YEG - Edmonton Int Airport - Page 62

Coldrsx · #**1221** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:40 PM**

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The city shouldn't wait until 2052 to decide what to do with their airport. If the city needs another general aviation field for corporate and medivac flights it should start looking at securing rights to use Namao as a general aviation base. (Many airports are shared with military aviation, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh and Frankfurt for example) Namao is also closer than YEG practically bordering the Henday when it is done."

Namao is a Garrison now, not an airfield. Whats left of the runways are barely usable for driving on (SOLO 2) yet alone flying. Not to mention security issues given our foreign policy now.

LO 044 · #**1222** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

Well, if the city isn't going to force the muni to stop operations it should let the airport take advantage of the infrastructure it is building to serve it.

Instantly Edmonton would have an airport served by a world class LRT system, providing seamless transportation to the CBD, University, and stadiums. I am just saying the city shouldn't ignore the possibilities.

Also what is good for tourists and business travelers is good for business. For no dollar cost the city could improve the business climate.

The city shouldn't wait until 2052 to decide what to do with their airport. If the city needs another general aviation field for corporate and medivac flights it should start looking at securing rights to use Namao as a general aviation base. (Many airports are shared with military aviation, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh and Frankfurt for example) Namao is also closer than YEG practically bordering the Henday when it is done.

First, as far as i know, Namao is now a heliport and the runway(s) was demolished quite a while back. You might as well throw Villeneuve airport into your arguement. BTW, the military is leaving Frankfurt. That area will be the site of FRA's new terminal expansion.

Second, is it better for tourists and businessman to fly to YEG and take a 30 minute cab-ride to downtown? Or fly to YYC/YVR, endure a 40-90 minute layover, fly to YXD, then take a 10 minute LRT ride to downtown. Businessman to/from Calgary/Vancouver are the ONLY ones that benefit. Do i need to say how many people don't benefit from this setup?

Third, your arguement about 4 Dash-8's is absurd. The 4 Dash-8's would turn into 15 Dash-8's and they would turn into Boeing 737's like in the old days. We would be a complete feeder service to YVR, YYC and maybe even YWG. And again you are comparing Edmonton with Toronto when looking at Porter airlines. How big is Toronto? How big is their metro area? How big of an airport is Pearson? How many connecting flights does it serve as THE Air Canada hub? Like others have mentioned in so many ways, you're comparing apples to oranges and how you fail to see that is beyond me.

Fourth, your question about suing if the Muni closes down. I'm not a lawyer but here's a thought. Close one of the two runways. Then shorten the other runway so nothing larger than a 15 seater turboprop can land, if that. It's still an airport right? That will kill the debate once and for all. That land, though, is prime land and it could probably be sold and 10% of the money would take care of any lawsuit.

MalcolmTucker · #**1223** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by onishenko

So with your argument, how could 10 Dash 8 flights a day support an LRT line stop (which is a large part of your argument)? It couldn't. An LRT stop could only happen if YEG shut down, and the Muni became the main airport. There is no traffic creation otherwise.

...Unless, you rip up the runways, and redevelop the muni....

The LRT stop is being built in close proximity at Nait, I never said anything about an additional stop built solely for the Muni.

MalcolmTucker · #**1224** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brento79

If the Muni had flights to YYC, you would have people like myself using the flight scheduled there instead at YEG, and then flying to another desitination just due to the ease of getting to the city centre in Edmonton.

So, the HSR coming down the pipe will do the same thing, if not more so.

If flights from the muni are enough to hamper YEG then HSR will be its death kneel. Or at least thats what I am hearing.

#**1225** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:52 PM**

When do the WestJet flights to Mexico start? Have they already?

Coldrsx · #**1226** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 9:53 PM**

HSR should not happen for 20 yrs...assemble the land, fine, but alberta is absolutely ignoring the viability of this and a "private venture" i can see becoming a public catastrophe quickly.

MalcolmTucker · #**1227** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

HSR should not happen for 20 yrs...assemble the land, fine, but alberta is absolutely ignoring the viability of this and a "private venture" i can see becoming a public catastrophe quickly.

No one every said Stelmach was smart. But remember he was transportation minister and is at ease talking about transportation subjects.

His government has commissioned multiple studies that support going forward on this, and they have bought the land.

It may be stupid, but its good politics. Makes him look visionary and all that.

So I guess the question becomes, what does YEG do to weather the HSR storm? Will growth until HSR opens keep YEG at a 5 million plus?

Or will the ability to check in baggage in downtown Edmonton and a suburban station (either on the whitemud or the Henday) and get off at YYC just gut the airport?

YYCguys · #**1228** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brento79

When do the WestJet flights to Mexico start? Have they already?

I think they start up in a week or two.

CanadianCentaur · #**1229** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

So, the HSR coming down the pipe will do the same thing, if not more so.

If flights from the muni are enough to hamper YEG then HSR will be its death kneel. Or at least thats what I am hearing.

Unlikely. Very unlikely.

Coldrsx · #**1230** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

Or will the ability to check in baggage in downtown Edmonton and a suburban station (either on the whitemud or the Henday) and get off at YYC just gut the airport?

if you think that an HSR will make YYC become Alberta International you need to get your head out of the snow bank and recognize that HSR will not do anything more than make intercity travel less dependent on QEII, red arrow, AC, and greyhound.

MalcolmTucker · #**1231** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

if you think that an HSR will make YYC become Alberta International you need to get your head out of the snow bank and recognize that HSR will not do anything more than make intercity travel less dependent on QEII, red arrow, AC, and greyhound.

If HSR does not pose a threat, why does Dash 8 service to the muni?

CanadianCentaur · #**1232** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

If HSR does not pose a threat, why does Dash 8 service to the muni?

That is pointless. There is a restriction on the number of seats per scheduled flight into YXD, and I believe it's 19 seats. A Dash 8-100 has 37.

Coldrsx · #**1233** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

If HSR does not pose a threat, why does Dash 8 service to the muni?

2 airports in a city of 1million is not efficient or pragmatic.

MalcolmTucker · #**1234** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

2 airports in a city of 1million is not efficient or pragmatic.

Which didn't really answer the question at all...

MalcolmTucker · #**1235** Posted **Dec 10, 2007, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianCentaur

That is pointless. There is a restriction on the number of seats per scheduled flight into YXD, and I believe it's 19 seats. A Dash 8-100 has 37.

That restriction is just a bylaw. Mandel has come out and said he opposes HSR, mainly on cost issues. He could really destroy arguments for it by restoring Dash service to the airport.