Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[Dominion301]

Just over 45 minutes from now the inaugural AF328 touches down at YOW. Anyone one at the airport currently to capture its arrival?

[Dominion301]

After being inexplicably excluded from the Verified Traveller program, the Minister of Transport says it's coming soon to YOW and YHZ on 23AUG23: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mi...eld-international-airport-861583763.html

[VaskoYOW]

So, we just went through security…the kiosks for AF are between Canadian North and Westjet! Total of 8 kiosks with 3 of them for Sky Priority! Also, the flight is completely sold out! J Class passengers with AF have access to the Aspire lounge. There were news cameras during checking in, and there is definitely a buzz at the airport!

[MountainView]

AF 328 should be landing runway 25 at 15:05-15:08 today. If anyone else is going, the best place to capture photos or watch is on Alert Road, just after Thad Johnson Pvt. on the left side. Lots of folks waiting... also a handful of other YOW arrivals at that time (AC BCS3 x2, WS 737 x2).

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by VaskoYOW

So, we just went through security…the kiosks for AF are between Canadian North and Westjet! Total of 8 kiosks with 3 of them for Sky Priority! Also, the flight is completely sold out! J Class passengers with AF have access to the Aspire lounge. There were news cameras during checking in, and there is definitely a buzz at the airport!

Awesome to hear!! Have a great flight and thanks for the updates.
Hopefully some free AF goodies for you at the gate.

[MountainView]

YOW and YHZ joining the pilot program for verified travelers....
kudos to the lobbyists from the two airport authorities for getting this here:

Minister of Transport announces pilot for dedicated Verified Traveller lines coming soon to Ottawa International Airport and Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Edit:
I noticed Dominion301 posted this on the Canada forum too. I didn't check there in advance of posting here

Originally Posted by Dominion301

After being inexplicably excluded from the Verified Traveller program, the Minister of Transport says it's coming soon to YOW and YHZ on 23AUG23: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mi...eld-international-airport-861583763.html

[RomanR27]

Just got here and the area MountainView mentioned is busier than I've ever seen it. Unfortunately there is absolutely torrential downpour at the moment.

Edit: looks like landing runway 14

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Just got here and the area MountainView mentioned is busier than I've ever seen it. Unfortunately there is absolutely torrential downpour at the moment.

Edit: looks like landing runway 14

YES - ugh.

Westjet from YWG and AC from YYZ are going to land 25, but AF is taking 14.

[MountainView]

THE only excuse I can think of, is that it must be "heavy" and it's and unfamiliar airport. So take the longest runway.

Big sigh for everyone hanging out on Alert road.

[RomanR27]

Was able to catch it from Leckie Pvt, would have gone to T&T parking lot if there was more time. Oh well, hoping for better luck for the departure this evening.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa, Halifax airports getting streamlined security pilot project
Will be part-time there vs. full-time in 6 other major Canadian airports

CBC News
Posted: Jun 27, 2023 1:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Ottawa and Halifax's international airports will be part of a new federal program to streamline security, but not quite to the same level as six other major Canadian hubs.

The Ottawa International Airport Authority was disappointed to be left out of the program when it was announced last month.

Beginning June 21 at these airports, eligible airline passengers could keep their laptops, electronics and liquid in their carry-on bags and could clear airport security without having to remove their shoes, belts and jackets.

Eligible groups include NEXUS and Global Entry members, active members of the Canadian and U.S. military, aircrew and airport staff and Canadian police.

The Ottawa International Airport and Halifax Stanfield International Airport will start a pilot project that will bring in this option during peak periods by Aug. 23, according to a Tuesday news release from Transport Canada.

"Outside of these peak periods, a front-of-the-line service would be offered to eligible verified travellers," according to the department.

The security screening changes are in place full-time at Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal-Trudeau airports with the goal of easing congestion.

A Transport Canada spokesperson said the week of the original announcement those six airports where chosen because they're the busiest in the country, based on the volume of travellers, and that other airports may join the program in the future.

The airports with the full-time program each reported having more passengers than Ottawa and Halifax last year.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ot...airport-security-nexus-changes-1.6890103

[YOWflier]

Sorry to hear the runway assignment screwed some of you.

Don’t leave home without your scanners! Even with a surprise runway assignment, when a flight first checks in with arrivals (135.150) you have about 10-15 min to reposition yourself.

For departure stay tuned to ground/clearance delivery (121.900) about 30-60 min before departure for runway assignment. Plenty of time to position one’s self.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by YOWflier

Sorry to hear the runway assignment screwed some of you.

Don’t leave home without your scanners! Even with a surprise runway assignment, when a flight first checks in with arrivals (135.150) you have about 10-15 min to reposition yourself.

For departure stay tuned to ground/clearance delivery (121.900) about 30-60 min before departure for runway assignment. Plenty of time to position ones self.

I was listening to LiveATC but sometimes stuff gets cutoff since it's an amalgamation of multiple frequencies -- also it was in French!

[YOWflier]

Yeah liveatc is definitely better than nothing and useful on one’s mobile but less than ideal since it blends multiple frequencies and whichever transmits first gets the feed (while other frequencies can be talking in parallel). With a scanner you can obviously specify whatever frequency(ies) you want. Worth it if you spend any meaningful time spotting.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by YOWflier

Yeah liveatc is definitely better than nothing and useful on one’s mobile but less than ideal since it blends multiple frequencies and whichever transmits first gets the feed (while other frequencies can be talking in parallel). With a scanner you can obviously specify whatever frequency(ies) you want. Worth it if you spend any meaningful time spotting.

Case in point, AF's response to the ground controller updating them on weather and offering runway choices was cutoff

Edit: gonna be runway 14 departure due to the weather

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by MountainView

YOW and YHZ joining the pilot program for verified travelers....
kudos to the lobbyists from the two airport authorities for getting this here:

Good news. A bit of a weird program though. Active US military have killed more people in terrorist incidents in the US over the last 20 years than Arabs/Muslims (granted some were both).

[YOWhopeful]

Has anyone taken Pics of the Air France plane? Would love to see them on here

[YOWflier]

Some neat pics on Twitter if you search for Air France Ottawa.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by YOWhopeful

Has anyone taken Pics of the Air France plane? Would love to see them on here

Not a great picture as it was taken with my phone but I got this through the fence on landing.



Takeoff was a bust as it was pouring.

And from r/Ottawa, a couple picture of the festivities by the gate, and a picture of it on approach.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Ottawa, Halifax airports getting streamlined security pilot project
Will be part-time there vs. full-time in 6 other major Canadian airports

CBC News
Posted: Jun 27, 2023 1:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ot...airport-security-nexus-changes-1.6890103

We have to fight for everything in Ottawa, and even after that, we end up with less than our pears. Frustrating.