Details and plans continue to come together regarding a seaplane base on East Lake Tohopekaliga in St. Cloud.
Aviation is an economic segment the city is working to become a part of. At a recent update to the City Council, St. Cloud Economic Development Manager Antranette Forbes noted aviation creates $144 billion in economic impact statewide.
“(There’s a) Correlation between economic development and the seaplane base, it provides an opportunity for an economic boost in terms of growth and new aviation jobs,” Forbes told the Council.
Terry Lloyd, the former director of Kissimmee Gateway Airport and St. Cloud’s current aviation coordinator, said a base, which would be a new development tied into the lakefront park, would be the only such facility in the Orlando urban area. Currently there are facilities in Tavares in Lake County and a private one in Winter Haven in Polk County.
The city was accepted into the Florida Aviation System Plan as of Oct. 13, Lloyd said.
“This allows us to apply for FDOT grants in about three years from now. The sealane ‘runway’ is already defined and is licensed by the state, acknowledged by the FAA and depicted on the aeronautical charts and pilot databases,” he said. “Essentially, planes can already land and take off all day long, and they are, we just don’t notice it because they aren’t coming to the shore.”
The sealane, in the southern quarter of East Lake Toho, is licensed for operation by the Florida Department of Transportation’s aviation unit, and work is ongoing for inclusion in its Aviation System Plan. Lloyd said Orlando International and Kissimmee Gateway airports are already factoring in St. Cloud’s seaplane operations.
An Airport Master Plan in progress, and Lloyd said completing it is necessary for future FDOT grant funding — as much as $550,000 available for construction costs, floating docks and fueling capacity at the lakeshore.
The city is working to complete marketing and advertising efforts that coincide with a tentative construction completion date, as well as crafting an Emergency Response Plan with city departments to deal with any contingencies that might come up.
According to Lloyd, the facility could expand to include a dedicated seaplane ramp, beach area for planes to “park”, and the opportunity for revenueproducing facilities, like small hangars and/or a maintenance shop at Chisholm Park at the north end of the lake.
