowed to accept International passengers.  However, with this new designation, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport can now accept both International passengers and freight, making this facility one of only a select few airports in South/Central Ontario with this unique characteristic.  With this new designation, the airport will now play an even larger role in our local industrial community.

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Lake Simcoe Regional Airport

Address: 224 Line 7 North, RR#2
Oro Station,
Ontario L0L 2E0 Canada
 

Tel: (705) 487-0999
 

Fax: (705) 487-1411

URL: http://www.lakesimcoeairport.com/

E-mail:  lsra at csolve net

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