Business View Magazine - July 2024

foam testing. Training for airport rescue firefighters is rigorous, with an initial 40-hour training followed by annual refreshers and monthly drills to maintain readiness. CORPORATE AVIATION AND SEASONAL TRAFFIC Chautauqua County Airports serve as crucial hubs for corporate aviation. The region’s dual airports, Jamestown and Dunkirk, cater to the northern and southern parts of the county, respectively, and even extend their reach into Pennsylvania. Fischer provides insight into the corporate activity, explaining,“We see different traffic at both airports. Most businesses flying into Dunkirk head north. For example,Wells, which bought Blue Bunny Ice Cream, uses Dunkirk frequently, and so does Ferrero Rocher. Purina also flies in occasionally.” On the other hand, Jamestown Airport has its own set of corporate visitors. “Our biggest user is Cummins,” Fischer notes. “They fly in business jets and schedule flights for around 35 employees twice a week to work at their local plant.” However, she mentions a seasonal limitation: “In winter, we can’t accommodate their larger aircraft due to runway length, so they divert to Erie and drive over.” Beyond these regular corporate flights, the seasonal nature of some traffic is evident. Fischer highlights, “Chautauqua Institution sees a lot of flights from May to September, with visitors using corporate charters or their own planes.”This influx ties closely to the institution’s cultural events and activities, contributing to a seasonal surge in air traffic. Additionally, the area attracts unexpected and high- profile visitors.“We once had Major League Baseball Corporation here for a golf outing,” Fischer recalls. The presence of influential figures, often owning second homes on Chautauqua Lake, further elevates the airport’s status as a key gateway. “Chautauqua Lake is a huge tourist spot. Many bigwigs have summer homes here and fly in during the season.” WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION The aviation sector faces significant challenges, including a shortage of skilled labor in pilot and maintenance roles. Fischer describes Chautauqua Aircraft Sales’ pivotal role in workforce development. “One of our largest tenants here is Chautauqua Aircraft Sales. They start young kids in avionics, and most of their staff start young and stay on after training. It’s remarkable because people come from all over the world for their services.” In addition to aircraft maintenance, flight training is a key focus area. Fischer continues, “We have Great Lakes Flight Center, our flight school, and Jamestown High School has just created a new program. They’ve equipped it with flight simulators to spark interest in aviation among students.” This initiative offers hands-on experience and directly encourages students to pursue aviation careers, addressing the pilot shortage. The school provides free flight time, motivating some students to advance to formal flight training. Further illustrating the educational outreach, Fischer 186 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 07