Calgary International Airport II

[Bigtime]

Tweets from the Airport Authority presenting to City Council today.

[People.talking]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Woah and this nugget came out too:

Airport & city working on a technical plan that might see an LRT on an elevated line into the Departures level

Great news, although it's probably not in the near future

[Cage]

I managed to squeeze my food and wine loving butt into narrow seat at council for the Airport Authority presentation. Some new items that came up during the CEO presentation:

October 31, 2016 is the opening date for the new terminal.

Parkades P1 and P2.
- P1 Parkade will be adjusted to reference the Red parkade and will feature Canada flags to help guide users going domestic to P1.
- P2 Parkade will be adjusted to reference the Blue parkade and will feature USA and Globe flags to guide users going transborder or international.

New Hotel.
The new hotel will be flagged as a full service Marriott. Last year Marriott bought Delta hotels from BCIMC and Delta is now a full service brand within the Marriott group. Being a Marriott Rewards Platinum cardholder, my only concern was whether the new Hotel would be full service Marriott or a discount Courtyard.

Another New Hotel
Opening in October 2017 will be the Westin Calgary Airport. the hotel will be located on the airport property but it does not appear to be connected to the terminal building.

Marriott Group currently has a merger proposal out with Starwood Hotels (Owners of the Westin Hotels). If completed, the merger integration would happen in late 2017-2018 timeframe. It will be interesting to see how the combined Marriott, group will handle three full service hotels in the same airport.

YYC Link is the new name for the compact transport system.

Airport Authority will commission a new noise impact study for West Calgary residents who currently have issues with the down wind segment of the North parallel arrivals STAR.

Calgary airport working with Calgary Police on requirements for new terminal CPS presence.

Current 10 degree deviation on the new runway implemented last year. Airport is exploring transitioning to a 5 degree turn to lessen impact on residents in the NE.

Airport clarified that 10 degree turn is only for south departures, there is no change to north departures. Skyview Ranch community probably located in wrong spot according to airport.

LRT to the Airport.
Airport will preserve the right of way for the LRT to come into the terminal complex. The LRT right of way would allow for the train to go onto an elevated guideway coming from Airport Trail/Barlow intersection to the terminal complex. The implementation time and cost of the LRT link will be determined by City administration and paid for by the city.

Finally the airport authority to host discussions with City Councillors to discuss number of topics.

[Colin]

New photo of the terminal from the yyc blog. Looks beautiful!



Source: http://www.yyc.com/CALGARYAIRPORTAUTHORI...pdate-on-the-International-Terminal.aspx

[cyeg66]

Originally Posted by Cage

Airport Authority will commission a new noise impact study for West Calgary residents who currently have issues with the down wind segment of the North parallel arrivals STAR....

Current 10 degree deviation on the new runway implemented last year. Airport is exploring transitioning to a 5 degree turn to lessen impact on residents in the NE.

Airport clarified that 10 degree turn is only for south departures, there is no change to north departures. Skyview Ranch community probably located in wrong spot according to airport.

Yes, this Airport doesn't hesitate to meddle in affairs that don't traditionally fall within an airport's purview. This is what happens when every person, domesticated animal, and inanimate object is allowed to speak at a town hall meeting about "big, bad, noisy airplanes". Turns into a fustercluck. Change this, change this, change this. One wave of the magic wand and Voilà!

The irony is that many companies, airports included, trumpet "Safety and Efficiency" (with a wink at the Environment and the Greenies) as their mantra when in actuality, it could hardly be further from the truth. Complexity goes up, restrictions go up, flexibility goes way down, flying time (thus fuel burn) go up. I don't see this trend reversing anytime soon, especially with the rise of social media. As evidenced in our most recent elections, it's undeniable how social media disproportionately skews tales of woe, helping fight the good fight for the little people.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Cage

I managed to squeeze my food and wine loving butt into narrow seat at council for the Airport Authority presentation. Some new items that came up during the CEO presentation:


Airport Authority will commission a new noise impact study for West Calgary residents who currently have issues with the down wind segment of the North parallel arrivals STAR.

Current 10 degree deviation on the new runway implemented last year. Airport is exploring transitioning to a 5 degree turn to lessen impact on residents in the NE.

Airport clarified that 10 degree turn is only for south departures, there is no change to north departures. Skyview Ranch community probably located in wrong spot according to airport.


Finally the airport authority to host discussions with City Councillors to discuss number of topics.

I love this comment. Would love to hear what the developers of the community would say in response.

[Bigtime]

Any avgeek in Calgary could see the problem with Skyview Ranch coming from a mile away.

[Bureaudog]

.

[yyc_engineer]

I came through CBSA twice in the last two months and waited maybe 5 minutes, probably less. There were at least 6-8 officers working.

Same thing last time through CBP, maybe 10 minute wait. Not unreasonable by any standards.

The ABC machines will help, especially inbound. I didn't even talk to CBSA officers last couple times coming back through YVR.

ATL and LAX launch them with zero initial divergence on RNAV departures all day long, off parallels closer than Calgary. Canadian implementation of RNAV very forward in some areas, inexplicably lagging in others.

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by yyc_engineer

I came through CBSA twice in the last two months and waited maybe 5 minutes, probably less. There were at least 6-8 officers working.

Same thing last time through CBP, maybe 10 minute wait. Not unreasonable by any standards.

The ABC machines will help, especially inbound. I didn't even talk to CBSA officers last couple times coming back through YVR.

Maybe you cleared customs @ YVR??

It takes a lot longer to walk from the Int'l arrival gates - to the customs area than it takes to go through customs - including the wait in the line up at the customs area.

[Johnny Aussie]

AC keeps changing their scheds/equipment. Unusual for them this close to summer season kicking off.

Current changes:

LHR will now be a daily 77L. This is 2 seats more than the 789 and more premium.

YYZ will now see one daily 333 rotation! The red eye that was to be a 763 is now a 333. YYC-YYZ will still have two daily 763s as well.

So this means YYC will see all the AC widebodies except the 77W this summer.

763 two daily (YYZ)
788 once daily (NRT)
333 once daily (YYZ)
789 once daily (FRA)
77L once daily (LHR)

[Bigtime]

Yay, always like having a 777 around.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Any avgeek in Calgary could see the problem with Skyview Ranch coming from a mile away.

I know people who live in that area, and can say that for all the ones I know, it is not a problem. Anyone who purchased up there knows there was about to be (or already was) a runway coming up next door.

As a side comment, and it is a delicate one but I think might come back to understanding the psychology of the complainers, it seems to me that the complainers are largely Caucasian. Maybe I'm wrong and it is just a subconscious stereotype rearing its head, but have a look around at those on the blow horns. Certainly there will be every type represented, but I'm talking about a skew from the actual demographics.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by suburbia

I know people who live in that area, and can say that for all the ones I know, it is not a problem. Anyone who purchased up there knows there was about to be (or already was) a runway coming up next door.

As a side comment, and it is a delicate one but I think might come back to understanding the psychology of the complainers, it seems to me that the complainers are largely Caucasian. Maybe I'm wrong and it is just a subconscious stereotype rearing its head, but have a look around at those on the blow horns. Certainly there will be every type represented, but I'm talking about a skew from the actual demographics.

Who is Okotoks?

[hoboman27]

Originally Posted by suburbia

I know people who live in that area, and can say that for all the ones I know, it is not a problem. Anyone who purchased up there knows there was about to be (or already was) a runway coming up next door.

As a side comment, and it is a delicate one but I think might come back to understanding the psychology of the complainers, it seems to me that the complainers are largely Caucasian. Maybe I'm wrong and it is just a subconscious stereotype rearing its head, but have a look around at those on the blow horns. Certainly there will be every type represented, but I'm talking about a skew from the actual demographics.

Interesting observation, never thought of it that way.

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Yay, always like having a 777 around.

Agreed - especially when we get to ride in one ( I'll take the jump seat behind the pilot )

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

AC keeps changing their scheds/equipment. Unusual for them this close to summer season kicking off.

Current changes:

LHR will now be a daily 77L. This is 2 seats more than the 789 and more premium.

Ac has 6 77L aircraft.

2 aircraft are required for AC33/34 YYZ-YVR-SYD

2 aircraft are required for AC15/16 YYZ-HKG

2 aircraft are spare replacements for which there was no specified mission when they were purchased. Originally these aircraft were ordered as 772 cargo variant, but AC changed its mind and transferred the order to 77L.

It is the two spare aircraft that will fly AC 858-851-850-859 or YYZ-LHR-YYC-LHR-YYZ. There will be two 77L aircraft LHR during the late morning and afternoon period.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Cage

Originally these aircraft were ordered as 772 cargo variant, but AC changed its mind and transferred the order to 77L.

Funny you should mention that.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...arrangement-with-cargojet-575522891.html

Air Canada Cargo introducing dedicated freighter services from Canada to Latin America and Europe with Boeing 767-300ER freighter aircraft operated by Cargojet.

Initial service will operate on the following routes and will begin June 9, 2016:

YYZ to BOG and LIM via ATL
YYZ to MEX via DFW

Europe service will begin later in the year.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by cyeg66

Yes, this Airport doesn't hesitate to meddle in affairs that don't traditionally fall within an airport's purview. This is what happens when every person, domesticated animal, and inanimate object is allowed to speak at a town hall meeting about "big, bad, noisy airplanes". Turns into a fustercluck. Change this, change this, change this. One wave of the magic wand and Voilà!

I hear what you are saying Cyeg66 and agree, Calgary Airport Authority is walking a tightrope and could royally screw things up. However, I am willing to give the CAA some leeway and trust that the world will be okay with regard to noise complaints from Calgarians.

The CAA held to their guns and got a great deal from the city WRT the airport trail tunnel. Ultimately the two sides worked together and both got what they wanted (City got their tunnel and the airport did not have their runway construction negatively impacted).

In another example, the airport got their desire for no eastern expansion of airport trail without a interchange at Barlow and Airport Trails.

I am also supportive of implementing noise monitoring for West Calgary areas affected by downwind arrival flight paths. I went to an open house and listened to the area residents complain about the noise from airplanes. The residents of West Calgary used the same lines as NE Calgary residents. Every noise study I have seen does not support West Calgary position on aircraft noise, however there is no hard factual evidence that addresses the issue head on. I am confident that once the noise facts are complete, there will be little for the West Calgary residents to complain about.

Finally, a little engagement with the local residents hosted by the CAA and Navcan can do a lot of good. At least the CAA and Navcan will be able to say "We listened, we researched, and hear are the facts".

Under the old Transport Canada regime, YYZ continues to have major restrictions caused in large part by failure to lead civic engagement by TC while Hurricane Hazel stole the show with the federal political masters.

Same thing happened in YVR when their new runway was built. TC failed to appropriately listen and respond to local concerns, so the locales went to the Federal government of the day and got a political solution to an operational problem.