De Havilland Field | 25m | 5s | De Havilland

[CalgaryTiger]

Varcoe: New projects have Alberta's aviation hub ambitions flying high

"We are on the cusp of launching that sector in a more meaningful way in Alberta," aviation booster Richard Gotfried tells Chris Varcoe.

calgaryherald.com

Looks like it is about to get underway: "Equipment for its construction and an array of shipping containers are now on site, next to a field of canola waiting to be harvested."

Also... more detail.

Major construction on De Havilland Field will begin once the winter weather breaks next spring. It's expected the first buildings will be in operation in 2028.

De Havilland has recently been moving tools, parts and equipment from Ontario onto the site, where a farmer is growing canola on the land this summer.

 

[FCC1982]

That article also says the initial projection for 1500 employees is now estimated at 3000 at full build-out.
Great news

 

[Cowtown]

Varcoe: New projects have Alberta's aviation hub ambitions flying high

"We are on the cusp of launching that sector in a more meaningful way in Alberta," aviation booster Richard Gotfried tells Chris Varcoe.

calgaryherald.com

Looks like it is about to get underway: "Equipment for its construction and an array of shipping containers are now on site, next to a field of canola waiting to be harvested."

Also... more detail.

Major construction on De Havilland Field will begin once the winter weather breaks next spring. It's expected the first buildings will be in operation in 2028.

De Havilland has recently been moving tools, parts and equipment from Ontario onto the site, where a farmer is growing canola on the land this summer.

Has anyone been past that site recently. I wonder if construction has begun yet?

 

[Chowda7]

Saw this job posting on their site. Role is to lead the design and construction of De Havilland Field as well as developing the manufacturing and distribution operations
They were also hiring a project manager for the same team
https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/westerkirk/DEHAVILLANDCORPORATECAREERS/jobs/10820

 

[Dkeirle]

I wasn’t able to get a pic, but it appears construction has started. There’s equipment there and the field had been cleared.
Friends of mine who live in Strathmore said that the county was a struggle to deal with, but it finally got approval. Word is when spring hits the place will be busy with construction.

 

[FCC1982]

This is very exciting

 

[Surrealplaces]

This will be game changer, it's going to be fun watching the progress.

 

[Just build it]

Game changer for sure. Up to 3,000 jobs in a non oil and gas industry is huge. Not only that but this could trigger more growth in the east corridor towards Strathmore, and in the town itself.

 

[catchatyou]

trigger more growth

My only concern with more "growth" is that it's car oriented growth. I hope this comes with a robust regional public transportation option like a half hourly bus connecting Calgary-Chestermere-De Havilland Field-Strathmore. For the Calgary stop, perhaps Whitehorn Station? ...with direct connections to Airdrie, U of C, and Downtown Calgary.

 

[badc0ffee]

For the Calgary stop, perhaps Whitehorn Station? ...with direct connections to Airdrie, U of C, and Downtown Calgary.

Or perhaps a bus that uses the Max Purple busway.

 

[Surrealplaces]

I wonder if De Havilland is planning on shuttles to the site. They could leave from the Max Purple at Chestermere, but as Badc0ffee pointed out, maybe simply extending the Max purple would be better - as long as the cost can be shared.

 

[catchatyou]

I wonder if De Havilland is planning on shuttles to the site. They could leave from the Max Purple at Chestermere, but as Badc0ffee pointed out, maybe simply extending the Max purple would be better - as long as the cost can be shared.

Two big issues if I understand correctly:
1. Chestermere isn't trying to get more Max Purple service than their current 2 round trips per week day.
2. Calgary Transit's fleet aren't certified/licensed to operate on highways outside of Calgary. They were able to make the Chestermere service work because it was a shared city boundary and not going through Rockyview. This statement might not be 100% accurate, but it's along these lines.

The 17 Ave SE BRT lanes make a lot of sense to connect the service with...assuming they ever get signal priority instead of its current status of the slowest MAX line.

 

[Surrealplaces]

It looks like a few hurdles, but also administrative hurdles that could be changed if there was enough will power. The other option of having a shuttle from Strathmore/De Havilland to the Chestermere Max Purple station could also work, but would be less convenient.

 

[Albertasaurus]

Until now, Calgary has been able to get away with having a transit system that basically stops at the city limits. Now that there are roughly around 300,000 people in the region who live outside the city limits, its time to look more seriously at regional transit solutions, especially with De Havilland Field and the industrial cluster around Crossiron developing into major regional employment areas.

 

[YYCguy]

Until now, Calgary has been able to get away with having a transit system that basically stops at the city limits. Now that there are roughly around 300,000 people in the region who live outside the city limits, its time to look more seriously at regional transit solutions, especially with De Havilland Field and the industrial cluster around Crossiron developing into major regional employment areas.

Perhaps implementing a zone system like Vancouver or London UK, where you can charge a higher fare the further out from the Calgary CBD you travel to/from. That might help to cover some of the costs of a wider transit system? I’m no transit expert, just my two and half cents.