Aviation and Aerospace Headlines

Jun 24, 2016

 

Air Canada expands 787 Dreamliner service to Vancouver-Newark

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*Photo courtesy of Air Canada 

Air Canada has announced it is launching daily 787 Dreamliner service on its Vancouver-Newark route. The carrier’s 787 Dreamliners offer the choice of three cabins of service including its new business class–transcontinental option.

“We look forward to welcoming onboard customers travelling between the New York area and Vancouver, Air Canada’s Pacific hub, and experiencing our 787 Dreamliner service that features our new business class–transcontinental product. Our Newark-Vancouver flights offer easy connections to both our daily 787 Dreamliner flights to Brisbane and our daily non-stop, 777 flights to Sydney,” said Benjamin Smith, president, passenger airlines at Air Canada. “Our aircraft featuring new international products and award-winning service, together with the seamless connections through in-transit preclearance facilities and competitive elapsed travel times, make Air Canada and YVR [Vancouver International Airport] a preferred trans-Pacific option for travel.”

Full Story via Skies Magazine here

Canada is recruiting astronauts for future space missions

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Have you ever wanted to go to space? The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) wants you!

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the minister responsible for the CSA, launched Canada’s fourth astronaut recruitment campaign.

The CSA is seeking the next generation of space explorers to pave the way for potential future space missions.

The agency is accepting applications from June 17 to August 15 and expects to announce selected candidates in summer 2017. This next class of Canadian astronaut candidates will start their training at NASA in August 2017.

Requirements and details for applications can be found here: www.asc-csa.gc.ca/astronauts

Through its participation in the International Space Station, Canada has developed an internationally-renowned expertise in robotics and optics; has provided access to this unique laboratory to Canadian scientists for their science experiments; and has flown eight astronauts to space over 16 missions.

Full story via Skies Magazine here

Fly the Martin Mars

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*Photo courtesy of Coulson Group of Companies

While we won’t see the Martin Mars fighting fires this summer, you could get a chance to fly the plane yourself – for only $32,000.

Pegged as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience, the Ultimate Aviation Experience is a two-day course that includes time in the cockpit of one of the only two Martin Mars aircraft left in the world

“The Martin Mars aircraft are truly amazing pieces of WW2 history as the largest aircraft ever built. These aircraft hold numerous world records during this era and before they are retired we are offering aviation enthusiasts a chance to fly this incredible piece of aviation history,” says Wayne Coulson, CEO and president of Coulson Flying Tankers.

Your experience includes orientation and systems overview, lunch each day and, of course, training for the pilot.

The unique experience may be of special interest to Okanagan aviation enthusiasts, as the historic aircraft means a lot to the people of the Okanagan.

The Martin Mars water bombers played a huge role in fighting the Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire in 2003.

Full Story via Castanet here

Kelowna Airport set for banner year

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The Kelowna International Airport hit its all-time record for passengers in 2014, and this year it is on a course to set a new record.

Four out of the first five months of 2016 were recording-breaking passenger count months, with May 2016 seeing 126,674 passengers, 5,269 more passengers than May 2014.

“The benchmark year was 2014 where we first hit 1.6 million passengers,” says Kelowna airport director Sam Samaddar.

As of May 31, 2016, the Kelowna airport has seen 696,007 passengers, putting it on track to beat that 2014 number. By May 31, 2014 the airport had only seen just 656,377 passengers.

“We are seeing very positive growth. I don’t want to jinx anything, but we are certainly on target, we are ahead of our benchmark year,” says Samaddar.

He says a number of factors are playing into the increased passenger traffic.

Full Story via Castanet here

Prince George Airport Aiming for More Cargo Traffic, More PG Jobs

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*Photo courtesy of My Prince George Now

The Prince George Airport is trying to number the amount of cargo planes coming in and out of the city.

Airport Authority CEO John Gibson says more cargo traffic means more jobs in the city.

“We are a multi-modal city with rail, road, access to ocean by rail so we just need the flight schedules from cargo perspective and the other increments will build. With that comes a lot more jobs,” he says.

As far as a time frame goes, Gibson says it’s a waiting game.

“We spent a fair amount of time in Asia talking to logistics companies, selling them on our idea. BC government is behind us, everybody’s pushing our agenda but we still need the decision made from outside of what we can control.”

Full Story via My Prince George Now here

Replica biplanes unveiled to mark 100th anniversary of Vimy battle

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* A flight museum in Langley, B.C., unveiled a replica of a First World War fighter plane on Friday June 17, 2016, with plans for it to soar over Vimy Ridge on the infamous battle’s 100th anniversary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tamsyn Burgmann

When air cadet Richard Knopp was helping to build a replica World War One biplane with other volunteers, he imagined what it was like to sit in the pilot’s seat 100 years ago.

Knopp learned to fly a modern aircraft last summer and the 18-year-old realized his predecessor’s cockpit was much more narrow and lacked a glass shield, leaving the pilots with nothing but goggles for protection.

“It’s hard to imagine doing that. You stick your head out the window of the car and you feel that (air), then imagine going twice as fast and 3,000 feet up. How’s the wind up there going to feel?” he reflected while gazing at the biplane inside a Langley, B.C., airplane hangar.

“It was like seeing history come alive.”

Knopp joined other volunteers Friday for the unveiling of one of two replicas they constructed as part of a World War One commemoration project called Wings of Courage.

A squadron of former Canadian military pilots is planning to fly the biplanes over the Vimy Memorial in France next year, on the infamous battle’s 100th anniversary. The pilots are honouring Canada’s heroism and loss in a bloody clash that saw more than 10,000 Canadians killed or wounded in April 1917.

Full Story via Times Colonist here

Sky’s the limit for students in a classroom with wings

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The classroom for a Greater Victoria school district aviation program has ranged from the cockpit of a plane to the production floor at a fabrication facility.

New to the district and believed to be a first on Vancouver Island, aviation and design has engaged 14 students in many aspects of the aviation field this semester. Other such “career exploration” courses around the district cover construction, automotive work and adventure tourism.

Students say the full-time aviation program, which bring students from around the district to Mount Douglas Secondary School, has set them on a good path. A five-week session of on-the-job training has been a highlight, said head instructor John Sumner, a former aircraft engineer who spent 25 years in the air wing of the British Royal Navy before turning to teaching.

“They came back totally enthused for work, and not just aviation per se,” Sumner said.

Megan Rees, 18 and in Grade 12, spent her work term at Pacific Sky Aviation. It included time as a flight dispatcher, and gave her an opportunity to learn about accounting and maintenance. She said she enjoyed the chance to try different tasks.

Full Story via the Times Colonist here

Trail gets almost $1.2 mill to expand airport

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*Photo courtesy of Ken Eckert via The Nelson Daily

The Government of British Columbia is providing $1.18 million in B.C. Air Access Program funding to support infrastructure improvements at Trail Regional Airport, announced Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone.

“Throughout B.C., airports serve as a vital transportation link and a lifeline for the many smaller communities they serve,” said Stone. “When we rolled out our B.C. on the Move 10-year transportation plan last year, we made it a priority to providing funding support for smaller and regional airports. Trail Regional Airport is a great example of how this funding will support the continued growth of the local, regional and provincial economies by keeping people and goods moving.”

Trail Regional Airport will be building a new airport terminal building. The new terminal will provide passengers with modern and efficient facilities and create a safer interchange with Highway 22A by separating passenger related traffic from other airport users. Additional parking spaces will also be created for improved access to the terminal for passengers. The City of Trail, which owns the airport, will provide the remainder of the funding for the $2.36-million project.

Full Story via The Nelson Daily here

Victoria-based Viking Air Limited acquires amphibious unit from iconic Canadian manufacturer

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*Photo courtesy of Bombardier Aerospace 

Bombardier will continue to make planes, trains and snowmobiles—but no more water bombers, thanks to a deal it’s inked with Viking Air Ltd. The North Saanich-area company has purchased Bombardier’s water bomber division which includes product support, parts and service for a fleet of 170 planes based in 11 countries around the world. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The division is built around the Bombardier CL-415 amphibious water bomber—also known as the SuperScooper—and its predecessors, the CL-215 and CL-215T. The aircraft, designed and built in Canada for the past five decades, is the only purpose-built plane for firefighting made by a European or North American firm.

“This acquisition expands Viking’s capabilities in product support and parts into another vital niche aviation segment and ensures that a unique and important Canadian innovation stays in Canada,” said David Curtis, president and chief executive officer of Viking. “We are proud to add another iconic Canadian aircraft program to Viking’s stable.”

Full Story via BC Business here

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