The City of Oshawa in Ontario is preparing to create a new business plan for its airport (CYOO) to cover the next four years. A city councillor says that emphasis has to be given to a peaceful environment for local residents as well as to the safety of pilots.

“It’s about balance and I think it’s [the airport’s] business functions much better as a good neighbour with that balance,” said Oshawa Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri. “I think the residents expect it and they will embrace the airport much more if there is that respect for quality of life.”

The existing business plan had been prepared on the assumption that Buttonville airport (CYKZ) would be closed down by now, which turned out not to be the case.

On Tuesday of this week, the city held a townhall meeting and invited the public to provide input. There is still opportunity to provide input by completing an online survey by September 30, or by written submission to the city by 16:00 on Friday, October 18.

In a judgment that was announced this Thursday, September 26, the Court of Appeal of Quebec concludes that the provincial approval processes provided in certain sections of the Quebec Environmental Quality Act (22, 31.1 and 31.1.1) are constitutionally inapplicable to projects that fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction, mainly federal public property, navigation, aeronautics, telecommunications, and interprovincial and international transportation.

Since this revolves around the Port of Quebec, COPA’s counsel will provide members with a more aviation-related interpretation in next week’s eFlight.

Click on this link to see more details of the decision (in English).

Photo above by Jeangagnon.

In a ceremony held Wednesday at the Downsview campus of Centennial College, Ornge president and CEO Dr. Andrew McCallum officially handed over a decommissioned Sikorsky S-76A helicopter to the school.

“We know the donation of this aircraft will give countless students the opportunity to engage with a helicopter that has a long and distinguished history,” said McCallum. “We are hoping that some of these students will aspire to work for Ornge in support of our mission to provide Ontario’s patients with safe and timely care, transport and access to health services.”

The S-76A is just the latest addition to Centennial’s decommissioned aircraft fleet, which includes everything from a Bombardier CRJ200 regional jetliner and a Cessna Citation corporate jet to a Mooney M20 piston-powered four-place airplane, with numerous other airplanes and helicopters thrown in. All are lodged in Centennial’s Centre for Aviation Excellence, which is located on the former site of de Havilland of Canada.

“We’re delighted to have this magnificent aircraft join our collection here at Downsview,” said Centennial College School of Transportation Dean Alan McClelland. “The Sikorsky is a sophisticated machine with updated avionics technology that our students absolutely need to be familiar with before they venture out into the working world. It will be treasured as a teaching tool in our hangar.”

Canada’s national air traffic service provider, together with Britain’s NATS and Aireon, have been awarded the Annual Industry Award for the successful deployment of spaced-based ADS-B technology over the North Atlantic ocean.

The announcement was made by the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), a U.S.-based international organization that counts ATC stakeholders and industry players among its members. The Annual Industry Award is presented to groups for outstanding achievement of contribution adding to the quality, safety or efficiency of air traffic control.

“As the first system deployment of its kind, we are pleased to honour Aireon, Nav Canada and NATS for the recent deployment of space-based ADS-B technology in the North Atlantic,” said ATCA president and CEO Peter Dumont. “We congratulate them for their achievement in advancing the science, safety, and efficiency of air traffic control.”

“Few technologies exist today that enact such a positive impact on safety measures, and we are looking forward to an aviation industry where everyone reaps the benefits of space-based ADS-B,” said Nav Canada’s president and CEO Neil Wilson.

Using the data provided by Aireon, Nav Canada and NATS air traffic controllers were able to provide time-saving routing for transatlantic air traffic, resulting in fuel savings for the aircraft operators and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. Prior to the implementation of Aireon’s system, only 60 percent of preferred flight routing requests were able to be handled. The others had to be deviated to retain prescribed aircraft separation. Aireon now expects to allow up to 90 percent of preferred routing requests.

“Based on the immediate benefits we’re seeing for NATS and Nav Canada in the North Atlantic, it is clear that space-based ADS-B is a powerful tool for innovation,” added Aireon CEO Don Thoma. “Deployment in the North Atlantic has set the standard for how Aireon and our customers operationalize space-based ADS-B, and we look forward to scaling it across the ATM industry.”

The award will be made to representatives of all three organizations at ATCA’s Awards Luncheon to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on October 22, 2019.

By Bruce MacFarlane

For years now, Burlington International Airport (KBTV) has been Vermont’s only airport of entry (AOE) served by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). As of January 1, 2020, only ADS-B OUT-equipped aircraft will be permitted to enter Burlington’s Class C controlled airspace. If you’re inbound to the U.S., Canadian or American, without ADS-B OUT, you won’t be able to clear border formalities at KBTV.

However, there are two other Vermont AOE airports that may accept some international arrivals. This is limited to small private aircraft only, and is contingent upon the availability of CBP services. Northeast Kingdom airport (KEFK) in Newport, as well as the Franklin County airport (KFSO) in Highgate, are officially designated AOE airports, with prior landing rights permission required.

Northeast Kingdom airport, which has two runways, is an uncontrolled field with no ADS-B requirement or surrounding airspace restriction. The airport has undergone a $20 million upgrade and now features a smooth, jet-friendly 5,300-foot runway (36/18) with a GPS approach. Two new LPV approaches are planned for mid-2020. Another runway (05/23), 3,996 feet long, is also available, but is not lit for nighttime use.

Cross-border eAPIS no-fee arrivals are now being accepted at KEFK, and agents are meeting aircraft for inspection and clearance. To verify CBP airport staff availability, call the Derby Line Port of Entry at 802-873-3219, press 4, press #, and ask for the supervisor on duty.

Check out the eAPIS app Flashpass, available at a discount for COPA members. – Ed.

photo of North Kingdom airport submitted