Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 3

65 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 also want to create some meeting space that can be used for community groups and open space for community events.” One of the key players at the airport is MAPCO Auto Parks. They handle all the parking services at the airport, but it goes far beyond that because the airport only has a staff of five. Being open from first thing in the morning through to 8:30 at night seven days a week for 365 days can be a burden. Saracco acknowledges, “The folks at MAPCO Auto Parks are very helpful and not only with parking. They help around the terminal itself, getting folks in and out of the parking lot, as well as other types of ground transportation, assisting with taxis, and arranging transportation – they’re good at it.” One of the big draws for Ogdensburg International Airport is the proximity to the Canada/U.S. border. According to Saracco, “Being less than five miles from the airport, you clear customs there and then come right to the airport and fly out anywhere in the United States without having to clear customs again. The nearest city to us in Canada is Ottawa, the capital, and they are straight up the highway from our border crossing, so that is a big draw. It is easier the other way too, some folks fly in here in their private aircraft and then rent a car to cross into Canada – it is often easier than clearing customs in a larger airport. This also holds for commercial traffic with small amounts of cargo. I have been told by certain businesses that it’s easier to fly into this airport and truck the goods from here across the bridge.” Although they do not have much cargo traffic at present, the airport has begun to explore the possibilities and would love to open it up to more shipping, which given the location seems like the perfect pairing. Looking to the future Saracco would love to see more commercial air traffic and an expansion of the FBO services offered. “We do have a lot of OGDENSBURG INTERNAT IONAL A I RPORT