That's what the civilian terminal at CFB Comox has been - the fuse to ignite an unprecedented boom of economic and population growth in the Comox Valley, a phenomenon which shows no signs of abating any time soon.

The Comox Valley Airport Commission (CVAC), formed in 1996, certainly recognizes what they have, and the airport being selected Canada's top airport in 2004 confirms their suspicions. Comox is definitely on the radar. They've built a world class airport terminal building, and passengers are coming, in droves.

In 1999, Comox had 62,806 passengers. That has almost tripled, to a record 184,879 in 2004. By 2007, CVAC forecasts well over 200,000 passengers will use the airport in a calendar year.

"We are very pleased with the passenger growth," says Comox Valley Airport CEO Chuck Fast, noting traffic is up 24 per cent for the first quarter of 2005. "It is well ahead of forecast and allows the airlines to provide more capacity and frequency to accommodate that growth."

WestJet's success with their Comox flights has been well documented. Air Transat Holiday's weekly flights to Mexico were at 90 per cent capacity.

Discussions are underway with two airlines to link Comox with large U.S. carriers, quite possibly making "the little airport that did" the hub of air transportation on Vancouver Island. Watch out, Victoria.

Almost from the moment the wheels of the first WestJet plane touched down on the runway, the Comox Valley economy took off. Golf in winter? It was only a dream in Calgary until jetsetters realized that in 55 minutes, they could be in Comox, on their way to Crown Isle, walking on green grass. Playing 18 holes. Enjoying the sunshine. In November. And February.

One visitor typified what Albertans were discovering in the Valley. One passenger was asked just as he got off the plane: "Would you like to rent a car?" His reply: "No, I want a realtor."

The success of the airport has meant the CVAC is moving towards building a bigger ramp for planes at the civilian terminal. The current available airside limits the airport to small, wide body aircraft such as the Boeing 757. Extension of the airside will allow CVAC to meet the requirements for aircraft capable of long haul charters to Europe and Asia, as well as provide space for additional aircraft parking.

CVAC has pre-qualified interested contractors, and the Board is currently tendering the project, with an eye towards starting construction by the end of June.

"With the two weekly flights to Mexico this winter, and the additional air service we are actively pursuing, the expanded ramp is essential for this winter's operations," says Fast. CVAC Chair Terry Law states: "We know what we should build, based on the current and short term demand. We will only construct what we can afford. We have instructed the CEO to pursue additional funding sources to allow us to optimize the benefit to the community from this additional airside construction."

In the fall, the Commission will resume negotiations with 19 Wing Comox for a second 25 year lease of the land on which the airport terminal building sits.

Clearly, the Comox Valley Airport Commission is building for the future. They're looking down the runway, and seeing transportation needs and possibilities in the decades to come.

Building for the future? Why, in a country that is known for its visionary conservatism, it's almost un-Canadian. Detractors might say the Valley received a gift by having the 10,000 foot CFB Comox runway in their own backyard. Yes, it is Vancouver Island's longest airstrip, but it still had to be taken advantage of. CVAC has done that.

"You look at where we were prior to WestJet," says Fast. "Regional tourism has the draw, but all we've done is provide the service."

Outbound traffic statistics reveal that 38 per cent belong to the Comox Valley, with 29 per cent to south-Central Vancouver Island. As for destinations of inbound traffic, 33 per cent of inbound traffic is going to the Comox Valley, and 22 per cent to South-Central Island.

Increasingly, that is to take advantage of regional tourism opportunities. Resorts on the wild West Coast - Tofino and Ucluelet. Several of them are advertising in the airport terminal.

The message is clear: Comox is positioning itself as the gateway to adventure on Vancouver Island.