By Ally Dunham

Dryden city council has approved a lease with Morgan Fuels for the land associated with the operation of a Fixed Base Operation (FBO) located at the Dryden Regional Airport during their Nov. 21 Regular Council meeting.

In 1985, the town of Dryden entered into an agreement with Dryden Flight Centre (DFC) for the establishment of a Fixed Base Operator at the Dryden Airport. An FBO in common practice is a primary provider of support services, primarily fuel, to aviation operators at a public-use airport.

The DFC arrangement was based in the form of several agreements related to land and services, which included being the representative for Imperial Oil Limited and extended for 26 years.

The primary for DFC has decided to retire and in order to ensure an orderly, professional and profitable transition for all parties of the important services found at the Dryden FBO, the building and other non-land assets has been sold to Morgan Fuels.

According to a report by George Friesen, airport manager, Morgan Fuels is a very reputable business that has a presence throughout this region and beyond. This development bodes well for not only the FBO operation at the airport, but has the potential for a number of other opportunities related to fueling and transportation of such.

The lease is a standard agreement based on a five-year period with a renewal option for a further five years. The land lease rate is pro-rated to reflect 2011 rates based upon a Bank of Canada inflation factor added to the base rates established by city council.

This lease, along with associated Imperial Oil operating documentation linked to the FBO operator allows for the safe and secure availability of aviation fuel services at the Dryden airport.

Friesen reports that this effort remains within the current stage of the Dryden Regional Airport Industrial Commercial Development Plan.