From the District Municipality of Muskoka:
Muskoka District Council is pleased to appoint Zaina Alhillou and Eileen Waechter to the Muskoka Airport Board of Directors.
Zaina Alhilou is a highly regarded aviation industry expert, recognized for her innovative approach to airport capital planning and her execution of highly intricate aviation programs, all while navigating the complexities of airport operations. She enjoys a stellar reputation as a strategic thinker with sharp foresight for master planning and growth projections. As the current Director of the Program Management Office at Nieuport Aviation, Zaina has spearheaded transformative enterprises and capital programs, showcasing a unique approach to data analysis as well as a future-oriented vision in relation to the advancement of both aeronautical and non-aeronautical initiatives and revenues.
Eileen Waechter is an experienced aviation executive and trusted advisor, who brings a depth and diversity of knowledge and record of success across many dimensions of an airport’s business and operations. Prior to her recent retirement from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), Eileen provided direction and oversight of its engagement with industry, business, and other stakeholders to advance Toronto Pearson International Airport’s strategy and growth plans.
Learn more about the newly appointed members of the Airport Board of Directors by viewing their biographies online. For more information, please visit https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/airport/about-yqa.aspx
“On behalf of the Board, I want to extend a warm welcome to Eileen and Zaina to the Muskoka Airport Board of Directors. Their combined expertise and wealth of industry experience comes at an exciting time as the Board prepares to implement the Airport master plan.”
“Eileen’s expertise in airport operations, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement from her tenure at the GTAA and Zaina’s commitment to sustainable growth and reputation as a trusted industry collaborator will be invaluable as we continue to work to achieve the Board’s strategic plan for the Airport.”
- Don MacKay, Muskoka Airport Board Chair
“We’re delighted to welcome two new Board members with such a depth of knowledge and experience. And as we welcome new members, we would like to recognize the leadership and contributions of two retiring members, David Legge and Ashwin Jadhav. Both brought tremendous value to board discussions and helped shape the future of development at the Airport through its new master plan.
Special thanks are extended to David, who was one of the seven inaugural members of the Board that were appointed by Council in 1998. David’s technical expertise and strategic thinking were instrumental in helping the Board establish a strategic plan and create a vision for the future of the Airport.”
- Jeff Lehman, District Chair – Ex-officio member of the Muskoka Airport Board
Muskoka Airport
The District operates the Muskoka Airport (CYQA), which is a Transport Canada Certified facility, providing a vital link to the air transportation industry in the Muskoka area. The Airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. The public terminal building is located at the south end of the airfield and hosts a Little Norway Memorial display and a 24-hour pilots’ lounge.
The Airport provides services year-round and is a key economic development driver for the Muskoka area by providing services for both business and personal travel. During the summer season, the Muskoka Airport sees over 70% of its annual 15,000 aircraft movements from charter companies, corporate flights and recreational flyers.
The Airport also provides a variety of community and social services by way of providing support to Air Ambulances, electrical power companies and a variety of government organizations such as OPP, Corrections Canada and the Department of National Defence.
For more information about the Muskoka District Airport visit: www.muskokadistrictairport.com
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John Whitty says
More non-pilots joining the board.
More backwards, unsafe decisions coming up.
The chair and CEO have bombarded council with misinformation for years leading to major mistakes by council.
Neither are pilots or have aviation competence.
Muskoka Airport continues to go backwards, rapidly.
All competent airport management around the world knows going backwards from 2 to only 1 runway drastically reduces safety and usability of any airport.
There have already been accidents due to the closures.
The latest and earlier consultants also agree with pilots that maintaining 2 runways is the best long term plan.
The latest consultant showed council how proper development can be done without affecting two runways.
Councillors were finally aware they have been presented with misinformation leading to the mistake of closing the grass runway.
For no reason at all.
In particular the fact that the alternate runway 12/30 presented to council by current airport management is not viable.
It never was.
Nothing to do with cost as claimed.
Councillors were not happy their time was wasted for years discussing 12/30.
12/30 was never a viable option because airport neighbours will not allow their trees to be cut down or cut back.
There should have been due diligence regarding this before 12/30 was presented to council as an option 3 years ago.
Obvious incompetence yet council is planning to pay $343K of taxpayer dollars to give the incompetent board even more autonomy.
Unbelievable.
Councillors understood the value of a second runway and voted that closure of the grass runway was contingent on immediate construction of a viable alternate runway.
In order to maintain Muskoka as a 2 runway airport as it has been for decades.
As 12/30 is not an option many councillors instructed airport management to halt any talk of leases or development of the grass runway as you can see in the videos below.
The same as a previous council protected the second runway in the past.
It appeared reopening the grass runway was the next step.
Finally, a correct decision appeared imminent.
In spite of all the misinformation from the current airport management.
Video clips from of the District meeting regarding the above.
Airport neighbour delegation:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/784977919/c035d3ae48
Councillor discussion:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/784981370/3e538e4e18
Airport Management Misinformation debunked
It is documented that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, Environment Canada, Cessna, local pilots, airline pilots and others with aviation competence have thoroughly debunked the misinformation presented to council.
All those competent in aviation have been ignored.
All of the above is documented at the following website.
Proper airport layouts presented to council at their request are at the bottom.
https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/