Red Deer Regional Airport plans to unveil its plans for a new terminal this month.
An open house has been set for Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to announce the airport is moving ahead with the second phase of a major upgrade.
The airport celebrated the grand opening of phase one in a ceremony on July 27. That work included widening the runway to allow for 737-sized passenger jets to land. An apron and taxiway were also refurbished.
The next big project is a $3 million terminal able to accommodate 189 passengers — the capacity of a 737-800 aircraft.
Nancy Paish, the airport’s director of business development and communications, said open house visitors will get a sneak peek at the design for the terminal.
Construction is expected to begin late this month or early October for a fall 2024 opening date. Having an upgraded terminal is seen as a critical step in luring ultra-low-cost carriers to the Red Deer market.
The airport got a $30 million boost from the provincial government in its April budget.
Over the next two years, the provincial funding will be spent providing services, including fibre optic links to the land next to the airport as well as connecting Airport Drive with an upgraded Township Road 374 to the north to provide a second access.
Meanwhile, the annual Girls in Aviation Day event is set for Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Hangar A of Scottsville Aviation Services.
Visitors can see aircraft up close and talk to pilots and other aviation officials while checking out displays from local companies, colleges, and aviation schools, as well as numerous other professionals who can highlight the possibilities in aviation careers. There will be hands-on activities designed to impart knowledge about aviation principles and the STEM fields encompassing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The free event primarily caters to girls aged 8 to 17, but attendees of all backgrounds are welcome.
Last year the airport hosted the event for the first time with only five weeks to prepare and 800 people showed up, said Paish.
This year, they are expecting about 1,500. “We’re seeing much bigger pre-registrations already from last year,” she said. More than 30 exhibitors are signed up.
Those coming are asked to pre-register so organizers know how many swag bags to have ready to hand out.
The 9th annual Girls in Aviation Day is an international event hosted by Women in Aviation International. More than 150 events are planned at airports, FBOs, museums, and hangars across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Some 30,000 girls will be introduced to the career and lifestyle possibilities in aviation and aerospace.
For more information and to register go to girlsinaviationalberta.com