Halifax Stanfield International Airport Developments

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Those chairs look really uncomfortable. Perhaps that is by design to encourage client turnover.

Padding on the bum is all I need. I'll be leaning forward to get my drink to worry about the back support. I think it looks great and inviting.

[ILoveHalifax]

Originally Posted by q12

Firkin & Flyer British Pub is now open where the old legends used to be.



https://twitter.com/HalifaxReTales/status/1047945731779309568



https://twitter.com/HfxStanfield/status/1047917015762124800

So that's a map of the Halifax subway system on the wall?

[ghYHZ]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

So that's a map of the Halifax subway system on the wall?

Yes....can't you see the line along Bedford Basin on the right...also where it crosses over the line to Bayers Lake

[Phalanx]

The decor says 'cafeteria' more than 'pub'.

[q12]

Terminal Renovations Update:


Source Twitter:https://twitter.com/RobertChaulk/status/1049745067118919680

[pblaauw]

Goodbye, observation deck.

[maxchristie]

Originally Posted by pblaauw

Goodbye, observation deck.

The observation deck isn’t going anywhere it just won’t have a direct view outside anymore.

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by maxchristie

The observation deck isn’t going anywhere it just won’t have a direct view outside anymore.

That's enough to make me sad. I don't want a view of the departures area. I don't go to the airport to watch people, unless they have safety vests on.

[HfxExpat]

Does anyone know what's planned for the Maple Leaf Lounge as part of the terminal renovations?

The expanded departures area should cover it entirely, and it looks from the photo posted here that the main window of the lounge is now boarded up.

It would be a shame if YHZ/Air Canada didn't take this as an opportunity to upgrade the MLL as it's now quite small and dated compared to lounges in other Canadian airports.

[q12]

Originally Posted by HfxExpat

Does anyone know what's planned for the Maple Leaf Lounge as part of the terminal renovations?

I've heard it will be renovated either during or after the terminal renovations in that area.

[q12]

Having CATSA Plus in Halifax is going to make the security check process much better.

So far only Toronto-Pearson, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and now Halifax and Edmonton have this expedited security process.

https://halifaxstanfield.ca/2018/09/halifax-stanfield-receive-catsa-plus-screening-lines/

CATSA Plus: The Future of Security Screening

If you have been through security screening recently at one of Canada’s major airports, you may have noticed a significant difference in the appearance of some security lines.

It’s called CATSA Plus. The new concept combines the latest equipment, technology and processes that have been successfully tested by CATSA at various airports over the last few years.

CATSA conducted a trial of this innovative screening concept at the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport in the summer of 2016. The results from the trial helped CATSA to make refinements before the deployment of the first CATSA Plus checkpoint at Calgary’s International Terminal later that year.

Since then, CATSA Plus has come to Toronto-Pearson and Vancouver international airports, and more lines have been installed at Calgary and Montréal-Trudeau. Between autumn 2018 and summer 2019, CATSA Plus will be installed at Halifax-Stanfield and Edmonton international airports, and two additional checkpoints at Toronto-Pearson will be converted to the new system.

CATSA Plus involves replacing our standard screening lines with higher-performance lines, while also addressing CATSA’s vision for seamless security. The “plus” represents enhanced security effectiveness and a more pleasant experience through the checkpoint for air travellers, as the new lines allow for improved customer service and passenger flow.

Features and benefits of CATSA Plus

CATSA Plus is adaptable to different airport environments and has optional features that may be included depending on checkpoint size, space and passenger volumes. The two elements of the CATSA Plus concept that are most noticeable from the passenger perspective are the parallel divest stations and the redesigned repack area.

A brief explanation of each of the features and benefits is available below, along with a video of the CATSA Plus concept (read text version).

• Video Link

Parallel divest stations

These stations allow up to four passengers to place their belongings in the bins at the same time. Passengers who are familiar with screening procedures can quickly place their items in the bins and bypass those who may need more time or assistance without making them feel pressured to speed up.

Bin tracking system

A unique identification tag is assigned to each bin and a photo is taken of the bin before it enters the X-ray. Combined with the continuous belt and remote X-ray image review, the system makes it faster and easier for screening officers to identify items requiring a search.

Continuous X-ray belt

This new equipment creates a constant flow of bins through the X-ray machine to reduce slowdowns.

Remote X-ray image review process

X-ray screening officers are located in a remote room in a quiet area away from the distractions of the checkpoint. All of the screening officers’ workstations are connected to a network that assigns X-ray images to the first available screening officer.

Motorized bag diverter with split lanes

This allows the X-ray screening officer to reject a bin and automatically redirect it to a separate search line for additional screening. Bins that are cleared proceed down the clear lane. This process enhances security and improves flow through the line.

Motorized bin return

Motorized rollers automatically return empty bins to the front of the line so screening officers do not have to manually perform this task.

Improved repack areas

At the end of the line, after the X-ray, passengers can take their bins to an expanded repack zone.More space, along with tables and benches at the end of the lines, makes it easier for passengers to repack their personal belongings without feeling rushed.

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/catsa-plus

[q12]

https://twitter.com/SkiesMag/status/1057640842054139911

[Keith P.]

I wonder how much that puff piece cost?

[Ziobrop]

747-400 stuffed it at the end of the runway. Minor injuries.
suspect there will be some improvements to the area, in the near future.

[MonctonRad]

Is anyone at all concerned that this is the third major air crash at YHZ in the last 12 years or so, all involving this runway, and two involving 747s???

It is this end of the runway that seems to be at risk too, right next to the Old Guysborough Road.

Seems kinda fishy to me........

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Is anyone at all concerned that this is the third major air crash at YHZ in the last 12 years or so, all involving this runway, and two involving 747s???

It is this end of the runway that seems to be at risk too, right next to the Old Guysborough Road.

Seems kinda fishy to me........

Indeed.

The management at HIAA seems more concerned with trying to develop it as a shopping destination, prettying up the outdated terminal building and purchasing "awards" of dubious validity for the place instead of investing in the latest navigational aids, increasing the number of jetway-equipped gates, and extending the runways to improve safety. I have always found it to be a lousy airport and the changes over the last 10-15 years have not impressed me much. They were very lucky with this incident that it was a cargo plane, not one with several hundred passengers, that somehow it did not catch on fire, and that it slid to a stop before crossing the road.

[Dartguard]

A little correction Moncton Rad, the other two crashes were on the main runway this latest incident was on the shorter runway and I am willing to bet that when the dust settles this incident will be chalked up to Pilot error just like the other two. Having said that Halifax is notorious among pilots as having less than up to date ILS systems especially given our weather here on the East Coast.

[ScovaNotian]

In Air Canada jargon, this looks like a hard landing.

[connect2source]

Seems the inadequacies of YHZ are getting the attention of some top aviation forums including Airliners.net . Many are taking note of the all-too-many incidents at an airport serving just 4M pax/year.

https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1407915

[MonctonRad]

Indeed. A couple of comments from Airliners.net:

So they decided to land RWY14 with wind reported as 280/18G21 and ATC questioning their intentions. That equates to a tailwind of around 16 knots. On a 2350 meter runway that was wet. Even if they were light, the outcome is hardly surprising.

YHZ, in relation to its size has seen a disproportionate number of crashes in the past 15 years.

AC 320 snowstorm
MK 742F - RIP crew

and now this.

This has me thinking. This is very likely the third hull loss - crash? - at YHZ since 2004. The other are MK 1602 in 2004 (that's two 747s!) and AC 624 in 2015.

YHZ is not such a busy airport. In 2017 it ranked 8th in Canada by passenger traffic, but not even in the top 20 by aircraft movements. YHZ had 84,045 movements, whereas YYZ had over 467,000. All of YUL, YVR, YYC had more than double YHZ and many others are busier - YEG, YOW, YTZ, YQM, YYJ, YQB to name some. Heck, even "Region of Waterloo International Airport" is busier, at over 101,000 movements (Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t ... _in_Canada)

During that same period, I can think of only 1 accident resulting in a hull loss at all of the other top-20 airports (AF 368 in 2005, at YYZ), and only 2 others in the entire rest of the country (I'm thinking of aircraft that are large enough to seat 30 passengers or more - these are the ATR at Fond Du Lac in 2017, and First Air at YRB in 2011). And let's not get into the question of how many airports there are in the US with 86,000 movements or more, which have had no crashes. Now I may be missing some incidents, but however you look at it 3 hull loss accidents is a major "outlier" in this era of safe flight, where major incidents are rare.

Which leads to me to wonder: what is it about YHZ? Is it the weather conditions (I've had many bumpy approaches and landings there)? Is it the composition of the traffic (ie, fewer flights, but more large / cargo flights)? Or is it just plain bad luck?

Personally, I think having three major crashes (and all three of them were crashes, not "hard landings") since 2004 should be ringing major alarm bells out there.

I think there should be a thorough enquiry into flight ops and runway infrastructure at YHZ.

After all, if YHZ develops a reputation for being a hazardous airport for landings, operators may think twice about operating from the facility. I'm not talking about scheduled passenger operations, I'm thinking more of cargo flights and perhaps charter operations. There are alternative airports in the region with better safety profiles and fewer days where flight ops are compromised by weather conditions.