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Military Economic

Impact at Southport

Visit Southport on a day with clear skies and you’re sure to hear 350 $48
the whirl of helicopter blades or the muted roar of an engine Jobs in Million in
overhead. That’s because Southport Airport is the home of 3 Military Related Military Related
Services GDP
Services
Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3CFFTS), the primary
training school for most Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots. 570 $67
Total Southport Million in total
It’s estimated that 80% of all pilots earn their wings at 3CFFTS Jobs Southport GDP
in Southport, making it a crucial piece of the RCAF training
program.
Although the majority of the activity on Southport Airport is
training-related, Southport is not a military base. Southport was
formed after the closure of Canadian Forces Base Portage la $22 $ $70
Prairie in 1992. The military flight training that takes place on Million in Million in
Military Related
site is through a private contract with KF Aerospace - Defence Military Related Economic Output • Indoor & Outdoor Tracks
Services Wages
Programs, the training provider.
$33 $111 • Cardio Area
As the key tenant, Military flight training (MFT) services are a
Million in total Million in total
significant part of the business at Southport. However, MFT Southport Wages Southport Economic
Output
related services remain a significant part of the business. Military • Weights Area
flight training and its related services have a considerable
presence on site, fully utilizing six commercial buildings in Military or military support occupations make up • Full Gymnasium
addition to the airport. more than half of the jobs on site with a total of 350.
In addition to physical presence, the combined services that The MFT contract also creates $22 million in wages, • Climbing Wall
Southport provides for the MFT contract also contribute a $48 million in GDP and $70 million in direct output to
significant portion of Southport’s overall economic impact. the region. With these staggering numbers, it’s easy
This is according to the Economic Impact Study released by to see the significance of military flight training as a
Southport in 2017, which also highlights how the impact flows vital part of Southport and the Portage la Prairie area.
out to affect Portage la Prairie and the region.

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