27 September 2012

NAP Comes Home to Roost

The National Airports Policy (NAP) was introduced in 1994 by Transport Minister Doug Young and has been continued by every minister ever since. That policy basically said that Canada has far too many airports and that the number needs to be reduced.

To accomplish this end TC got out of the airport management business, turning the national system of airports over to local municipalities and local authorities to run. This naturally meant that they did what they thought was best for their community and not for a national transportation system. It has taken a while, but the results of this short sighted policy are now being felt as local communities move to close their airports.

Already we have lost Toronto's privately-owned Buttonville, slated to close in the next few years. This week another move was made to close Edmonton City Centre Airport.

Edmonton has been the scene of a long battle over this airport. It is used for airline connections, medevac flights as well as business and private aircraft. The location is amazing - right downtown. Originally an RCAF Station out in the countryside, the city grew around it as the airport brought in so much trade and commerce.

A 1992 plebiscite indicated a narrow margin (54%) of citizens were in favour of keeping the airport open to all traffic. But a 1995 plebiscite asked whether citizens were in favour of consolidating all traffic at the Edmonton International and 77% voted for that. It is clear these days that the majority of the people of Edmonton want the airport closed and turned into public housing, shopping and condos. To this end citizens recently elected a mayor and council in favour of getting rid of the airport and they are now proceeding to do just that.

The municipality actually owns the airport, so they can do what they want with it. They have set aside $80M to expropriate everyone with an interest or business at the airport with the aim of it being closed by 2013. The only thorn in the side of the plan is a recently filed lawsuit by the Edmonton Flying Club. They have a lease on their site that doesn't expire until 2028 and are seeking $18M and an injunction to prevent the city from closing the airport. On 25 September 2012 a judge allowed the club to apply for a temporary injunction until the lawsuit is settled. The club have indicated they will drop the suit if they get a permanent injunction.

Will the club succeed and keep the airport open against the wishes of the city that owns the facility and the people who live in Edmonton? Perhaps, but I think it is unlikely for long. The federal government certainly isn't defending the airport as what is happening in Edmonton is exactly what the NAP promotes.

All of this shows that the NAP is doing what it set out to do, put airports in local hands so that local people and their governments can decide what they want for their community. As always feared local governments and citizens don't consider what is in the best interests of Canada, what sort of national network of airports the country needs, but just what they want and usually that means "close the airport". Over the years it has been clear that, for the people of Edmonton at least, this has been about aircraft noise and nothing more.

So does this mean that businesses will move their head offices elsewhere, that tourist dollars will disappear, that hotels and restaurants will go out of business and medevacs be diverted? Once the airport is closed I guess we will see what the impact on the city will be.

In the 2012 COPA Membership Survey members indicated that the biggest growing concern was the failure of the NAP and the loss of airports that it brought. It has taken 20 years for the full effects of the policy to be felt, but airports are now closing and airplanes and the business that they were home to are leaving. Many businesses will have no where else to go and will be shutdown. Many aircraft will also have no where to go and will be sold.

Edmonton still has some airports left, like far-out-of-town Villeneuve and the GA-hostile Edmonton International with its high "go away" landing fees. The loss of the Muni, when it does happen, will be felt and right across Canada, too. It is too bad that only the people of Edmonton have a say.

The last word on the issue goes to the man that signed the NAP, Transport Minister Doug Young. In January 2003 the Globe and Mail quoted him as saying that he regretted handing over control of Canada's airports and that the National Airports Policy was the worst decision of his career. I think the citizens of Edmonton would disagree with Young, but most pilots think his assessment is spot on. Too bad his policy endures, seemingly with a life of its own.

Further Reading:

20 September 2012

The Pontiac Airpark Equestrian Centre Is In Operation!

By André Durocher

It’s done! 53 horses have now arrived at the new equestrian centre just north of the Pontiac Airpark!

Elevage Fabie have moved into their new quarters and now offer their services to the airpark and the Pontiac’s residents.

The aerial photo shows the Ottawa River, the airpark, 85 acres of wooded residential land and the equestrian centre located on the left hand side of Highway 148.

A golf course, hotel, restaurant and spa will be located on the right hand side of the airpark! I am looking for someone for these projects!

17 September 2012

2012 Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa

DSC_1689DSC_1671DSC_1664

Good on you guys and gals at Vintage Wings Canada! Your 2012 Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa was a great airshow! Thanks for allowing pilots to fly-in and see the show.

Showers dampened Saturday’s event causing folks to seek shelter under the wings of display aircraft. Nonetheless, the show was largely uninterrupted and Saturday’s smaller crowed went home with smiles on their faces. I only attended on Sunday and the show was great and the crowds large. I understand over 30,000 showed up over the weekend to see Canada’s Snowbirds, CF-18 Demo Team, the Discovery Air F-86 Golden Hawk Saber, wing walker Carol Pilon and much of the Vintage Wings fleet of WWII hero planes.

The only disappointment was a mechanical problem kept the Canadian Warplane Heritage Mynarski Memorial Lancaster on the ground on Sunday. Vintage Wings’ Spitfire, Hurricane and Corsair along with other aircraft joined a formation to fly past Rockcliffe Airport to help the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum celebrate of the Battle of Britain.

The event is well on its way to being the major family event in the Nations Captial each September. The airshow, which expanded from a one to two-day event this year, takes place at the Vintage Wings of Canada hangar at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport (CYND), just 15 minutes from Ottawa. The Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa airshow returns September 14 and 15, 2013. See you there, eh.

10 September 2012

Ottawa Airspace Restrictions 14-16 September 2012

by Mark Braithwaite, Acting CFI, Rockcliffe Flying Club

Due to the Battle of Britain and Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa event, the weekend of September 14-16, 2012, the following NOTAMS have been issued.

Please read and abide by them accordingly.

121197 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.1 OF THE AERONAUTICS ACT, THE AIRSPACE WITHIN THE AREA BOUNDED BY A CIRCLE OF 7 NM RADIUS CENTERED ON 453118N 753349W (OTTAWA/GATINEAU AD), SFC TO 8000 FT MSL, IS RESTRICTED (AIRSHOW), EXCLUDING CYR538, CYOW CTL ZONE AND THE AIRSPACE S OF THE N SHORE OF THE OTTAWA RIVER BLW 1200 FT MSL. NO PERSON SHALL OPR AN ACFT WITHIN THE AREA DESCRIBED UNLESS AUTH BY THE AIRSHOW COORDINATOR AT 819-790-1639 EXC FOR MEDEVAC AND POLICE OPS WITH 10 MIN PN. SEE AIC 32/12 FOR MORE INFO. SEP 14, 1730-2000, SEP 15 AND 16 1400-2200.
1209141730 TIL 1209162200

121198 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL DAH IS AMENDED AS FLW:
CYR650 CLASS F RESTRICTED AIRSPACE IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THAT PORTION OF THE GATINEAU CTL ZONE N OF THE OTTAWA RIVER. IN ADDITION TO NORMAL REGULATIONS IN THE GATINEAU CTL ZONE AND MF AREA, ACFT INBOUND FOR OTTAWA/GATINEAU AD MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CZND CTL ZONE FROM OTTAWA TML ON FREQ 127.7, APCH VIA THE CUMBERLAND OR CHELSEA DAM REPORTING POINTS AND BE EQUIPED WITH A FUNCTIONNING MODE C TRANSPONDER. NO CONTINUOUS CIRCUITS OR SIMULATED IFR APCH ARE PERMITED. CONTROLLING AGENCY: NAV CANADA, OTTAWA TML FREQ 127.7, PHONE 800-633-1353 DLY 1200-1400
1209151200 TIL 1209161400

121199 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL DAH IS AMENDED AS FLW:
OTTAWA TCA IS RECLASSIFIED CLASS C AIRSPACE
1209151000 TIL 1209162359

06 September 2012

RCMP ill-informed about Light Aircraft!

 

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Are the RCMP afraid of the owners / operators of light aircraft? Their actions suggest so. Somehow they concluded that a banner towing light aircraft was a safety risk for Government Officials. The banner towing aircraft was of course certified by Transport Canada as safe to conduct such operations, as was the pilot. It never enter restricted airspace over our Parliament nor Rideau Hall. It appears to have followed all appropriate Canadian Air Regulations and committed no other infractions. Still the RCMP requested the pilot land the aircraft at the near by Rockcliffe Airport because they considered it a security risk. The RCMP should get off their “high horses” and into this century.

Surely, the many cars, trucks, busses, bikes, etc. that pass the Prime Minister’s residence, the Governor General’s Residence and Parliament Hill are significantly more of a risk than light aircraft. It is unfortunate when false perceptions dictate security risks to the RCMP. Their actions should be based in facts not misperceptions.

03 September 2012

Full-Scale Cessna Simulator Study

By Kathleen Van Benthem

The ACE Lab at Carleton University is looking for participants for a study to explore cognition and general aviation.

If you are:

  • a pilot or a pilot in training
  • medically licensed to fly
  • at least 18 years of age and
  • interested in flying a full-scale Cessna 172 simulator

Please contact one of us to learn more and/or to arrange a time to participate in the study.

The study session is approximately four hours and takes place at Carleton University.

Participation is completely voluntary. You will not be compensated monetarily or otherwise for participating in this study but parking costs will be paid by the study.