KAWARTHA LAKES - The city's airport management board has prepared a comprehensive, 80-page case for investment, and a business vision, it hopes can attract $7 million in federal and provincial funding.

Tabled at Tuesday's city council meeting, it outlines an ambitious future if a total of $8.092 million can be spent between now and 2017 - one that includes commercial passenger flights to Toronto and other southern Ontario cities.

"It is believed that air taxi/scheduled passenger service serving Kawartha Lakes is viable provided that an air carrier can be attracted that will provide a high quality, reliable and reasonably priced product offering," the report said..

The executive summary outlines that the city would have to acquire 18.5 hectares of land to the north and west, as well as either terminate or reroute a section of Monarch Road.

The money would be spent on a total of 29 items, including the expansion of the terminal/flight school/restaurant complex and rehabilitation, expansion, widening of existing runways and apron.

The longer runway would allow for commercial and corporate air travel within North America. They would also develop a parallel taxiway on the north to improve runway capacity, safety and to segregate commercial activities from the general aviation/public side of the airport.

A revised aerodrome would accommodate bigger planes, such as Boeing 737s.

The plan also includes developing an airside industrial/commercial area to the north, for cargo, corporate, manufacturing and maintenance.

There is a call for a more prominent passenger and GA pilot terminal area north of the present location with expanded apron area and redeveloping and expanding the existing general aviation area, including space for additional hangars and apron area.

If the money is spent, the report estimates general aviation itinerant traffic will increase 3.5% a year, that the passenger service could grow 3.5% a year, local movements by 1.5% and cargo by 1%.

Further, it says there could be a 10% jump on aircraft based at Lindsay Airport initially, tapering off a to 3.5% annual increase.

"The case for investment and business vision presents an ultimate development concept for a fully built-out airport which not only makes the best use of available lands, but helps ensure a flexible, responsible and logical plan of development," the report says.

Ward 9 Coun. Andy Luff, who is leading the initiative, said the ultimate goal is to attract $3.5 million from the federal government and $3.5 million from the provincial government.

He said the airport needed to be brought up to standard to receive certification for things such as a passport office so pilots can fly into and out of the USA.

"We are a ways away from it, but that's the dream."

-lisa.gervais@sunmedia.ca