2002-02_skytalk

YVR SNOW TEAM KEEPS AIRPORT MOVING DURING STORM. Vancouver International Airport’s “snow team” had its first real test on the last weekend in January, when the season’s first big storm dumped more than 20 centimetres of snow in less than 24 hours. See Page 4

F R E E FEBRUARY 2002 • Your Airport Community Newspaper – Vancouver International Airport

Air Policy Hampering Canada’s Ability to Compete

By Phil Melnychuk anada needs to open up its skies – or fall further behind in global aviation. It needs to get back on track with the review of its international air policy, says John Korenic with the Vancouver International Airport Authority.

Transport Minister David Collenette announced a comprehensive review last February, inviting comment from a broad range of industry stakeholders. The review was progressing until September 11 when the terrorist attacks changed priorities and the review was shelved.

“Now, it’s time to get back at it,” says Korenic, director, aviation marketing, with the Airport Authority.

“Otherwise, the industry and country will be the losers as jobs and money literally fly over our heads.”

What is Air Policy?

Canada’s International Air Policy ultimately impacts every one of us, whether we are employed with an airline, work at the airport, are involved in the tourism business, are a freight forwarder, own a business or pay taxes.

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The policy defines Transport Canada’s attitude or direction towards negotiating air treaties between countries. This, in turn determines whether air service is permitted between countries, or indeed between any given citypairs.

Bilateral air treaties also dictate how frequent such a service can be, aircraft size, intermediate and beyond stops, including fifth freedom rights, code sharing and how liberal the fare mechanisms should be. It applies to both the carriage of passengers and cargo, although historically Canada has paid little attention to air cargo.

Precluding or limiting the opportunity for an airline to operate to Vancouver has had enormous repercussions for all of us. Cargo being a prime example. The lack of a clear, liberal policy for the movement of air cargo has forced business to other gateways such as Anchorage or Portland.

SEE AIR POLICY, PAGE 2

West Coast Air Launches Exclusive YVR to Victoria Harbour Floatplane Service est Coast Air will launch a new scheduled air service between Vancouver International Airport and downtown Victoria beginning February 11, the airline’s president Al Baydala has announced.

West Coast Air will operate six flights daily from Monday to Friday

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Al Baydala, president West Coast Air

on the new route. Flight time is 30 minutes. Scheduled departures from Vancouver International Airport’s seaplane terminal, near the South Terminal, will be at 8:25 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 4:25 p.m. Flights will depart from West Coast Air’s downtown Victoria Harbour terminal at

7:25 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 3:25 p.m.

The fare for the scenic 30-minute flight is $99 one-way, plus GST, the same low price as West Coast Air’s daily scheduled VanSEE WEST c o u v e r - Vi c t o r i a COAST AIR, Harbour-to-Harbour PAGE 3 service.

Alaska Airlines To Provide New Vancouver-California Service

laska Airlines’ has announced seasonal, daily, nonstop service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) beginning April 28, 2002.

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John Wayne Airport is located in Orange County, California, a popular tourist destination and home to Disneyland Resort, Knott’s Berry Farm, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

“This new service provides YVR’s customers with a nonstop link between two of North America’s tourism hubs,” said John Korenic, director, aviation marketing, Vancouver International Airport Authority. “Not only is California a popular destination for British Columbians, but the state is also home to many of the cruise-ship passengers who come to our province each year.”

“We are a natural fit for Vancouver and the Canadian market,” said Glen Dierker, Alaska Airlines’ district sales

SEE ALASKA AIRLINES, PAGE 7

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Air Policy,

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

As Korenic says: “This has directly impacted individual businesses and the B.C. economy overall.”

Remove Barriers The aim of this periodic review is to ensure that the policy meets the changing needs of stakeholders, ensures that Canada remains competitive in the global marketplace and removes the barriers created in an era when airlines were protected from competition. While the days of apportioning out parts of the world to different airlines is history, Canada’s air policy lags behind the U.S., and is significantly hampering our ability to compete.

According to a discussion paper last year from the Canadian Airports Council (CAC), it’s not a question of whether the policy will be liberalized;

it’s a question of how.

But time is of the essence, if Canada is to keep pace with the United States. “We need a policy that will facilitate liberal agreements between countries,” says Korenic.

“We would like the policy to be ‘market demand’ driven, and we would like to see the removal of the existing artificial barriers to competition. The policy also needs to be cognizant of the needs of the community and a broader range of stakeholders; not the historical focus on a few stakeholders.”

Fifth Freedom Rights In particular, such a policy needs to promote what’s known in the industry as fifth freedom rights. These are crucial to the Vancouver Gateway Strategy and the B.C. economy.

That’s a principle where an airline

from one country is allowed to land in a second country (i.e. Canada), pick up passengers and fly to a third country. Such rights can be negotiated on a reciprocal basis.

For example, Cathay Pacific operates from Hong Kong to Vancouver, picks up passengers, and continues to New York. A Canadian airline has the right to operate in a similar fashion beyond Hong Kong to certain points in Southeast Asia.

In the U.S., Varig, a Brazilian airline, operates between Sao Paolo and Los Angeles, picks up passengers (fifth freedom rights) and continues to Japan. The Brazil – Canada agreement precludes such a routing via YVR. Open Skies In recent years the U.S. government has been pursuing an “Open

Skies” policy, which in essence allows for an open environment for services between the two countries in question, plus allows for open and unlimited fifth freedom rights for both countries.

The Canada–U.S. agreement, although widely touted in Canada as an “Open Skies” agreement, is not so by the U.S. definition. It is missing the “fifth freedom” component, and specifically out of YVR the U.S. carriers have no such rights.

When the CAC wrote its paper early last year, the U.S. had negotiated open skies agreements with 52 nations. The total now approaches 60 such agreements, with several key agreements (i.e. France) having been negotiated since September 11.

What is the grand total for such agreements in Canada? Zero.

“We are strongly urging Canada to follow a similar policy, on a reciprocal basis with respect to passengers, and unilaterally when it comes to all-

Canada-U.S. Open Skies Agreement Increases Cross-Border Travel

By Phil Melnychuk ant to see what a good treaty can do for an airline and a country? See what the Canada-U.S. agreement has done for both Vancouver and its international airport in five years.

The agreement (in Canada, it’s called the Open Skies) was signed in 1995 and allows any U.S. carrier to take passengers from anywhere in the U.S. to any airport in Canada.

In return, Canada can do the same. “The market determines where you want to fly,” says John Korenic, director aviation marketing, Vancouver International Airport Authority.

Prior to 1995, there were only flights from Vancouver to Seattle,

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Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Spokane. As well, one U.S. carrier was allowed to fly from Vancouver to Chicago.

Now almost 7 years after the treaty uou can fly from from Vancouver to New York, Miami, Salt Lake, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Washington, to name just a few.

Since then, t he number of destinations from Vancouver to the U.S. has more than tripled.

The number of passengers flying from YVR to U.S. destinations has also increased.

In 1995, 2.9 million passengers flew south. That compares to 4.0 million passengers in 2001.

cargo services,” says Korenic. “This type of agreement is fast becoming the norm and is a key driving force in global international air policy.”

Canada however is falling behind.

Positive Effect The effect of a liberalized air policy can be clearly seen in the CanadaU.S. Agreement signed in 1995. The deal allows any U.S. or Canadian airline to fly between any point in the U.S. and any point in Canada as frequently as it wishes. The market dictates the destinations served and at what level. While it’s not what the U.S. calls an open skies agreement, in Canada it is know by that label.

Whatever it is called, the effect has been huge (see sidebar story on this page). The benefit of Canada adopting a true open skies policy to British Columbia would be substantial.

“From a cargo perspective it would be enormous,” says Korenic.

For example, All Nippon Cargo currently flies from Japan to Portland.

Under the current agreement between Canada and Japan, the all-cargo airline is not allowed to land in Vancouver. As well, numerous Asian and U.S. carriers operate between Asia and the U.S. via Anchorage, Alaska. If the carriers were permitted instead to use Vancouver as a stopover point, with fifth freedom rights, the cargo firms would save flying time and money and also get a piece of the Vancouver market.

For the Airport Authority, “Canada’s present air policy is the “No. 1 impediment to air cargo growth,” Korenic notes.

As to when Ottawa might restart its review of Canada’s International air policy, the Airport Authority says that it still appears to be on hold. It can’t be too soon.

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F E B R U A R Y

Bringing Fear of Flying Down to Earth

By David Kritzwiser ince as far back as DC-3s, we’ve heard the white-knuckle jokes about flying. But after September 11, a new fear of flying has taken off.

Not only is being up in the air worrying fliers, the process of just getting onto a flight can induce tension.

So how do you go about easing jitters and getting people to fly without fear?

T w o approaches are available: one computer-age, one traditional.

The computer age is where speech language pathologist Richard Green and psychologist Doug Cohen come in. They are Vancouver’s own Canadian pioneers in what they aptly term the Virtually Fearless Treatment for fear of flying. This treatment, the product of their two years of exhaustive research, permits people to overcome fear of flying by simulating the reality that creates the fear.

“One in seven people have a fear about flying, at the very least a degree of discomfort,” elaborates Green, “so we provide an environment that’s different from traditional and expensive therapy.”

First in Canada The first-of-its-kind to be practiced in Canada, Virtually Fearless is based upon an animated, computergenerated simulation, complete with realistic effects, of the sights, sounds, and step-by-step events arising from going to the airport, getting onto a flight, and flying—the ordinary events we all know so well, but which many may find stomachchurning.

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West Coast Air,

Through sitting in front of a monitor and donning special goggles with a head-tracking unit, the patient not only sees and experiences these events, but is also free to interact with them by side-to-side and up-anddown head increments. Given that each eye looks at the equivalent of a 54-inch TV screen, there’s a wealth of

ed of group and individual counseling sessions, including ticketing and boarding walk-through, airplane walk-ons, and pilots’ overviews of flight operations. In the group sessions, people who had overcome their fear shared their positive experiences with concerned air travellers who were struggling to do so.

evocative detail to absorb.

Meanwhile, the therapist can direct the action, stopping, starting, relaying and programming sequences.

In addition, a biofeed mechanism indicates stress levels and records patient reactions.

“This kind of immersion lets people who are afraid of flying face their anxiety in an environment that’s safe and controlled,” says Green. “The only other way to do this is to get on a real flight with a psychologist.

Imagine if you had to fly to Calgary with a psychologist 10 or 12 times to overcome your flying phobia.

Virtually Fearless is definitely more cost-effective.”

However, Chaplain Layne Daggett of the YVR Chapel has practiced a simpler variation of on-site treatment at YVR. Newly returned as airport chaplain after an absence of several years, Daggett first held his Fear of Flying Workshop at the airport between 1983 and 1989, when his approach consist-

Personal Counselling Today, Chaplain Daggett’s involvement consists chiefly of personal one-on-one counseling. For example, an airline may call him to assist at a gate when anxiety prevents a passenger from boarding a flight.

However, he hopes soon to revive the Fear of Flying Workshop. Because of security issues, walk-ons of planes will be omitted, but pilots’ involvement will still be featured, as will intensive counseling.

“Fear of flying may touch upon spiritual needs,” believes Daggett, “because basically people want to face the unknown with confidence and security. If we can help them do that we can give their lives more strength.”

Whether they are computer-generated or emotionally generated, methods of treatment for fear of flying will work to restore faith in aviation, still one of the world’s safest means of travel.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Our new service will offer travellers a convenient and economical way to travel between the growing business centers of Richmond, Delta and the Fraser Valley and downtown Victoria,” said Baydala. “We want to give customers more travel options and save them time by eliminating the need to drive to a downtown Vancouver terminal or fly airport-to-airport.”

West Coast Air is the only company to offer airplane service between Vancouver International Airport and Victoria Harbour.

Flights on the new route will also qualify for West Coast Air’s frequent-flyer program. Passengers can earn one free flight for every 10 they take with the airline.

West Coast Air has been offering Twin Otter floatplane service between downtown Vancouver and Victoria’s Inner Harbour for over 30 years with up to 32 flights per day. The airline also offers floatplane adventure packages and charter services.

Reservations call your travel agent or West Coast Air at 1-800-347-2222 or visit www.westcoastair.com.

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Canadian Airports Council Appoints Larry Berg as Chairman he Canadian Airports Council (CAC) has announced the appointment of Larry Berg, president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVRAA), as chairman of the airport industry association.

“This year promises to be particularly challenging for the entire aviation industry,” said Berg. “As chairman of CAC I will build on the many successes of airport devolution in Canada, to focus on Canadian airports’ strategic goals and advocacy priorities. I look forward to working closely with my airport colleagues, our executive staff in Ottawa, airline industry leaders and the federal government on the critical issues facing our industry in 2002.”

“Larry Berg brings his industry knowledge and leadership talents to the industry as a whole on his appointment as chairman of CAC,” said Neil Raynor, CAC’s executive director.

“His commitment to achieving safe, secure and accessible air transportation will be a significant bonus as airports work to meet the challenges of today’s aviation industry.”

Larry Berg is a director of YVRAA and its subsidiary. Along

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with his role as CAC chairman, Berg is chair of the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council and a directory of Airports Council International- Larry Berg Pacific Region.

He is a member of the Advisory Board to the Faculty of Commerce at the University of British Columbia and a governor of the British Columbia Business Council.

Other recent CAC Board appointments include Reg Milley, president and CEO of the Halifax International Airport Authority, as vice-chair, and Garth Atkinson, president and CEO, Calgary Airport Authority, as secretary-treasurer.

The Canadian Airport Council is the voice of Canada’s airports. CAC’s 36 members operate more than 90 airports serving over 95 per cent of Canadian air travellers. Founded in 1991, CAC works with public policy makers, industry and other stakeholders on issues of common concern to airports across Canada.

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Canada Still Number One ast month, International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Industry Minister Allan Rock welcomed the results of a new business study, Competitive Alternatives: Comparing Business Costs in North America, Europe and Japan, which ranks Canada as the leading cost-competitive industrial country. The management consulting firm KPMG conducted the study. The 2002 study marks the third consecutive time that Canada has come out ahead of other industrialized nations.

“The KPMG study shows that Canada is still the low-

cost leader among industrial nations,” said Minister Pettigrew. “As the overall lowest-cost country for conducting business, Canada offers distinct and compelling advantages to those global firms seeking the best location to establish or expand their operations.”

The 10-month international study of leading industrial countries provides comparative after-tax costs of starting up and operating a business for a period of 10 years, taking into account factors such as labour costs, taxes, transportation costs, energy costs and facility costs.

“Canada has created one of the most attractive investment climates in the world,” said Minister Rock. “When international investment comes to Canada, it Breakdown by country: Based on a cost index means Canadian jobs and stronger with the U.S. equal to 100, Canada is the lowestCanadian communities.” cost country, as follows: Canadian cities ranked higher than many of their international counterparts. In Country Cost % Cost Advantage particular, Canadian cities scored higher Index over the U.S. than U.S. cities in all five North American Canada 85.5 14.5 regions and Canada averaged 14.5 per cent United Kingdom 86.9 13.1 cost savings for international investors over Italy 88.6 11.4 the U.S. The Netherlands 90.8 9.2 The KPMG study was sponsored by 45 France 92.2 7.8 Austria 93.7 6.3 economic development agencies in Austria, United States 100.0 N/A Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Germany 101.9 -1.9 Kingdom and the United States.

Japan 117.8 -17.8 The study is available at: www.competitivealternatives.com.

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KEY FINDINGS

YVR Snow Team Keeps Airport Moving During Storm ancouver International Airport’s “snow team” had its first real test on the last weekend in January, when the season’s first big storm dumped more than 20 centimetres of snow in less than 24 hours.

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“Constant communications and coordination among the Airport Authority, Air Traffic Control and the airlines helped us ensure that at least one runway was available for arriving and departing aircraft,” said Arnie Jassman, the Airport Authority’s supervisor, airfield operations.

“Our airfield operations teams did a fantastic job of ensuring that we maintained a safe and operational airfield.”

The north runway, used normally for arrivals only, was used for departures during the storm, as it and the south runway were each closed for 20 to 30 minutes alternately for snow removal. De-icing was carried out on the new de-

icing pads on the West Apron (Cover Photos), as well as on the South and East pads. An open deicing pad was always available to the airlines, Jassman added.

Keeping the runways open wasn’t the only cause for celebration in the Airport Authority’s airfield operations group; on January 20, the department celebrated two years without a lost-time accident.

“It is a considerable achievement, considering the nature of the work and the heavy equipment involved,” Jassman said. “We put a lot of effort into safety awareness and training, and that effort is paying off. Not many airports, or municipalities, can boast about a record like this.”

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PRESIDENT’S CORNER

By LARRY BERG, President and Chief Executive Officer

Local know-how gets the job done t has been 10 years since the federal government began transferring responsibility for airports to communitybased, not-for-profit airport authorities. More than 100 airports across Canada are now managed and operated by local airport authorities and the results have been a tremendous success.

The transfer program came about largely because of the growing awareness of the important role airports play in generating economic development in the communities and regions they serve. Policymakers understood that for communities to maximize the potential of their airports, they needed more direct involvement in how they are run.

Vancouver, among the first four airports transferred to a local authority, is a prime example of just how successful this process has been. The Airport Authority’s directors are locally based and our management team is commercially focused, enabling us to respond quickly to passengers, customers, the surrounding communities and local issues. It also means a greater degree of accountability to those whom we serve.

In the decade that the Airport Authority has been managing and operating YVR, the airport has undergone an extensive transformation into a premier global gateway that consistently ranks among the top 10 airports in the world. More than $800 million has been invested in capital expenditures for a number of projects designed to meet growing passenger demand and cargo volumes, including the architecturally-magnificent International Terminal Building, Domestic Terminal Building upgrade, north runway, Airport Connector, and a number of technology improvements. All of this has been achieved without taxpayer dollars.

The airport continues to soar as an economic engine.

The most recent economic impact study, released early last year, showed that YVR accounted for more than 26,000 direct jobs—an increase of 8,600 since the first such study

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News From Home

Goes Global ou’re a Canadian athlete from Vancouver and you’re in Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Games.

You’re a bit homesick and you’d like to keep in touch with the Vancouver Sun or the Province. Can you get them?

Yes you can. And other titles too, like Italy’s La Stampa, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, the Times of London, Norway’s Aftenposten, Boston’s Globe, or Spain’s El Pais. In fact, 100 of the world’s most prominent newspaper titles are available at the Olympic Winter Games, and anywhere else you may go globally.

But definitely not from a traditional newstand.

Instead, thanks to NewspaperDirect, a trailblazing Richmondbased company that is on its way to revolutionizing the distribution of newspapers throughout the world, you can read a same-day copy of 100 of the world’s best newspapers while you’re travelling virtually anywhere on the planet, from Salt Lake City to Seoul, or Richmond to Rome.

The global possibilities are endless—Korea’s Dong-A Ilbo in Winnipeg, the Globe & Mail in Cancun, Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun in Prague, Russia’s Vedomosti in Osaka, South Africa’s Die Burger in Auckland, or the Wall Street Journal in Buenos Aires.

“It’s truly the realization of the whole global village concept,” says Gary Shilling, NewspaperDirect’s marketing manager.

The company’s proprietary technology is simple. The participating newspapers send a file of their day’s entire newspaper in PDF format via the Internet to NewspaperDirect’s Network Operating Centre, which in

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turn sends the edition on to licensed distributors and partners throughout the world, who then provide laserprinted, stapled copies of the various titles in response to the specific night-before requests of travellers in hotels. And the best part of this twenty-first century concept, notes Shilling, is that “it takes just two to three minutes to print the whole newspaper.”

The result? Quickly, simply, and inexpensively, travellers can read their favourite newspapers and feel close to home, wherever they may be.

Founded by chairman of the board Anatoly Karachinsky, CEO Miljenko Horvat, and venture capitalist Esther Dyson, NewspaperDirect was established in 1999 to open new distribution channels for international newspaper publishers, and to provide global travellers with their favourite newspapers anytime, anywhere. Today, the company is the leading innovator in electronic newspaper delivery, and is rapidly expanding its market coverage.

In addition to hotels worldwide, retail outlets and newstands are ideal for NewspaperDirect’s service, as are cruise ships and resorts. And as an example of just one of many opportunities opening up to the company, CLS Catering at YVR is partnering with NewspaperDirect to provide the Asian Wall Street Journal to Singapore Airlines. Firstclass passengers out of YVR will read the news of Asia before they get home!

“Our ultimate goal,” says Shilling, “is to make our service available to match the right newspaper to the right person anywhere in the world.”

was carried out in 1994, two years after the transfer. The economic impact of the airport totalled $5.2 billion, compared with $3.0 billion in 1994.

There are many other success stories at airports right across this country.

In January, I began a two-year term as the chairman of the Canadian Airports Council (CAC), whose membership operates more than 90 airports serving 95 per cent of air travellers. I am honoured to take on the role at what is a critical juncture in the evolution of Canada’s airports. Our industry faces a number of challenges, two of which I would like to touch on briefly: enhanced security measures and the rent that airports pay the federal government.

Airports continue to invest in innovative measures to enhance safety and security for air travellers, and the CAC is working closely with the federal government to ensure that the implementation of new passenger and baggage screening security measures at airports does not compromise service to air travellers. Applying local expertise to national standards will help ensure that the customer service air travellers have come to expect, and deserve, is not given short shrift.

Although airport authorities are responsible for the management and operation of airports, the federal government still owns the assets and collects an annual rent through ground leases. Unfortunately, the rent is not applied consistently from airport to airport and, here in Vancouver, we pay more than our fair share. The CAC is working to resolve the disparity, and has proposed a more equitable structure that would be based on passenger volumes.

It is important that all stakeholders work together to resolve these issues and others, and build on the many past successes of our airports to ensure that the Canadian air transportation system keeps people and goods moving across the country and around the world.

YVR WELCOMES YOUR LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

All letters must include your name, address and phone number for confirmation.

Please send to: The Editor:

YVR SKYTALK

2nd Floor – 1965 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6S 1Z3 Tel: (604) 736-6755 Fax: (604) 736-6750

Your Airport Community Newspaper FEBRUARY 2002 ISSUE • VOL. 9 • NO. 4 YVR SKYTALK, the official newspaper of the Vancouver International Airport, is published monthly by Westco Marketing Ltd. for the more than 26,000 people who make up the airport community at YVR. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editorial Liaison: Editorial Board:

Joan Stewart Ralph Eastman

Printed on Recycled Stock using vegetable based inks Please recycle this product.

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E-MAIL:pstewart@westerndriver.com

Ali Hounsell, Kim Abrams, Erin Sills Contributing Writers:

CHECKOUT YVR’S WEBSITE AT WWW.YVR.CA

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David Kritzwiser, Arnold Klappe, Phil Melnychuk, Jim Jorgenson

Creative / Production: Photography:

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VANCOUVER OFFICE: Second Floor – 1965 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1Z3 Tel (604) 736-6754 • Fax: (604) 736-6750.

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A Canadian First!

YVR Health Care Centre

n employee experiences a jobrelated injury. It may be serious enough to require emergency treatment. In the past, as a YVR or Sea Island employee, you’d have to travel to a hospital emergency and wait for attention.

But not any more. Thanks to a team of dedicated professionals in the YVR health centre located on Level One Domestic Terminal Building, a full range of health care services is available to handle all sorts of medical emergencies, problems, and needs—a team that comprises a Canadian first. No other airport can provide the services YVR offers.

Designed to satisfy the needs of the 26,000 people who work in aviation- and airport-related jobs on Sea

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Island, the services include a fully equipped medical clinic, a state-ofthe-art dental centre, an optometrist trained to deal with work-related eye care, a podiatrist specializing in workplace foot trauma, plus a quickturnaround MDS Metro lab and a Pharmasave outlet with pharmacy.

What Does the Tooth Fairy have in common with Cupid?

By Kevin Aminzadeh, BSc(Pharm), DDS I remember not long ago reading in the newspapers that gum disease was associated with heart disease. I could not believe my eyes as I eagerly stuffed butter laced muffins in my mouth. Of course being a dentist my whole world revolves around the teeth and the oral cavity. It sounded so exciting that I could stop people from having a problem with their ticker just by cleaning their teeth. As valentines day approaches and red hearts start going up in every smoke shop and lingerie store window I feel obliged to tell you about gum disease and its relation to the gums.

Consider our mouths a soup bowl stewing with bacteria. There are good bacteria in the mouth defending your mouth from infections by competing with evil bacteria for food and real estate. The evil bacteria are waiting in the woodwork to seize the day and take over. It is believed that gum disease or “periodontitis” as it is called is started when the evil bacteria in the mouth eventually overcome the defense mechanisms of the body and cause a local infection and swelling in the gums. The body tries to fight the infection and generates a zone of defense against this local insult. It is in this war zone that gum tissue and bone are destroyed and the

teeth appear to become longer and longer and looser and looser as the disease progresses. The incredible odor from the mouth of a person suffering from this disease is due to the dying of gum tissues, body defense mechanisms, dead bacteria, and bacteria byproducts. As the battle rages on between the body and the evil bacteria it is believed that there is collateral damage and here is where your heart comes into play. During a periodontal infection, the body releases a large amount of a substance called “C-reactive Protein”.

C-reactive protein has been also linked with heart attacks and clogged arteries. So logic would have it that if the periodontal infection is halted, then the risk of heart disease is reduced. This Correlation is however very controversial and has yet to be proven beyond doubt.

No matter if there is a link between periodontitis and heart disease, you cannot go wrong taking the following steps: 1 Brush your teeth twice a day at morning and night.

2 Floss once a day 3 See your dentist every 6 months for a checkup and a cleaning.

Please do not skip step 2. There is no way to clean between your teeth with a brush unless you are Houdini.

February is Heart Month...

Have your cholesterol tested Free at the Clinic noon to 5pm Domestic Terminal Level 1

604-207-6900

604-232-9751

604-303-7033

604-276-2121

Open Daily

Obviously this isn’t your old-fashioned first-aid kit.

“We evaluate the special needs of aviation workers,” says Dr. Sandra Lee, one of the core physicians at Ultima Medical Clinic. “They do shift work, and in the relative isolation of Sea Island they can’t always get to specialists or treatment easily. We’re here on the spot to look after their problems.”

Dr. Lee’s fellow physicians, Dr. Videsh Kapoor and Dr. David Kason, concur with her assessment of the clinic’s benefits to the Sea Island community. “We can fully serve employee needs,” says Dr. Kapoor.

“Seven days a week, eight to six,” adds Dr. Kason.

In addition to Ultima’s care for YVR workers, passengers who are deplaning or going on to other destinations may require help. Travellers who need emergency assistance can

arrive as walk-in patients or at the suggestion of airline personnel.

Further expanding Ultima’s service, Dr. Rippa Chatha’s eye care is more than vision tests and prescriptions—he’s available to treat eye infections and potential injuries with the latest technology. And for the future, space permitting, an optical dispensary may be on the drawing board.

Dr. Roy Mathews is a specialist with both feet on the ground, all too aware of foot stress among air workers. As part of his treatment, he specializes in custom support and compression stockings. “Taking stress off the feet also helps the back,” he points out, “and allows people to work with much more comfort.”

Dr. Art Ross and his wife Janis, who is also his hygienist, are proud of their new Vancouver Airport Dental Centre. With the newest equipment,

including an intraoral camera that shows interior pictures of the mouth on a computer swivel-screen, they offer the first full-service airport dental facility in Canada. “But we want to be more than a drop-in centre for emergency dental work,” they stress.

“We’d like to build regular programs for YVR employees based on preventive maintenance that will discourage gum disease and add to the lifespan of teeth.”

Next door in the Pharmasave pharmacy, Richard Wilson is precise in his description. “Our goal is catering to specific needs with flexibility,” he says. These needs include return refills, meeting special requests for employees, and emergency replacement prescriptions for travellers.

“And we give 10 per cent off to

SEE HEALTH CARE CENTRE, CONTINUED PAGE 13

Tourism Sector Recovering CTC says weak economy not fear, hindering 2002 recovery fter a disappointing fourth quarter in 2001, tourism is showing signs of recovery. However, new research compiled by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) suggests that a weak economy, rather than fear, is the most significant deterrent to recovery.

The CTC’s Tourism Intelligence Bulletin reports that travel is recovering amid subsiding fears about further terrorist attacks. “While on the whole, North Americans seem willing to travel again, the state of the economy has now become the greatest impediment to travellers,” said Scott Meis, director of research at the CTC. “Less expensive getaways, closer to home, are becoming the preferred travel

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option, especially domestic and shorter-haul trips by train, bus or car. More people are returning to the skies, but passenger volumes are still dramatically off from last year.”

The Tourism Intelligence Bulletin was launched in late 2001 to feed vital information to the Canadian tourism industry following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The monthly publication summarizes the latest industry and consumer research, polling data and market intelligence from Canada and abroad. Information also is available from the CTC’s Business Outlook (Spring 2002), a quarterly forecast for

domestic and international travel to Canada.

“We are committed to making this in-depth information and analysis as widely available as possible,” said Jim Watson, president and CEO of the CTC. “Our objective is to be a resource for the tourism industry, the media, industry-watchers and economic analysis and to support the industry in rebuilding for the future.”

Industry-led, market driven and research based, the CTC is a crown corporation that works in partnership with the tourism industry and provincial and territorial governments to market Canada as a fourseason destination.

F E B R U A R Y

YVR Parking: No.1 in North America hat would you do if you arrived back to YVR on a late evening flight and realized you had lost your car keys? Fortunately for one traveller who did just that, he was parked in one of the facilities operated by Vancouver International Airport Authority. Long-Term Parking Lot cashier Ron Parton promptly loaned the customer his own vehicle to drive home and retrieve spare keys. It is just one example of the dedicated customer service that travellers have come to expect from YVR Parking.

The Long-Term Parking Lot offers convenience and the lowest-priced parking at the airport—$7.50 a day, plus taxes. Additional savings are available through travel agents. The lot is located less than five minutes from the terminals, and serviced 24 hours a day by free shuttle buses equipped with state-of-the art wheelchair lifts. In 2001, an extra shuttle was added, bringing the wait time to only minutes.

For the ultimate in convenience, Gateway Valet & Concierge offers curbside vehicle drop-off and pick-up at both the Domestic and International terminals. Gateway uses flight information to ensure customer vehicles are always ready upon their return. A complimentary personal concierge service is included in the service to meet clients’ needs when

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they are away.

“We have had some really interesting requests from our customers,” said Jens Kage, manager of Gateway Valet & Concierge. “Several weeks ago, one of our clients called to tell us that her flight was delayed. Through the course of the conversation, our staff learned that she was supposed to pick up her pet dog from the kennel that afternoon. The supervisor on duty, Jeff Hobkirk, offered to pick up her dog and when the client arrived back that evening, her dog was waiting in the car. It’s this level of service that keeps our clients coming back to us.”

Among the clientele are the Vancouver Canucks, who have one of the most demanding travel schedules in the NHL. Canuck staff and players’ vehicles are sometimes shuttled between the South Terminal and the Main Terminals at a moment’s notice to meet incoming flights, including those arriving at one or two in the morning. Other clients who have relied on the convenience of Gateway Valet include famous Hollywood stars and producers while on location in Vancouver.

“It’s our ability to cater to our clients’ every needs while they’re away that separates our service from all others,” said Kage.

Other airport parking services are

2002 Events BRITISH COLUMBIA AVIATION COUNCIL

February 12 BCAC Aviation Dinner Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel Guest Speaker: Rick Antonson president & CEO Tourism Vancouver will be speaking on the impact of September 11, and plans to re-stimulate the market.

5:30 p.m. reception; 6:15 p.m. dinner; Tickets: $30 Free parking, advise the front desk upon arrival.

More details at www.bcaviation.org or call (604) 278-9330 March 14 BCAC Luncheon Best Western Richmond Inn, Minoru Room Guest Speaker: Clive Beddoe, president of WestJet Airlines 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., lunch served at noon, Tickets: $30 Phone Armaine at (604) 2789330 or fax (604) 278-8210 May 25 29th Annual Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

Vancouver International Airport, East Concourse Contact BCAC (604) 278-9330 or Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (780) 361-1351

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF B.C. EVENTS March 2002 AIABC’s Leading Edge Awards Banquet Details TBA May1-3 Western Aerospace Alliance Conference, hosted by AIABC, Vancouver Contact (604) 538-0071 for more details or go to www.aiabc.com/waa2002.htm

Send your event info by e-mail to office@skytalk.com or fax to (604) 736-6750.

Curbside vehicle drop-off and pickup at both the Domestic and International terminals is available from Gateway Valet & Concierge. also available, such as the Parkade, which is situated closest to the terminals. Customers can save time and money by using the self-serve “Express Pay Stations” located throughout the Parkade, and dedicated Express Exit Lanes allow for a quicker exit, bypassing cashier lines.

Also within walking distance is the cost-effective Economy Parking Lot. Access to both Domestic and International terminal buildings are via a covered walkway. Aeroplan

Alaska Air,

miles are available at the Long-Term and Economy Parking Lots for qualifying stays.

All of the revenue generated through YVR Parking is reinvested into airport facilities and infrastructure, including maintenance of roadways and groundside areas.

In 2001, YVR Parking was ranked No. 1 in North America for airport parking by IATA, based on an independent survey of over 90,000 travellers.

For more information about YVR Parking’s services or to make reservations, please call 604 276-7739 or visit the airport’s Web site: www.yvr.ca.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

manager for Canada. “We are consistently ranked as the best major U.S. carrier and are known on both sides of the border for our quality service and great low fares.”

Alaska will provide one daily nonstop departing Vancouver at 1:38 p.m. and arriving in Orange County at 4:33 p.m. The daily northbound flight will depart Orange County at 10:00 a.m., and arrive at 12:58 p.m.

The airline will operate a 120-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft on the route.

“Vancouver has given us a wonderful welcome,” said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska’s senior vice president marketing and planning. “In only five years, we have grown steadily to more than a dozen daily departures taking off for six U.S. destinations. That makes Alaska Airlines Vancouver’s largest foreign trans-border and international carrier.”

Ad Sales

Skytalk Newspaper is looking for an account representative to handle an existing list and develop new business.You must have sales experience,be able to manage clients advertising needs, be effective working independently within deadlines and have own transportation.Salary and full company benefits to the right candidate.

Fax or email resume to: 604-736-6750 Email office@westerndriver.com.

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Look Up and See the Greatest Show On Earth DESTINATIONS

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by Stephan Wong airbanks, Alaska is synonymous with winter from late October through March and even up to April in the mountains.

Some of the best northern lights viewing in the world is made possible by the right weather, clear skies and patience. Successful viewing generally requires a few days and an early wake-up call.

There’s an event to match every interest, including winter festivals, top-notch entertainment and sporting competitions. You can ride in the basket or mush your own dog team or snowmobile in the hills for panoramic vistas.

Head to the slopes for some down-

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hill action or cross-country ski birchlined trails. Illuminate your evening with larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures and unwind in one of the Interior’s natural hot springs while watching the northern lights. It can’t get much better.

Following are some choices of activities to incorporate in your visit.

• See larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures created by artists from around the world. Amateurs can try their hand with a chisel and a block of crystal blue ice.

• Cross-country ski miles of forested trails and over frozen rivers and lakes. Combine skiing and dog sports and try skijoring as a dog

ON THE RIVER

The Elephant & Castle... on the River is Richmond’s place to relax, meet friends, and chill out!

Enjoy one of our 16 beers on tap while you shoot pool and watch the game on our big-screen TV. Bring this ad to the Elephant & Castle on the River for a Plate of

Complimentary Screaming Elephant Wings.

Open: Sunday to Wednesday, 11:00am – 11:00pm Thursday – Saturday, 11:00am-12:00am Please only one ad per table. Not valid with any other promotion or special offer. Expires Feb. 28, 2002.

Located behind the Delta Vancouver Airport at 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC Phone: 604-276-1962 Fax: 604-276-1975

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pulls you on skis. You can also hit the slopes and downhill ski or snowboard.

“Hike!” “Whoa!” “Gee!” “Haw!” Take a dog-mushing lesson and see why it is Alaska’s official state sport. Call out commands as a team of Alaskan sled dogs pulls you through a winter paradise under northern lights.

Look up! Experience what is the greatest show on earth as the northern lights dance across the sky. No admission fees, no lines and the show runs an average of 240 days per year.

Visit one of the hot spring resorts.

Ski surrounding trails, snowshoe, and snowmobile and then relax in the warm waters as the northern lights dance above. These resorts feature varied accommodations, restaurants and guided activities.

Take a flight-seeing trip and see the expanse of an Arctic winter. Planes

are equipped with skis for winter landings on glaciers, frozen lakes and rivers. Visit an Alaskan Native village above the Arctic Circle on a guided tour.

• Head up to panoramic vistas on your snowmobile for an endless view of snowcapped peaks.

• Fish on! Drill a hole in the ice and fish for burbot or rainbow trout.

Bring your camp stove along to cook up your catch.

• Take an overnight dogmushing trip and try winter camping at its best. You supply the sense of adventure, and your dog team and guide will provide the gear, training and excitement.

Calendar of Events

February 9th Yukon Quest 250 250-mile qualifying race for future Yukon Quest and Iditarod entrants.

(907) 452-7954.

February 9th Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race 1,000-mile race following historic mail and gold rush trails between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, YT. The 2002 race will begin in downtown Fairbanks. (907) 452-7954.

February 16th – 17th Gold Run 1st championship race of the season: 2-dog skijoring, 6-dog and 10dog. 11 a.m. at Mushers’ Hall on Farmers Loop Road. Free admission.

(907) 488-1357.

F E B R U A R Y

February 17th – 23rd Tesoro Iron Dog World’s longest snow-machine race from Wasilia to Nome to Fairbanks, over 2,000 miles. The race ends at Pike’s Landing in Fairbanks. (907) 563-4414.

he Yukon Quest, which is the world’s toughest sled dog race, with 43 entries including a record 11 female mushers started February 9 in Fairbanks, Alaska and will travel across 1,000 miles of treacherous frozen terrain to Whitehorse in the Yukon. Along the way, they will cross mountain summits soaring as high as 1,158 metres (3,800 feet), endure all-night runs when temperatures can dip to –60 C, run along rivers with jumbled ice and dangerous patches of open water, and face fierce winds causing blowing snow and white-out conditions.

The race is so arduous that typically one-third of dog teams never finish.

“Mushers say they run the Quest because they are striving to

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Two-day fun race. Any age musher can race any class.

Held at Mushers’ Hall on Farmers Loop Rd. (907) 4562962.

March 1st-3rd Jr. North American Championship Sled Dog Race Dog mushing championship for all jr. mushers age 218, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 6- and 8-dog classes. Held at Mushers’ Hall on Farmers Loop Rd. Free admission. (907) 4562962.

March 2nd-3rd North Pole Winter Festival Winter festival with food, bazaars, entertainment and sled dog racing at North Pole High School. (907) 4882242.

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World’s toughest sled dog race

February 23rd – 24th Jr. Dog Mushers Fun Race

March 2nd-3rd Nenana Ice Classic Tripod Weekend “Alaska’s Coolest Lottery.” Famous Nenana tripod raising, sled dog races, contests and entertainment for the entire family in Nenana, 55 miles south of Fairbanks. (907) 832-5446.

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March 6th-17th World Ice Art Championships International ice-sculpting competition with worldrenowned artists. Sculptors produce larger-than-life works of art from Fairbanks ice. Viewing from March 7 until ice sculptures melt, usually the first week in April. (907) 4518250.

March 7th-9th Festival of Native Arts Celebrate Native culture with traditional dancing and singing and Native arts and crafts on display and for sale.

(907) 474-7181.

meet Mother Nature on her terms and survive, and because they like being in the wilderness with only the dogs for companionship.

You have to be slightly crazy to do this,” said Layne St. John, executive-director of Quest’s Alaska operations.

The Quest trail follows old Gold Rush and mail-delivery trails. All supplies must be carried between checkpoints, which are as far as 325 km (203 miles) apart. Sleep deprivation is common because racers sleep on their sleds, counting on the cold to wake them up before too long—a practice known as “sleeping cold.”

Mushers, including eight Canadian entrants, will compete for a total purse of U.S. $125,000 that goes to the top 15 finishers.

The Quest has more than one million fans, with adventure lovers and school children around the globe following the race through television, news articles and the Yukon Quest Web site, www.yukonquest.com

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Call (604) 844-7500 For More Information This is not an offering or solicitation to sell securities. That can only be done through Offering Memorandum or Prospectus.

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F E B R U A R Y

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Taking Passenger Safety to New Heights

Mike McHolm (right) with Safety Card customer Jim Salisbury of Omega Aviation over Vancouver in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger.

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL •

BLEACHING (whitening) both jaws for $ 00trays plus bleaching solution.

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• WIN A GETAWAY for 4 to Whistler • Sundays for February Bring your Sweetheart & Get One Cleaning Free

For the First 50 Booki ngs in Feb., mention this Ad and get a FREE DENT AL HEALTH TRAVEL KIT .

FREE Parking (economy lot) Open 7 days / week 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Full spectrum of dental services.

Dr. ARTHUR L. ROSS & ASSOCIATES Level 1 • Domestic Terminal Vancouver International Airport Phone: (604) 276-2121 Fax (604) 276-2129

Every wonder who makes the passenger safety cards you find in the seatbacks of airplanes?

For years, a handful of American safety card producers have had a virtual monopoly in the Canadian airline industry, but there is now a relative newcomer in the market trying to change all that.

Aviation print specialists Westholme Graphics, Inc. are building a reputation as Canada’s premier safety card manufacturers, to date producing cards for 59 plane and 17 helicopter models for companies across Canada, the U.S., South America and as far away as Tanzania, Africa.

Company vice president Mike McHolm explains, “We got into the business by answering demand from our aviation clients and from Transport Canada. A cost-effective Canadian solution was needed for the hundreds of small aircraft operators across Canada. We’ve tried to take the headache out of the whole government-regulated process for our clients, while at the same time producing a product that smaller companies can afford.”

Westholme’s expertise has resulted in the design of professional safety cards for aircraft models that until now often only had hand-drawn depictions—not what you want to try to decipher during an emergency.

The company also produces a complete line of printed materials specifically for airlines. “We cater to the aviation industry by understanding the needs of customers and providing product solutions that fit those needs. Through our experience with airline applications we are able to reduce setup costs and turnaround times and eliminate costly errors that

non-specialists often make,” says McHolm.

Westholme Graphics (www.westholme.com) is a member of the British Columbia Aviation Council, The Aerospace Industry Association of B.C., and the Pacific Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Association.

You can see their work in a seatback near you.

Know your AIRCRAFT

By Arnold Klappe

De Havilland’s Dash 8

ollowing a long history of well built, well designed aircraft such as the Twin Otter (Skytalk, June 2001), Beaver (coming soon) and Dash 7, De Havilland’s Dash 8 aircraft, in all of three of its incarnations can be seen daily flying out of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) With a seating gap (capacity wise) in between the 17-seat Twin Otter and 50-seat Dash 7, and with large interest from small commuter airlines worldwide for a twin-engined pressurized commuter aircraft, De Havilland gave the green light for the development of its Dash 8.

After several designs were tested, including a civilian model of the Military Transporter, the De Havilland Buffalo codenamed “The Commuter”, De Havilland decided instead to modify the Dash 7 design.

This was done for two reasons, commonality of aircraft type for the airlines, and because a good portion of the design work for the Dash 7 could be re-used.

The Dash 8 was first flown in 1983. Designated the Dash 8-100, it carries 37 passengers and a crew of three, comprising two cockpit personnel and one cabin attendant. In addition to cheaper operating costs over the four-engined Dash 7, the Dash 8100 flies 85 miles an hour faster, and 130 nautical miles further.

The next model to fly, the Dash 8-

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300 is 11 ft. 3 in. (3.4M) longer, and seats up to 56 passengers. It first flew in 1987.

The Dash 8 can also be seen on occasion in its Canadian Military variants called the CC-142 & CT-142.

The CT-142 trainer is easily recognized with its large bulbous radarnose.

It took over 10 years for De Havilland to come up with the next incarnation of Dash 8 aircraft. Named the Q400, this new, stretched airplane can hold up to 70 passengers, and along with its re-engineered stable mate (the Q300) all new Dash 8 aircraft come with the new Q designation. The Q stands for ‘Quiet’, and represents noise reduction technology that makes the propeller-driven aircraft’s interior as quiet as regional jet interiors.

The Dash 8 is the only pressurized high wing commuter propeller airplane flown into YVR. Companies flying the Dash 8-100 into YVR are, Hawk Air (South Terminal), AirBC, and Horizon Airlines. AirBC also flies the Dash 8300, while Horizon Airlines flies the newest Dash 8, the Q-400.

AirBC is scheduled to receive the new Q-400 but no firm date has yet been given.

During the summer months, a Dash 7 can be seen operating from the South Terminal by Voyageur Airlines.

F E B R U A R Y

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Up in the Clouds The History of the Vancouver Airport On Display n celebration of the 70th anniversary of the building of the Vancouver airport, the Richmond Museum has created an artifact and photographicbased display. Opened to the public last month, the display traces the history of the Vancouver airport and aviation in B.C. Aviation history began in Richmond on March 25, 1910, when Charles K. Hamilton made the first heavier-than-air powered flight in Canada west of Winnipeg. The plane was a pusher-type Curtiss biplane powered by a single engine. Some 3,500 curious onlookers crowded the stands at the Minoru racetrack to see the “Aerial Clipper” soar aloft. The flight lasted 10 minutes. A new era was born and Richmond’s role in aviation history was secured.

Site Purchased for $300 Aviation has had a large impact on the economy and landscape of Richmond. As commercial aviation was getting established in Canada, the West Coast had no major airport. It wasn’t until 1929, when it became clear that Vancouver should have a more “big league” airport than the grass flying field on Lulu Island that sites were considered.

After considering several potential airport sites, 480 acres on Sea Island were purchased at a cost of $300. The location was chosen because of its proximity to Vancouver with no obstructions to impede runway approaches.

At the laying of the foundation stone for the administration building on Sept. 13, 1930, William Templeton, the first airport manager, was quoted as saying, “We had an airport, but no night lighting, no weather bureau, no radio aids, and of course, no business.”

On July 22, 1931, B.C. Premier, the Honourable Simon Fraser Tolmie, formally opened the Vancouver Airport. It had a single runway, 2,400 by 100 feet, an administration building and two hangars.

Vancouver-Seattle Service On July 1, 1934, after some urging

by Templeton, United Airlines began passenger, mail and cargo service from Seattle to Vancouver using a 10passenger Boeing 247 airplane.

The following year, Canadian Airways began a passenger and airmail service from Vancouver to Seattle flying a De Havilland Rapide and later a Lockheed 10-A. Between 1936 and 1938, developments at the airport included two

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3,000-feet-long hard-surfaced runways, taxiways, field lighting and grass landing strip.

A low frequency, low course radio range was installed in 1937.

In August 1940, the Department of National Defence took over the Vancouver Municipal Airport for the duration of World War II and six months thereafter. By the end of the war, Vancouver had become a busy airport, with the following operators: • Aero Club of B.C. • Canadian Pacific Airlines – under Grant McConachie, serving the Prairies and the Arctic.

• Queen Charlotte Airlines – later to become Pacific Western Airlines under Russell Baker, serving Western Canada.

• B.C. Airlines – serving the B.C. coast.

• Vancouver “U fly” – under Al and Lloyd Michaud, later to become West Coast Air Services.

• Okanagan Air Service – under Carl Agar, developed from a crop-dusting operation of one helicopter into the world’s largest helicopter company.

• Trans-Canada Airlines – since 1937, became Air Canada in 1965.

In 1948, the airport, at times called Vancouver Municipal Airport or Sea I s l a n d

Airport, was renamed Va n c o u v e r International Airport (YVR).

By the late 1950s, the airport was becoming too expensive for the city to operate and in 1962; Vancouver sold its investment in the airport to the Department of Transport.

This paid off as the federal government began funding a new terminal building, and on Sept. 10, 1968, the new complex was opened.

Second only to Toronto Passengers totaled 854,000 in 1962, 2,248,000 in 1969, and 6,476,500 in 1979. In 1988, with more than 9,000,000 passengers, it was second only to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

When the Federal Government

Flushed with Anger

Sky Toilet Horror n American woman had no need to fasten her seatbelt on a flight from Scandinavia to the United States after a high-pressure vacuum flush sealed her to the toilet seat of a transatlantic airliner.

She got sucked in after pushing the flush button while seated, activating a system to clean the toilet by vacuum, the airline reported.

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“She could not get up by herself and had to sit on the toilet until the flight had landed so that ground technicians could help her get loose,” the airline spokeswoman told Reuters news service. “She was stuck there for quite a long time.”

In-flight lesson – never flush while sitting.

(Above) Quarter Century in Aviation Club member, Frank Orban with his 2000 aviation pins and medals collected over 50 years. (Centre) Exhibit coordinator Marilyn Clayton. (Far Left) Canadian Aviation Historical Society members with Quarter Century in Aviation club members provided artifacts, photos and information for the Richmond Museum exhibit. unveiled the National Airports Policy in 1992, an opportunity was seized to privatize. The Vancouver International Airport Authority took over management and plunged into an ambitious $400 million modernization plan. A state-of-the-art $14 million control tower and a new runway were opened in 1996. That same year, the new terminal building

enhanced the airport’s annual passenger-handling capacity.

The display celebrating the history of Vancouver International Airport will run until May 12, 2002 at the Richmond Museum, 7700 Minoru Gate, across the street from the Richmond Centre Mall. For more information on the display or programs offered at the Museum call (604) 231-6457.

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YVR PEOPLE

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(left) American Airlines Roy Gammon with Cathy Knapp (left) and Kelly Overton worked the booth celebrating the airline’s 60th anniversary of service to Canada.

By Jim Jorgenson

(below) U.S. Consul General Hugo Llorens.

The YVR Airport Operators Committee, AOC, presented service awards to three former members at a January14 luncheon meeting. (Left to right), Mandy Green, ex-Royal and C3000 Airlines, Kim Weidman, ex-GlobeGround, and Gerry Ireland, former AOC chairman and recently retired station manager from Air New Zealand, and AOC Chairman George Lovell, manager of America West Airlines, who made the presentations.

YVR Hosts Travel USA Seminar U.S. consul general Hugo Llorens and YVRAA president and CEO Larry Berg welcomed a group of travel agents to a U.S. travel seminar held in the International Terminal Building on January 15. Tourism representatives from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, and the U.S. Immigration Service made special presentations.

There was also a mini tradeshow with exhibits from the representatives and the airlines serving the U.S. market from YVR, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, American Airlines, and Continental Airlines.

Now it’s Ramada Plaza and Park Plaza

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The Pacific Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Association (PAMEA) held its Symposium 2002 and tradeshow on January 30 to February 1 in the Best Western Richmond Inn. The topic was “Winds of Change, achieving excellence in the dynamic industry of aviation”; certainly apropos in today’s current economic condition. Attendees heard speakers from the federal and provincial Governments, BCIT, and the aerospace industry, and visited over 50 display booths in the trade show. Pictured is Keith Lebrecque (centre) of Transport Canada providing information updates at the Transport Canada booth.

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he Vancouver Airport Conference Resort hotel has officially relaunched under two leading North American hotel brands, Ramada Plaza and Park Plaza. The rebranding was marked with a gala celebration to mark the hotel’s new affiliations.

More than 500 people attended the “Garden of Earthly Delights” party, which had a “transformation” theme

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to signify the new branding.

“We are very excited about our new affiliation with Ramada Plaza and Park Plaza,” says David Wetsch, regional vice president & managing director for AFM Hospitality Corporation’s subsidiary Northwest Lodging International (Canada) Inc, which will manage the complex.

So is the hotel staff. Virtually every one of the 390 employees of the hotel opted to stay on under the new flags. That means, according to Wetsch, that guests can expect the same high level of personal service they have come to appreciate at the conference resort.

The 438-room conference resort complex is comprised of two towers, the Ramada Plaza Hotel with 210 rooms and The Park Plaza Hotel with 228 rooms and suites.

Shared business, conference and resort facilities include: 27,000square-feet of exhibit and meeting space; a business centre; one indoor pool and water slide and two outdoor pools; a full fitness centre with four tennis courts, two squash courts, massage therapy clinic, indoor whirlpool and two saunas; and a Children’s Creative Center where children aged five to teen can entertain themselves.

The hotels also share an outdoor patio bar grill, Reflections, a full-service restaurant and the Landing lobby

lounge. In addition, Benihana, the leading Asian themed restaurant in North America, is opening up in the conference resort.

The Vancouver Airport Conference Resort hotel is a fiveminute drive from Vancouver International Airport, 20 minutes from downtown and less than two hours from the world-famous Whistler ski resort.

Allied Hotel Properties Inc. of Vancouver owns the hotel complex and company Chairman Peter Eng says the agreement with AFM Hospitality helps to build on Allied’s strategic plan to enhance its hotel business.

“Through these two respected brands, Ramada Plaza and Park Plaza, we can build on the property’s excellent reputation to develop a complete resort and hotel conference complex,” says Eng. The vice chairman and CEO for AFM Hospitality Corporation, Stephen Phillips says the rebranding of the Vancouver Airport Conference Resort hotel marks the beginning of what he expects will be a very exciting year for his company.

“Despite the recent downturn, we are very optimistic about the hotel industry,” Phillips says, “we see an opportunity for some dramatic growth in our operations over the next 12 months.”

F E B R U A R Y

What’s UP airport & aviation news & events NAV CANADA ANNOUNCES $11M PROFIT NAV Canada recently announced its interim financial results for the three months ending Nov. 30, 2001.

The results reflect reductions in air traffic as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the decline in the economy. Revenues for the first quarter were $246M with total operating expenses for the period at $185M, including salaries and benefits of $126M. Excess revenue over expenses (profit) was $11M. The fee reductions that had been in effect since September 1999 were terminated as of Dec. 31, 2001. This means that all carriers have now returned to paying the higher rates.

TRANSAT A.T. ANNOUNCES $99M LOSS When Transat A.T. announced its financial results recently – a $99M loss for year-end Oct. 31, 2001 – its chief executive Jean-Marc Eustache took the opportunity to try and dampen the hopes of new startup carriers such as Air Columbus Vacations, Steve Nasra’s Canada Air Charter, and Michel Leblanc’s Royal Airlines, saying there is more than enough capacity in the marketplace now and no need for more carriers.

NEW SERVICE FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS TRAVELLERS A new service for business travellers is coming to Vancouver with the opening of the region’s first American Express Club Floor at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel.

Branded by American Express, and co-sponsored by the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, the service will provide a specially designed floor with upscale accommodation, services and amenities for the exclu-

sive use of American Express business travel clients. Guests who checkin to the Vancouver American Express Club Floor pay the same price for their room as Amex’s negotiated standard room rate and benefit from a host of value-added services and amenities. These include welcome gifts, complimentary continental breakfast, all-day gourmet coffee and tea, evening hors d’oeuvres, local and international newspapers and 24-hour room service with a 30-minute guarantee. In addition, each room on the Club Floor is equipped with a free high-speed Ethernet connection (10 mbps) and 24-hour telephone “hot button” linking guests to an American Express Travel office.

Guests can book into the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre American Express Club Floor through American Express Travel offices in more than 130 countries worldwide.

WESTJET CONTINUES TO EXPAND WestJet Airlines continues to make news with announcements of service expansion across the country.

The airline will be adding WinnipegRegina service effective March 4, with 12 non-stop flights per week.

The Winnipeg Airport Authority expects WestJet’s traffic to increase by 50 per cent in 2002 through Winnipeg.

WestJet’s unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and yearend December 31 were announced on January 29. Fourth quarter net earnings were $9.4 million and for the year increased by 23 per cent to $37.2M. The airline’s costs in the fourth quarter were 13.6 cents per ASM compared to 14.4 cents in year 2000. Load factor decreased 2.8 percentage points in fourth-quarter 2001 to 70.5 per cent from 73.3 per cent during 2000.

Health Care Centre,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

employees so they don’t have to go to Richmond,” adds Wilson.

At the MDS Metro Lab, “Our biggest benefit to employees is that they can come in to us on a no-wait basis and we’ll service any requisition from anybody anywhere,” says Gail Page, MDS director of patient services.

Because the lab is hooked into the sophisticated MDS electronic program, information gets to physicians promptly.

Since YVR’s first-in-Canada airport health centre is doing such a great job meeting the medical needs of employees and travellers, why not also service the needs of people in Richmond?

“Absolutely,” says Dr. Lee. “And,” she adds with a smile, “we have discounted parking.”

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F E B R U A R Y

Long-Term Investing – How to keep a long-term view he last year has been difficult for investors. After one of the longest bull markets in history, investors have suddenly found themselves in the midst of a highly volatile market.

T

will happen in the markets over the next six months or next year.

However, with history as an indicator, the markets will most likely trend up over the long term. In fact, there has not been a 10year period in history where markets have had a negative return.

There have been several one-year periods with negative returns, but for the long-term investor, remaining invested no matter what the markets are doing has been one of the best strategies to follow.

Keeping a long-term view can be difficult especially when every day the media reports job layoffs and reduced corporate profits. Although it

even during times of market volatility and news reports of economic or political uncertainty, the long-term

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investor may be rewarded with potentially higher returns than the investor who attempts to time the market.

Remaining focused on the long term is one of the best strategies for investment success.

RIVERA 1/2 PAGE B&W

Stock Exchange 300 Total Return Index in 1950 and remained invested for the next 50 years, your $100 would be worth $24,334 in 2000. The TSE 300 has averaged an 11.5 per cent return year after year. But during that same time period, there were several crises events such as, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Kennedy’s assassination, the OPEC oil embargo, “Black Monday”, and the Gulf War. There have been periods of political instability with referendum crises in Canada and Watergate in the U.S. There were even six recessions in Canada during the past 50 years.

Looking back in history, there were many events that may have caused investors to lose sleep at night or to abandon their investment strategy.

But, over the long term, the patient investor who remained invested was rewarded with an 11.5 per cent annual compound rate of return.

Long-term It is impossible to predict what

may be difficult, do not focus on dayto-day events when making investment decisions. To remain invested for the long term, it is important not to check your investments daily. Even the most patient investor may be rattled if they reviewed their investments on a daily basis. Instead, check your investment portfolio quarterly. Meet with an investment specialist to review your investment strategy if you are feeling uncertain about the impact current events may have on your portfolio. Do not make rash changes to your portfolio without getting professional advice.

It is understandable that market volatility can make you feel anxious.

But using history as a guide, past market performance can help to ease any worries you may have. Markets have bounced back from crises in the past and have gone on to even higher levels. Markets do not move in a straight line, but historically have trended up. By remaining invested,

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Investment Advice is provided by Royal Mutual Funds Inc. Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company are separate corporate entities, which are affiliated. Royal Mutual Funds Inc. is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec.

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MONEY MATTERS However, it is important to keep the markets in perspective. There have been periods of economic recession and political crisis in the past. But in the past 50 years, the market has trended up. It is necessary to remain focused on the long-term for investment success.

Patience brings its reward If you invested $100 in the Toronto

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