Stephenville airport could soon lose power, as N.L. fires up air ambulance contingency plans
Electricity disconnection looms at west coast aerodrome if utility bills not paid
It could be lights out at the Stephenville Dymond International Airport later this week, if the beleaguered operation doesn't pay its utility bill.
Newfoundland Power has confirmed it issued the airport a seven-day "notice of disconnection" due to "outstanding account issues."
In an emailed statement, the utility wrote that it "remains available to work with the airport to resolve outstanding account issues required for continuation of service."
It marks the latest financial hardship the airport has seen since it was purchased by Ottawa entrepreneur Carl Dymond in August 2023.
Dymond bought the facility for $6.90 and a payment of more than $1 million in existing liabilities.
Since the sale, Dymond has been hit with a $2.4-million lawsuit by Tristar Electric, which alleges it hasn't been paid for its work to install a new runway lighting system.
Earlier this year, lawyers for the airport got permission to withdraw from the case because they say they haven't been paid either.
That news came on the heels of the airport being downgraded to a "registered aerodrome," meaning it is not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations.
There are eight registered aerodromes on the island portion of the province, including those in Bell Island, Clarenville and Port aux Choix.
Health minister says air ambulance plan in place
In March, the province said it would continue to use Stephenville for its air ambulance service.
According to statistics collected for the Health Accord and published in 2023, there were 290 air ambulance flights to Stephenville over a previous 3 1/2-year period. That amounts to about seven flights a month.
Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell told CBC News the province has been working on a contingency plan in the event Stephenville's airport can't be used.
"The medical professionals do this type of work, day in, day out, and there could be reasons why an airport isn't available," Howell said, citing issues like runway maintenance.
"This is just another one of those examples where we had to build a contingency plan," Howell said.
"And we're confident that NLHS has taken all the appropriate steps to mitigate, as much as possible, the risk factors that we can control."
In a broad sense, the contingency plan could include a mix of resources and assets.
That includes two runways "in close proximity" to Stephenville — Deer Lake and St. Andrews in the Codroy Valley — "that may be able to be utilized," according to Howell.
"There may be a combination of road transport, air transport, or even using a helicopter in instances where that's appropriate," she said.
"The folks who are making these decisions, the medical professionals, will determine what is the most appropriate asset to deploy."
Council has stressed importance of air ambulance service
In January 2023, before the final sale to Dymond was approved, the Town of Stephenville gave the airport $50,000 to keep the operation running.
Councillors who voted to approve the grant framed their support around the importance of the airport in providing an air ambulance service.
"I have to say yes, because it's the taxpayer's life that comes into play," said Coun. Myra White at the time.
"And I know it's $50,000, but I look at a life, and what is a life worth?"
When the deal to sell the airport was initially announced in September 2021, Carl Dymond said he planned to spend hundreds of millions and create thousands of jobs.
His vision included the construction of massive high-tech drones. Those plans have yet to materialize.
Dymond was not able to be reached for comment.
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