Airport witnesses increased activity. (Communities of the North: Dryden).

The Dryden Airport is in growth mode, much like the city itself.

Hicks and Lawrence Ltd. is constructing a 16,000-square-foot expansion hangar and. a 2,400 square-foot office building to accommodate their relocation from St Thomas, Ont.

Hicks and Lawrence Ltd. carries out contract work for the Ministry of Natural Resources. The company specializes in forest fire, spotting, forest fire bird-dogging and combating forest fires. The hanger expansion will accommodate all of the company's 26 aircraft.

The company had originally purchased a hanger in 1985 and had 10 planes based in Dryden during the summer months.

"Since all the work is up there it just makes sense to put. our total operations there," says Duane Hicks, co-owner and operations. manager. "Our contracts are in Northern and northwestern Ontario. We want to deliver a better service to our customers."

The anticipated completion date is-early spring. The project has been slowed somewhat due to an early October snow fail and modifications to the original design, which called for extra steel to be put in.

"Winter has come early and come with vengeance," says George Friesen, Dryden Airport-manager. "We have the concrete work completed."

Local contractors are completing all the work. When completed an office manager and office clerk will be hired, and on the maintenance side, an at least two engineers will be hired. The company will also be doing all their training in Dryden every spring, bringing at least 30 people into the town for two months. Direct and indirect financial impacts are expected to be around $1.15 million to the economy.

The airport will benefit from annual income from land rental revenues, increased fuel sales and more activity at the airport.