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www.comoxvalleyecho.com Tuesday June 24, 2014
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Volume 20, No. 50
Trees no longer an issue at Comox Valley Airport New rule brings back landing limits to 250 feet, improving reliability of airline services By Michael Briones Echo Staff The controversial trees that have kept aircraft from landing at the Comox Valley Airport during adverse weather conditions don’t have to be chopped down after all.
“It’s no longer an issue for us,� said YQQ CEO Fred Bigelow. That’s because of new Transport Canada Aerodome Standards and Recommended Practices that were adopted by the Department of National Defence on May 26, to prevent unnecessary cancellations and diversions during poor weather conditions. Bigelow said landing limits have been brought back to normal at YQQ. Aircraft can now approach at lower altitudes, back down to 250 feet from
the previous 500 feet that was put in place three years ago. “That’s huge,� said Bigelow. “That means we’re going to see the kind of reliability that we would expect from any Canadian airport, the kind of reliability we had before this restriction came into place three years ago. “It makes a huge difference. There were days with a 400 foot ceiling, aircraft couldn’t get in. There’s no reason for it.� The new standards, Bigelow pointed out, reflect the kind of navigation
performance an aircraft can achieve these days. “That means they can safely come down to 250 feet without a problem,� said Bigelow. “It would be a very rare occurrence that an aircraft can’t land.� As an aerodome operator, 19 Wing has taken measures to maintain compliance with air safety standards found in Transport Canada’s TP 312 Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices and its companion document MIL 312 Aerodrome
Standards and Recommended Practices. Under the authority of the Aeronautics Act, 19 Wing selectively topped or removed trees on military property as well as on the properties of several landowners where those trees had caused the decision height to be increased. The project was largely completed in 2013 with the exception of three properties whose owners had filed objections with the Minister of National Defence. (Continued on page 2)
Members of airport board of directors to get paid Comox councillor disappointed over commission’s decision By Michael Briones Echo Staff
Comox Mayor Paul Ives tries his hands at oyster shucking competition during Saturday’s celebration by the sea in Filberg Park to wrap up the week-long BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival
Directors of the Comox Valley Airport Commission will no longer be working for free. The board of directors voted to pay current and future members for their governance and oversight of the Comox Valley Airport. As of July 1, the nine board members will share an annual remuneration of $49,000 or 1.2 per cent of the 2012-13 operating revenue. That equates to just over $5,000 for each director. Compensating directors, according to CVAC chair Frank van Gisbergen, brings YQQ in line with the majority of airports across Canada and Vancouver Island airports, like those in Victoria and Nanaimo. “We believe, as do our colleagues across the country, that the amount of time, energy, commitment and accountability required of an airport board should be recognized,� Van Gisbergen explained. “Compensation is an accepted way of recognizing this workload and the skill set required to be an airport director.� The CVAC Board reviewed the issue of compensation for well over a year prior to making a decision. It consulted the Village of Cumberland, City of Courtenay, Town of Comox, Comox Valley Regional District, Comox Valley Economic Development Society and the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. The councils from the three municipalities unanimously voted against any payments to directors, which the airport commission said, they acknowledged. Van Gisbergen said the decision was not an easy choice to make but “as a board we still have the obligation and the responsibility to do what is best for the corporation and what is best for the board. Based on that we felt it was time that we would go to a compensated model.� (Continued on page 2)
Residents stride out to open Royston Seaside Trail By Philip Round Echo Staff Royston residents strode out to mark the official opening of a waterfront trail more than a kilometre long yesterday. And they expressed the hope that one day it would link up with the Courtenay Riverway to provide a walking and cycling route all the way to downtown. The Royston Seaside Trail is a project of Comox Valley Regional District that restores and renews a former path that once ran along a disused rail grade to the log booming area. Despite strenuous efforts by local volunteers over the years, erosion had eaten away at several sections of that path, rendering it dangerous to use. But several residents encouraged the regional district to adopt its restoration as a strategic
priority in its rural parks and greenways plan, and with the help of a $325,000 provincial government grant towards the total $548,000 cost, the task is now complete. The newly-constructed 2.5-metre wide gravel trail - way superior to the former route - follows the foreshore for 1.1-kms from the end of Lince Road, just north of Marine Drive in Royston, to Chinook Road at the municipal boundary of Courtenay. Vehicle parking, kayak and canoe access, and toilet facilities are available overlooking the ‘ghost ships of Royston’ breakwater at the end of Hilton Road, which has a signed junction with the old Island Highway. Drawing up the restoration plans was not without controversy, and at an earlier stage several residents signed a petition to try to axe the project. (Continued on page 2)
Area A director Bruce Jolliffe (right) pictured at the official opening of the Royston Seaside Trail with local residents Ross Munro, Piet Rutgers and Geoff Plant - and pet dog Maggie raring to get exploring the restored route.
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