"Airport of Tomorrow" Ran Out Of Tomorrows

What happens if you build an out-of-the-way new airport, and don't close the convenient old airport? Montreal's Mirabel Airport might be an illustration.

Constructed in the Trudeaupian interlude between Expo '67 and the '76 Olympics, Mirabel came with all modern conveniences and, unlike urban Dorval, plenty of room for expansion. It was the most ambitious airport plan in the world, and the largest area (since surpassed by Saudi Arabia's King Fahd airport).

But initial optimism evaporated rapidly, as the airlines bolted back to Dorval (now named, ironically, for PM Pierre Elliot Trudeau, one of the midwives of Mirabel). Even Dorval never saw its traffic grow as forecast in the rosy 70s, and Mirabel barely limped along, losing millions.

The last Air Transat charter out of Mirabel left in 2004, and the passenger terminal's been silent ever since. Now it may gain a new lease on life -- as an aquatic theme park.

A European consortium, I-Parks-Oger, has taken an extendible 25-year lease on the terminal building for a project they call AeroDream, (French, RevePort), which they call an "indoor escape destination". Their year-round tropical resort opens in 2007.

The park comprises existing buildings plus several new geodesic domes, totaling 100,000 square meters under cover. The domes form spherical 3-D display screens, transporting visitors to exotic, distant planets.

The key draw, perhaps, is an indoor beach, "creating a tropical atmosphere and an invitation to a siesta." Plans include a giant aquarium where visitors move through acrylic tunnels inside the tanks; a fitness center; multiple cinemas; and the usual ways to part tourists from money: shops, arcades, bars and restaurants, most featuring an aquatic theme.

In 1975, the terminal was state of the art, and unique in that passengers could walk as little as 100 feet, and even from the farthest corner of the parking lot less than 200 yards, from parking to airplane seat. It was "the Airport of 2000!" Ambitious plans included six jet runways, a STOL runway, and six terminals.

The airport was supposed to cost a half-billion Canadian dollars; in the end it went for the full billion, even though only two runways and one terminal were built.

But the eclipse of Montreal as a business center relative to Toronto, longer-ranged  aircraft that could bypass Montreal, and the absence of reasonable ground transportation, were all nails in Mirabel's coffin.

Mirabel continues as a cargo terminal, but is closed to GA. One runway was closed in 2005 leaving only 06-24 open.

According to the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, the underutilized tower controllers welcome instrument approaches and touch-and-goes, but no full-stop landings. (There is no airside access to the ground side, anyway).

Perhaps l'elephant blanc will succeed in its new role. Gilles Assouline, president of I-Parks-Oger, told the trade magazine Amusement Business, "It's the first time an airport has been transformed into a theme park." 

Guess he hasn't been to the 'Fantasyland' of Oshkosh (or 'Tomorrowland' in New Mexico). But if there's a way to integrate GA into his latest venture, he could have a fantastic fly-in destination.

FMI: www.admtl.com