YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[jlousa]

Air Canada is not the first plane to get rid of vests, I've been on dozens of flights in which the only flotation device is the seat cushion. Pretty sure this isn't an issue. I wonder how many people have ever been saved in a plane crash due to their safety vest.

[SpongeG]

do people even grab the life vests? as far as I can think they aren't at every seat are they?

[djh]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they removed them cause of the weight - they are removing a lot of things to decrease weight on airplanes

I heard some are getting rid of drink carts, rows of seats even in order to decrease the weight to save on fuel costs, other non essential stuff that was common - like blankets, pillows, magazines etc.

It's all a load of backward "cost cutting". My wife is caught up in the Zoom nonsense. She had a ticket to fly next week.
Here's a good example of how Air Canada are giving with one hand and taking with the other.

For the Zoom flight, my wife paid fee $x. Her luggage allowance was 20 lbs.
For the Air Canada (replacement) flight, the ticket was $x - $200. But her luggage allowance was 100lbs. And Air Canada has removed free meals, free drinks, free movies etc. to "save on weight"

!!!

I'd rather have a smaller luggage allowance and a free meal and a free film to watch on the 10 hour flight to London! Or, charge me the same as Zoom, keep the huge luggage allowance, but then don't charge me for all the flight comforts!

[Hong Kongese]

Went to Hawaii and back with Air Canada last month, i have no problem with their service. Yes it is true i had to buy my own meal and beer, but the pops, juice and movies were free. I did enjoy my flight and i didn't have to worry about the flight would get cancelled because Air Canada won't get bankrupt. So, i really don't know what you guys were yapping about......Wait a minute, i do have one complaint though, which is their flight attentants are way too old, i can swear that one of them is over 60. I guess all the young and pretty ones got laid off and keep those seniors to save money.

[muzhav84]

for all the people who want C-Pier updates, i have many PDFs on the C-Pier expansion, and have asked before, "How do I upload them on here?!" no one has answered me yet. i don't know how to upload files, so if anyone is interested in the expansion details, ask me and I will email it to you, or you can post it.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by Hong Kongese

I did enjoy my flight and i didn't have to worry about the flight would get cancelled because Air Canada won't get bankrupt. So, i really don't know what you guys were yapping about......

Don't be too sure. Air Canada has been running in the red for years and it is not publicly funded anymore (though it seems to act like it is). It could go under.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by muzhav84

for all the people who want C-Pier updates, i have many PDFs on the C-Pier expansion, and have asked before, "How do I upload them on here?!" no one has answered me yet. i don't know how to upload files, so if anyone is interested in the expansion details, ask me and I will email it to you, or you can post it.

You need a server to store the pictures. You might have space with your ISP, use an FTP client to upload them. I think there are free hosts around too.

If you have shaw internet, you'll have a webspace you can place them

If you use Firefox, there's a FTP plugin that converts your web-browser to an FTP program

Then use the link tags and the full internet address of the PDF you're linking in this forum

[MistyMountainHop]

Originally Posted by muzhav84

for all the people who want C-Pier updates, i have many PDFs on the C-Pier expansion, and have asked before, "How do I upload them on here?!" no one has answered me yet. i don't know how to upload files, so if anyone is interested in the expansion details, ask me and I will email it to you, or you can post it.

Upload it to Mediafire, then post the link here.

http://www.mediafire.com/

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Air Canada is not the first plane to get rid of vests, I've been on dozens of flights in which the only flotation device is the seat cushion. Pretty sure this isn't an issue. I wonder how many people have ever been saved in a plane crash due to their safety vest.

I will wager a bet that more people have been killed due to life jackets being on commercial planes then have actually been saved thanks to them...

[jlousa]

A lot of sites only allow you to host pictures or videos, if you have documents to host like a pdf, I've always had luck with www.fileden.com just make sure you don't click on any of the offers the offer in order to pay for the site.

[muzhav84]

thanks jlousa! let's see if this works..

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/9/1/2076982/YVR-Pier_C_Expansion_-_Schedule.pdf

[GMasterAres]

Sad to hear about Zoom. I flew Zoom too and from London and always enjoyed it. They were a good airline with excellent service. The airline industry is adjusting though and will over time be healthier with the smaller players out of the equation. It's a win-lose for us though because while the larger airlines win by having less competition we lose because we'll see prices continue to go up due to less supply.

All in favor of high-speed nuclear powered maglev trains?

[SpongeG]

Jets collide on YVR runway

No one was injured yesterday when an Air Canada Airbus jet clipped an Air Canada Jazz regional carrier on the runway at Vancouver International Airport.


A passenger on the Hong Kong-bound Airbus, which was carrying about 400 people, told CBC News that the plane was taxiing for takeoff when he heard a loud crunching sound.


He said passengers looked out the window and saw that the plane had collided with the back of another plane on the runway.


A spokesperson for Air Canada said an investigation into the accident is underway.

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/Local/article/114614

[Hong Kongese]

^^ Obviously, the airbus pilot didn't shoulder check when he back up.

[Denscity]

That smaller plane was on the way here to Castlegar.

[Delirium]

some construction shots of YVr. anyone know what the 2nd link building will look like?

[Gordon]

The new aerial photos are great Thanks

The airport has re-numbered the c-Pier gates from 30-47

Gate 34 is the regional concourse

The updated map on the site has has gates 30 - 33 on the SE side of the pier but the photos only show 3 gates there

After this pier is completed piers A&B will be upgraded .

[muzhav84]

The A-pier was totally reonvated only 4 years ago it isn't getting renvated again; only the B-pier is being renovated.

i can find you all renderings of the Link II project, give me until next week. It isn't anything architectural amazing, it will just be a much larger area at the top of the C-Pier... They have changed the security screening area and entrance, and there will be a much larger connection area with the International building, currently it is just a small tunnel. it should be very nice though, as that area has always been too cramped and confusing for conencting passengers going either to the A/B gates or international.

another project that hasn't gotten much attention but is very nice is the expanded shopping/viewing area around the moving sidewalk between the A/B gates and C gates... it is being massively expanded and should be open early next year. anyone flying through should take some pictures of this.

and FYI, YVR posted a new video as a guide for conencting passengers. check it out:
http://www.yvr.ca/guide/around/navigate_yvr.asp

[excel]

From YVR newsletter:

September 2008

Canada Line and Beyond - Construction Update


Those who have been to YVR recently will know the ongoing Canada Line construction project is among the most visible improvements being made to YVR. But the Airport Authority is working hard on a number of other construction projects to expand and enhance terminal facilities for our passengers. Below, a quick look at what's underway.

Domestic Terminal's C-Pier

As YVR's domestic traffic continues to grow, so does the need for updated facilities in the Domestic Terminal Building, or DTB. YVR Project Management (YVRPM), a subsidiary of the Airport Authority, is hard at work on a 6,500 square-metre expansion to the Domestic Terminal's C-Pier facilities that will see the addition of five new gates with increased capacity for larger aircraft including Boeing 777s, and a new themed dining and shopping area. Expansive west-facing views and original First Nations artwork will round out the new facility, due to open in the fall of 2009. Once completed, the focus will shift to updating other areas of the DTB, including A- and B-Piers.

More Terminal Upgrades

Work is well underway on a significant upgrade to the Domestic Terminal that will see improvements made to baggage screening on Level 1 by December 2008. Additionally, come November 2009, the DTB will feature an expanded food court with more dining options in the public area of the DTB, plus new retail stores and a public viewing area on Levels 3 and 4.

And, because everyone appreciates a nice washroom, upgrades to washroom facilities in the Domestic Terminal's B-Pier and the International Terminal food court will commence shortly for completion in the spring of 2009.

International Welcome Centre

Construction continues in the arrivals area of the International Terminal, working toward a 2009 opening of a full-service international welcome centre complete with a new Visitor Information Centre now open and operated by Tourism BC. You can read more about this new visitor centre in British Columbia Visitor Centre Open for Business in this month's edition of Air Mail.

Other Sea Island projects

A $1-million upgrade to the Airport Authority's dyke system and improvements to the south airfield is now in progress as part of our airside pavement capital plan.


As for the Canada Line, basic completion of the three stations on Sea Island is targeted for December 2008, with testing and commissioning of the Line to continue into 2009. Full public operations will begin in the fall of 2009.


As always, the Airport Authority appreciates our customers' and employees' patience as we work to improve airport facilities. Please excuse the disruptions; we promise you'll be pleased with the results.

Pictured: Steel structure of the C-Pier expansion project.

[excel]

Top Marks for YVR


The prestigious Condé Nast Traveler 2008 Readers' Awards has named Vancouver International Airport #2 on the list of best airports worldwide. More than 2,500 business travellers completed the Condé Nast survey, rating airports on cleanliness, design and layout, shopping and duty free facilities, clarity of flight information and signs, luggage handling and parking facilities.

Up from sixth place in 2007, YVR received an overall rating of 86.10 out of 100 this year, and was edged out only by Madrid Barajas Airport with a score of 87.60. Changi Airport in Singapore ranked third with a score of 85.63. YVR is the only airport in North America to place in the top 10 in the Best Airport category.

Several of YVR's airline partners also scored top marks in the survey, including Singapore Airlines for punctuality and efficiency on long-haul leisure flights, Lufthansa for catering on business flights, and British Airways for in-flight entertainment.