4th Annual Helicopter & Wings Top 20 Under 40
Presenting the Wings magazine Top 20 Under 40
Canada is blessed with myriad young, skilled and knowledgeable professionals who are driving the aviation and aerospace industries forward. From pilots to maintenance engineers, supervisors, flight operation managers and more, these talented professionals represent the best and brightest in our industry.
The Wings Top 20 Under 40 recognizes the achievements of the newest generation of aviation and aerospace professionals. An impeccable work ethic, leading by example, actively seeking ways to grow the quality of our industry – they’re all traits that set this next generation apart.
Air France’s first year YVR route exceeds expectations
*Photo Courtesy of Travel Week
The fire pits blazing around the Vancouver rooftop restaurant where Air France hosted its first anniversary celebration of its Vancouver-Paris flights were a fitting backdrop for the carrier, which tapped into a hot market when it launched the service on March 29 last year.
“We have surpassed our expectations,” said Jean-Noel Rault, vice-president and general manager of Air France KLM Canada, speaking of the projected loads the airline set out last year when it started. Rault said that by the anniversary date, a total of 199 Air France flights had travelled on the year-old route between the airline’s hub city in France and YVR. The impact of the new service was seen in figures relating to visitors from Vancouver to France, which had risen 33%.
Airport runway extension tendered out for $4.2 million
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District board of directors voted unanimously to award the tender for the Alberni Valley Regional Airport expansion to Bowerman Excavating for $4.16 million. They were the local low-bidder.
“It’s huge for our economy, it’s huge for the future of our community and it means that a whole number of projects that are on the drawing board for that airport will be able to happen, as well as whatever may come in the future,” said Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan.
Discount travel operator NewLeaf clears regulatory runway for flight sales
*Photo Courtesy of CBC
Discount air carrier NewLeaf Travel will resume selling low-cost seats in the next few weeks now that it has received the go-ahead from Ottawa to continue operations.
Chief executive Jim Young said Wednesday that the company expects its first flight to take off by late spring or early summer. In the meantime, it will work on reintroducing itself to consumers.
“This is a second relaunch for the company,” he said. “It’s our opportunity to make a second good impression.”
Late Tuesday, the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that indirect air service carriers like Winnipeg-based NewLeaf are not required to hold an air licence, as long as they do not portray themselves to the public as the ones operating the flight or the aircraft.
NewLeaf purchases seats from Kelowna, B.C.-based Flair Airlines and resells then to the public. Flair Airlines, which owns and operates a fleet of Boeing 737-400 jets, is licensed under the CTA.
Small plane crash near Clinton, B.C.
A pilot from the Pacific Flying Club has walked away after the single engine plane he was piloting crashed this morning in the Cariboo.
The incident happened in the Meadow Lake Road area between Clinton and 70 Mile House.
Bill Yearwood of the Transportation Safety Board says it appears the crash was caused by a mechanical issue in the Cessna 172.
“First information is that the pilot reported some problems and was trying to land the aircraft. He is okay, and has been taken to hospital to have a look at any bumps and bruises,” said Yearwood.
Yearwood says the Pacific Flying Club is based at the Boundary Bay Airport in the Lower Mainland, and the man was en route to Vanderhoof.
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Vancouver YVR adding 13 new air services in 2016
*Photo Courtesy of Travel Week
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will see 13 new services added in 2016 as it builds on a strong 2015 performance that saw an additional two new carriers – Air France and Aeromexico – as well as one million new passengers, which increased its numbers to a record 20 million passengers.
“We are looking at 25 million passengers by 2020 by creating a hub between Asia and America,” said Carl Jones, YVR’s director of air service development at an opening address to members attending UATP’s Airline Distribution 2016 conference, held in Vancouver from March 22-24.
He said new 2016 air services began with WestJet’s Orlando winter service on Jan. 1.
“You may have read the Xiamen Airlines announcement of their three flights per week service starting from YVR in July,” he told delegates of the latest addition. Jones said YVR has Asia’s top five airlines flying out of its facility. “We also have two new Chinese carriers who have filed for permission to begin service to YVR in 2016,” he added, saying that YVR is increasing its role as a focal point for Asian carriers and currently only LAX on the West Coast leads YVR in the number of flights going into Asian destinations.
