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:

• The COPA Guide to Public Airports

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!

• Elevage Fabie equestrian centre website
• Pontiac Airpark website

2012 Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa

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.

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

RCMP ill-informed about Light Aircraft!

 

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.

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.

• Kathleen Van Benthem, PhD Program
• Rani Tolton, Masters Program

Not Good

The crash of a light aircraft is never a good thing, but some crashes are worse than others and this one seems to be in that category.

On 4 August 2012 Neil Herland tweeted about the crash of a Zenair CH601XL near Carp Airport and provided some pictures:

• First photo
• Second photo

The 601 looks pretty badly damaged, but the good news is that reportedly the pilot survived, although there is no information provided about injuries. The crash looks serious enough that injuries would have been likely.

The bad news is that the aircraft was unregistered and thus also presumably uninsured.

Herland reports the aircraft carried the US registration N59PA and a check of Airliners.net confirms that this is the same plane. Airliners.net also notes that the aircraft was imported to Canada in 2011.

A quick check of the FAA aircraft registry shows that the Zenair was stricken from the US registry on 27 July 2011, more than a year before the accident. Running the serial number through the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register shows it wasn't registered here, of course, since it still had its US registration numbers painted on it.

So since it was in Canada over a year there are lots more questions that hopefully Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board will ask, such as whether it had a current annual inspection? Hopefully it will be investigated, as it wasn't listed in the CADORS.

Why do people do this sort of thing?

Glasair Aircraft Sold to Jilin Hanxing Group of China

In what is becoming an increasingly frequent story yet another US aircraft manufacturer has been sold to a Chinese company. This time it is kit maker Glasair Aircraft, who build the Glasair and Glastar series of kit planes in Arlington, Washington, that has been sold.

The buyer is a private Chinese company, Jilin Hanxing Group, who have formed a new company to operate Glasair, Glasair Aviation USA LLC.

The new owners say that they plan to certify the Glastar Sportsman design and retain all production and jobs in the USA. Of note a certified version of the Glastar was previously produced for a short time in Canada as the Symphony SA-160.

So here is how the foreign ownership list now looks:

• Cirrus Aircraft - Government of the Peoples Republic of China
• Continental Engines - Government of the Peoples Republic of China
• Diamond Aircraft - majority owned by Medrar Financial Group, Dubai
• Epic Aircraft - Engineering LLC, Russia
• Glasair Aircraft - Jilin Hanxing Group, China
• Hawker Beechcraft - Superior Aviation Beijing, China
• Liberty Aerospace - 75% owned by the Kuwait Finance House, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House of Bahrain
• Piper Aircraft - Government of Brunei
• Superior Air Parts - Weifang Tianxiang Technology Group, China

I wonder who will be next.

• AVweb story

Pilots N Paws Canada Launches

by Gini Green, Founder, Pilots N Paws Canada

Pilots N Paws Canada connect general aviation pilots with responsible Canadian rescue groups and shelters to help in the adoption process for animals at risk of being destroyed. Volunteer pilots under our program help move animals from areas they are threatened, to areas that their chances of adoption are increased, thereby reducing the number of healthy animals killed every year because no-one could or would care for them.

Our mandate is to only work within Canada with Canadian pilots and only work with responsible Canadian rescues and shelters.

Pilots N Paws has been an extremely successful program in the US and we hope our own Canadian organization will be equally successful but we need your help to get the word out to general aviation pilots. Could you please consider circulating our flyer which is attached or posting our press release to your website?

If anyone has any questions, please send them my way! I know there are a lot of questions regarding the tax benefits available for pilots flying with us.

• Pilots N Paws Canada
• Pilots N Paws USA

Hawker Beechcraft To Be Purchased By Superior Aviation Beijing

In what has become the repeat of a very familiar story, another financially ailing US aerospace company has been bought out by Chinese interests.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) was a new company put together in 2006 from the old Raytheon Aircraft, purchased for US$3.3B by Onex Partners and GS Capital Partners, part of Goldman Sachs. That was all well and good, but the owners insisted that the company pay for its own purchase, which meant it was carrying US$500,000 a day in interest payments. It was just staying afloat when the 2008 recession hit and bizjet orders dried up. Anyone who thought a company with that kind of debt could survive the recession wasn't paying attention.

The company hired a new CEO, turnaround specialist Steve Miller, who planned to keep it out of bankruptcy, but on 3 May 2012, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy anyway. Despite attempts to restructure the huge debt burden of more than US$2.14B (the last count, as of September 2011), it seems that it was either going to be sold or cease to exist. The final result was that Superior Aviation Beijing of The People's Republic of China made the best offer for US$1.79B. The deal does not include Hawker Beechcraft Defense Co., the subsidiary that builds two military aircraft, the T-6 trainer and the derivative AT-6 light attack aircraft. That exclusion was most likely to avoid any hold-ups in US government approval of the sale.

Superior Aviation Beijing and HBC now have 45 days to put the details together, but it is probably close to a done deal, putting HBC on the same list as a growing number of US aerospace companies that have been recently sold to foreign interests:

• Hawker Beechcraft - Superior Aviation Beijing, China
• Superior Air Parts - Weifang Tianxiang Technology Group, China
• Epic Aircraft - Engineering LLC, Russia
• Diamond Aircraft - majority owned by Medrar Financial Group, Dubai
• Cirrus Aircraft - Government of the Peoples Republic of China
• Continental Engines - Government of the Peoples Republic of China
• Liberty Aerospace - 75% owned by the Kuwait Finance House, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House of Bahrain
• Piper Aircraft - Government of Brunei

As I have noted before while selling out the whole US aerospace industry to foreigners may not be seen as a good thing, when these companies all needed domestic financial help none was forthcoming. This has meant that each had a choice between the company ceasing to exist or being bought out by middle eastern or far eastern interests.

The bottom line is that if Americans are really worried about this issue then they would put up the money and buy these companies themselves. In the capitalist system the market sorts these things out and if Americans don't want their domestic aerospace industry then apparently other people do.

• AVweb story

Transport Canada To Require TAWS

Transport Canada announced today that they will require terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) to be installed in all private turbine-powered and commercial airplanes with six or more passenger seats.

TC Press release:

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced new regulations to improve aviation safety in Canada. The new regulations require private turbine-powered and commercial airplanes with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with an alert system known as the “terrain awareness and warning system” (TAWS).

"While Canada has one of the safest aviation systems in the world, we are committed to the continuous improvement of aviation safety," said Minister Lebel. “Terrain awareness and warning systems will help save lives."

The system provides acoustic and visual alerts to flight crews when the path of their aircraft is likely to collide with terrain, water or obstacles — a situation that can happen when visibility is low or the weather is poor. This gives the flight crew enough time to take evasive action.

The new regulations will also significantly increase safety for small aircraft, which fly into remote wilderness or mountainous areas where the danger of flying into terrain is highest.

Under the new regulations, operators will have two years to equip their airplanes with TAWS.

The regulations comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s standards and bring Canadian regulations closer to those of other aviation authorities, including the United States and European Union. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board also recommends the wider use of TAWS to help pilots assess their proximity to terrain.

• TC backgrounder - Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems
• Wikipedia

First Ever Bushcaddy Factory Fly-in

The first annual BushCaddy Fly-in in 18 years of manufacturing is now scheduled for the weekend of July 14 and 15, 2012 at Lachute, Quebec (CSE4).

Camping on airport will be arranged for those wishing to do so and will be set up at the rear of the Bushcaddy Hangar.

Arrangements are also underway to provide toilet and shower facilities.

RSVP: Anyone intending to camp are asked to confirm with Tony by email as soon as possible.

All meals will be catered for at minimal cost. As well as the usual burgers there will be some international cuisine available for people wishing to try something different.

Activities will be arranged such as a short take-off and landing competition and flour bombing closest to the target. The evening will see a little music and perhaps a karaoke contest for our pilot wannabe rock stars.

All breeds of aircraft are welcome to attend, the more the merrier!

• BushCaddy website

Impromptu Fly-In Held at Morrisburg

Here is some good news about pilots making use of Morrisburg Airport, which owned by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission

Mr. Darren Dalgleish
GM and CEO
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
13740 County Rd. 2
Morrisburg, ON K0C 1X0

Dear Sir,

I would like to refer back to a meeting at your facility last summer between local aviators and yourself arranged by COPA VP of Operations Patrick Gilligan. As a group we discussed the potential of the aerodrome at Upper Canada Village.

Attached are a few photos taken yesterday at the Upper Canada Village airstrip.

This was an impromptu fly-in started by some pilot emailing a friend to "let's do lunch".

The result was that 15 aircraft carrying about 25 people flew in to your airstrip and dined at the restaurant at the golf course. Everyone enjoyed themselves and expressed a wish to do this again.

Food & service was terrific! Staff even transported us back to the aircraft via golf carts.

More photos can be seen at our website in the "Gallery" section.

Small planes fly in regularly during the season that you are open and both the golf course restaurant and the Village are favourite attractions. The planes in the photos came from the St. Lazare Flying Club and the Cornwall Flying Club/COPA Flt. 59.

I remember that in the past, fly-ins to visit Upper Canada Village were planned by different flying clubs, COPA Flights and even the International Flying Farmers. Hopefully this will continue in the years to come.

Thanks again for the hospitality of your facilities.

Cheers,

Barry Franklin
President
Cornwall Flying Club/COPA Flt 59

Kevin Psutka, CEO of COPA added the following:

Barry:

Thank you for bringing the fly-in to Mr. Dalgleish's attention. I would like to add my comments in support of this aerodrome, which continues to support area tourism, making aviation a mode of transport to both Upper Canada Village and the golf course and bringing revenue into the local economy. I viewed the additional photos on the COPA Flight web site and would like to emphasize that this sort of activity occurs frequently during the summer flying season. With some minor upkeep, such as removing vegetation from the cracks in the pavement, this aerodrome can continue to serve as a tourism destination for years to come. And if Mr. Dalgleish needs some statistics to show that our sector of aviation is alive and well, and consequently demand for this aerodrome will continue for years to come, I have attached a series of PowerPoint slides derived from Transport Canada statistics, which clearly show that the number of aircraft in Canada continues to grow and that the growth is primarily due to small, privately registered aircraft like those depicted in the photos.

I am aware of the discussions that have occurred concerning retention of the aerodrome. I strongly support its retention and hope that the recent demonstration of its use as well as the statistics I have provided will help in Mr. Dalgleish's efforts to ensure that the aerodrome remains available for many years to come.

Kevin Psutka
President and CEO
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

• Morrisburg Places to Fly Listing

Aerobatics with Jonathan and Jean-Pierre

COPA Flight 8 invites you to our June meeting. All welcome.

Very few pilots actually take aerobatic training. This meeting will detail what is involved. Is it fun or just hard work, is it worthwhile, will it make you a more skilled and better pilot or will you just spend the airtime barfing? JP Seguin and Jonathan Rotondo present all the answers from their own experiences learning aerobatics.

JP Seguin took Jonathan Rotondo's aerobatic course at Rockcliffe Flying Club and has since done some aerobatics in an Extra 300 and a Harvard. He has videos from both experiences which he will show.

Meeting Details

28 June 2012 at 19:30

Rockcliffe Flying Club Classroom

No Canada Day Fly-In in 2012?

The Rockcliffe Flying Club has traditionally held a fly-in on Canada Day, July 1, each year, but this year it looks as if it has been cancelled.

The Rockcliffe Flying Club calendar doesn't show the event this year and neither does the club list of flying activities.

I have been to the fly-in the last few years and it doesn't come as a surprise that it does not seem to be on this year. In the past three years it has barely drawn half a dozen aircraft. In 2011 only ten aircraft attended, even though weather conditions were perfect, with a warm, but not hot, sunny day and no significant wind. I think a lot of people have other plans for long weekends in the summer and that the event just petered out from lack of interest.

• Rockcliffe Flying Club website

Update: As described in the comments below it looks like the fly-in is actually "on", it is just that the RFC website has not been updated to reflect that, however it is mentioned on the RFC's Facebook page.

WACO UPF-7 Flips At Rockcliffe

The 1940 model WACO UPF-7 biplane used by Wetaskiwin, Alberta-based Central Aviation to provide tourist flights from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum flipped on landing at Rockcliffe on Sunday 17 June 2012.

The aircraft was flying two tourists at the time. The pilot was uninjured, while the two passengers were sent to hospital. One, a 64-year-old man, was listed in stable condition with spinal injuries. The other passenger, a 66-year-old woman, was in stable condition with an arm injury and a possible spinal injury.

The cause of the accident is not known at this time. It is also unknown what the extent of the damage is and whether the aircraft will be repairable or not.

Central Aviation has operated tourist flights in Ottawa for the past twenty years without incident and has owned the WACO, registered CF-LEF, since 1996.

• 2 injured after biplane flips on landing - CBC
• Ottawa biplane crash survivor recounts nosedive - CBC

Smiths Falls Flying Club Hangar Survey

By Anne Barr

COPA Flight 100, Smiths Falls Flying Club, is conducting a feasibility study for a series of T-hangars and has prepared an anonymous, on-line survey to help guide this initiative.

The survey is very short, does not collect any personal information, and participation does not imply a commitment in any way, shape, or form.

Many thanks in advance for your assistance with this endeavour!

• Survey

Obstructions Near Airports Survey

by Patrick Gilligan, COPA HQ

Our goal in doing this survey is to provide valuable input from our members to Transport Canada with regards to cellular telephone and communications towers, wind turbines and other obstructions that are proposed to be constructed within close proximity of an aerodrome.

The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you.

• Survey website

Hawkesbury East Airport Hangar Fire

By Steve Farnworth, COPA Flight 131, The Hawkesbury Flying Club

There was a fire last night at the Hawkesbury East Airport. The big hangar was completely destroyed. Thankfully no one was injured. The cause presently is unknown.

Our sympathy goes out to Michel and Natalie. They lost many irreplaceable personal things that were stored inside. Fortunately two aircraft normally stored in the hangar were in other hangars, but Michel lost his aircraft as well as many parts and tools and souvenirs.

The Farm Next to Pontiac Airpark Has Been Sold

By André Durocher

The 80 acre farm adjacent to the Pontiac Airpark, that was previously mentioned, has found a buyer and will be developed into an equestrian facility. Residential lots will be available for this project.

Ladies and gentlemen come and play!!

Next step: the golf course, hotel, restaurant and the spa!

• Pontiac Airpark Homepage