JANUARY 2009
S
nowfall doesn’t happen often in
and cared for, particularly when the
Vancouver, but this past holiday
inevitable winter weather-related delays
season, Vancouver International
and cancellations start to occur.
Airport recorded 89 cm of snow in a
Keeping up with the snowfall was
three-week period ending on January 5,
a challenge during the recent storms,
2009. But thanks to the hard work of
but YVR was prepared with more than
the entire airport community, Vancouver
115 unique pieces of equipment ready
International Airport remained open and
for snow removal on the two runways,
operational despite a record snowfall in the
including ploughs, high-speed blowers,
middle of the busy holiday travel season.
anti-icing trucks, ramp clearing loaders,
When snowfall happens in Vancouver,
bobcats and excavators. With five square
YVR’s winter operations plans kicks
kilometers of runway, taxiway and apron,
into high gear with the activation of
keeping the airfield clear is nothing
its Emergency Operations Centre to
short of a heroic task. The equipment
coordinate the airport-wide response.
moves as a single echelon, alternating
From ground handlers, airlines and
between YVR’s two parallel runways and
the tower to Airport Operations,
ploughing the nearby taxiways in between
Customer Service and Parking and
runway clearings. The snow-clearing fleet
Ground
everyone’s
is capable of clearing each runway in
involved when winter hits. Runways
two passes in light and moderate snow
must be cleared of snow and de-icing
conditions, and four passes in heavy
pads activated for airlines, roads and
snow. It typically takes between 20 and
sidewalks leading to the terminals must
40 minutes to clear a runway.
Transportation,
be cleared and salted for safe travel to
Inside the terminal, Airport Authority
and from the airport, and passengers
Customer Care representatives and
in the terminal need to be informed
airline staff provide information and
Photos: Jim Jorgenson
Winter operations kick into high gear at YVR
assistance to passengers whose travel
stranded at YVR during the holiday
of water, more than 1,500 snacks, 450
plans are impacted by the weather.
season, and Airport Authority Customer
emergency blankets and 400 colouring
During the recent storm, it was not
Care employees tried to make them as
books were distributed to passengers
easy for passengers to be delayed or
comfortable as possible. 4,200 bottles
between December 21 and 25.
JAL celebrates 40th anniversary with blankets and soup
A
n
anniversary
Every snowfall gives the Airport Authority an opportunity to review its Winter Operations plan and make improvements based on experience. Planning for inclement weather starts long before the first whiff of snow is in the air. As early as October and well into spring, the Airport Authority’s
celebration,
Operations team is working with the
especially one that spans 40
airport community to implement plans
years, usually entails a party
that ensure YVR continues to function
that includes lots of eating, drinking and
in all weather conditions.
congratulatory socializing. However,
As Vancouver prepares to host
last month when JAL Airlines decided to celebrate 40 years of flying into
the 2010 Winter Games, the Airport
Vancouver, instead of basking in self-
Authority
congratulatory kudos, their committee
improvements to its winter plans,
of managers and employees decided to
including investing in more equipment
give back to the Vancouver community.
and working with airline partners to
“My
colleagues
in
the
flight
the local Vancouver community for the
to
make
inside:
Aided by Santa, JAL employees prepare blankets for distribution at the Lookout Emergency Aid Society.
past 40 years, and we felt that the time
that blankets were especially welcomed
office, the Vancouver office received
was ripe for us to give something back
items during the cold, wet months in
1,500 new blankets for distribution.
to the community,” said Sam Fujkiwara,
Vancouver.
JAL’s manager, flight operations.
continue
expand de-icing capacity.
operations department discussed the support our company has enjoyed from
will
by donating soup for the event. JAL’s community outreach resulted in
At the JAL Vancouver committee’s
close to 200 blanket being distributed on
As one of the largest airlines in the
request, the Lookout Society agreed
December 20, with the remainder going
JAL employees contacted various
world, JAL has an extensive network of
to host a blanket giveaway event at
to four shelters—Lookout Downtown
aid groups including The Lookout
long-haul flights that provide blankets
the Society’s facility on Powell Street.
and Lookout Yukon in Vancouver,
Emergency Aid Society in Vancouver’s
for its passengers. After conferring with
CLS Catering Services, the airline’s
Lookout New Westminster and Lookout
downtown Eastside and discovered
regional managers and the Tokyo head
Vancouver caterer, joined the endeavour
North Vancouver.
Recruiting for Volunteers Air Transat holiday tradition Crossword Classified
* YVR is the international aeronautical designation for Vancouver International Airport.
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