THUNDER BAY — A local company has expanded its hangar at the Thunder Bay airport, with a big helping hand from the province.
KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. received $340,764 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) back in May.
Ian Gillies, Principal Aviation at KBM Forestry Consultants Inc, told Newswatch the new 6,400 square foot expansion allows additional room to house their aircraft.
“With aircraft, its dimensions are pretty key to making sure you've got a big enough door. It's like your garage at home, you never quite build it big enough,” Gillies said.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland was at the hangar on Tuesday to announce the funding.
“KBM provides valuable resources or services to our natural resources industry," said Holland, "which of course, is the cornerstone of the economy here in Northwestern Ontario.”
“So, it's exciting to see us being able (to provide funds). That's what NOHFC is all about. It invests in those businesses that are providing those important services and jobs and to Northwestern Ontario,” he added.
KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. is a consulting firm offering a range of services including aerial survey and geomatics for the mining and forestry sector.
Gillies mentioned when parking one of their large-sized planes, the pilot had to do some tricky manoeuvring to get it through doors.
With the new hanger, that is no longer an issue.
Gillies noted that another benefit of the expansion is that maintenance has more room to work on the planes.
“We can support more maintenance staff. We were kind of tripping over each other on the other side before,” he said.
“Having more space means we can have more aircraft being worked on at the same time means bringing on more staff and being able to better serve our own needs, as well as, those others in the industry in Northwestern Ontario,” he added.
KBM saw a need to provide additional mechanical services at the Thunder Bay International Airport.
Small plane enthusiasts passing through the area can land at KBM for repairs.
“There are not a lot of facilities to support and make repairs to those aircraft. So, one is transiting aircraft moving across the country. When they stop into Thunder Bay, if they have a problem or if they need maintenance or oil change, that type of thing, there were very limited options to service those people coming through,” Gillies said.
“So, with this expanded facility and more staff on board, now we're able to support those travelling folks and also existing small aircraft operators and owners in the Thunder Bay area that really had very few options left for performing maintenance on their aircraft,” he continued.
