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Y C D   NEWS February 04

Y C D   NEWS

 

 

February, 2004

 

The following items have been supplied by David Hunter, General Manager of Nanaimo Airport, for the information of all Flying Club members:

 

1.                   Passenger numbers for January are down.  There were 43 missed approaches due to inclement weather and official weather services report that January was one of the worst weather months on record.  The 43 missed approaches by Air Canada Jazz meant 43 missed departures as well and passenger numbers were consequently down to 6,315.

 

2.                   An American carrier continues to show interest in adding YCD to their regular schedules and there will be continuing site visits to confirm services availability and suitable operational requirements.

 

3.                   A meeting with local MLAs was held in Victoria, recently, where they re-affirmed their commitment to Nanaimo Airport as a vital transportation (cargo and people) link.  The commission was asked to discuss ILS, road access and runway extension.  The MLAs also committed to attending the annual Nominating Entities meeting with the Regional Districts of Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley, The City of Nanaimo, the Town of Ladysmith and the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

 

4.                   Public Works and Government Services Canada are progressing with the Airport Zoning Regs (AZRs) and will continue into the Spring when topographical photographs will be taken – once the trees turn green!

 

5.                   JetPro was on site in late January to complete surveys to produce GPS plates for the airport.  The airport expects to gain some advantage on the ceiling limits from the survey being completed.  The work performed by JetPro will be used, once GPS WAAS gains Transport Canada approval, to expedite the NAV Canada use of GPS WAAS approaches at YCD.

 

6.                   The meetings with the Vancouver Island Transportation Advisory Committee were effective.  Since those meetings, we have been in contact with the Ministry of Highways and they are seriously reviewing the needs for better directional signage to help travelers find the airport.  The major concern voiced by YCD (and YYJ) is the interface between highway traffic and the present poor access to the airport.

 

7.                   The tender opportunity for a general contractor for the terminal expansion has now closed and bid evaluation is now in process.  Prices for the expansion are in the $650,000 range.

 

With Winter now, hopefully, releasing its grip we would like to wish all Flying Club members continued safe and happy flying activites.