The deteriorating situation involving Stephenville Airport is having far-reaching implications beyond air travel in the area.
The town of Stephenville says the situation is now having an impact on operations at the Marine Institute’s Fire and Emergency Services Training Centre, one of the Atlantic region’s only facilities offering both aircraft rescue and firefights and structural firefighter training.
The power was cut to the facility in early June after a disconnection notice was issued by Newfoundland Power. It was the latest in a series of serious financial issues faced by owner Carl Dymond who acquired the airport in 2023.
(Submitted/Lenny Tiller)
The airport was downgraded to an aerodrome in March.
Because there’s no power at the facility, the Marine Institute has had to delay its fall training from September to January, resulting in thousands of dollars in operational losses according to Stephenville Mayor Tom Rose.
He’s calling for immediate steps from all levels of government to secure “a stable power solution for the airport” to help preserve the program—the loss of which will “undermine provincial emergency preparedness” according to Rose.
