AVCANADA

I like the muni (yeah I'm going to call it that ) because it's so convenient, but the majority of people that live in Edmonton probably don't care. I believe most Canadians hate airplanes unless they are taking them to Cabo for a discount vacation.

I think those in general aviation up there will just wait until they have no other choice to develop an alternate to the international.

Don't let it slow you down Tom, I Like your effort.

What does Fort Saskatchewan have? I could see that city and a couple of the plants getting behind a nice medium facility.

The future is in private ventures I fear.

Government, especially in Alberta does not want to do business, even if it would attract more business.
I believe that is part of why we will lose the muni.

Except for the airlines, general aviation is going in 4 directions.

We have the medevac and charter operators who want convenient locations available daily for extended hours at a reasonable price. That means an all weather airport with an FBO, taxiis and/or rental cars. Charter pilots want somewhere to get in out of the cold and some sort of food. That is what CYXD used to offer.

We have the higher end corperate operators who want the best of facilities, regardless of cost. They do not want taxiis, they want a limo to drive out on the ramp and up to the dooor of their Gulfstream. That means an all weather airport. The last time I was there, that was CYEG. But CYEG needs someone with deep pockets to build expensive FBO's.

We have the flight school/small maintenance operators who want decent enough facilities at a price they can afford so they can earn a decent living. The last time I was there, that was Villeneuve.

We have the private owners who want something free or at least very cheap. Fine wine for the price of cheap beer. That is I believe what Cooking Lake and others have to offer. VFR only is good enough.

Fort Saskatchewan would be a good idea, just needs someone with very deep pockets to develop something

I believe if there is a business demand and enough noise the Province of Alberta will become involved, they need the alternate as much as anyone else, for medivac.

People think the runways can easily be lengthened because its surrounded by farms? Well do we expect the farmers to donate their land or do we kick them off? And we also have to move the railway too. How far is the tracks from the threshold of runway 12? It's been a while since I landed there but I used to use it as a marker, 100' Agl when over the tracks. Also have to move the quarry (or coal mine?) And the road. No big deal... Or maybe we could have the train going over the runway? We could install those railway gates that drop down when the train comes, that would be unique.

Also I'm not a fan of the medevac idea there. Using zvl and st Albert hospital which is quite close. But those farm roads are narrow and deadly in winter, not a good place to be racing ambulances on winter nights.

Not one penny, for reasons of principal as much as practicality.

ZVL is operated by ERAA. That should be enough said.

If you're serious about investing money on the idea, get a copy of their regional airport master plan document and determine if your ideas are in line with theirs. Their vision was never as an alternate to YEG but it may have changed since their vision for YXD is being fulfilled.

ZVL is zoned for parallel runways and has been since TC built it way back when so the land is protected. I believe the zoning also allows for an extended runway but don't recall the details.

Also I'm not a fan of the medevac idea there. Using zvl and st Albert hospital which is quite close. But those farm roads are narrow and deadly in winter, not a good place to be racing ambulances on winter nights.

ZVL is operated by ERAA. That should be enough said. If you're serious about investing money on the idea, get a copy of their regional airport master plan document and determine if your ideas are in line with theirs. Their vision was never as an alternate to YEG but it may have changed since their vision for YXD is being fulfilled.

Do they own the land surrounding it?

Maybe they are waiting for funds from the closure of the muni to develop Vill.

However, the province has to give some indication of what they would like.

I think EAA really only cares about YEG.

If the province steps in with some infrastructure development, and/or incentives for private industry to develope, something would happen.

I share your concern as I see those effected by the madness are diverging in two unproductive directions.

Many of those I work with are positively cackling with glee every time the redevelopment proposals makes the papers, since with each passing month the project seems to become more and more ridiculous and doomed to eventually being canceled in disgrace. And indeed an Edmonton city planner freely admitted to me the project is a total disaster and driven by "urban zeal" on the part of the mayor, his sycophants on council and outside consultants and nothing else. However it seems riding on the assumption that the redevelopment plan will decisively collapse prior to the airport being closed and ERAA along with mayor and council won't see the airport closed regardless is a dangerous one.

The other faction is made up of those who are just waiting around for the hangman in a persistent state of depression or aren't making any particular plans but when prompted will mutter something about Springbank or Villeneuve or a hypothetical airstrip on the Cree reserve.

I don't know what the answer is, I really don't think it is Villeneuve. Although I was tickled by a conspiracy theory put forward by one of the anti-YXD nutters that the city had to immediate act against a secret plan to build a runway on the CPR yard that was going to have 737's flying to Calgary every 15 minutes and shuttle operating over the Highlevel Bridge that was going to be used to undermine efforts to attract international flights to YEG.

The logical and financial response would be to keep the city centre airport open as it once was. In the end the province will end up paying for the city of Edmonton's dumbfounded decision to close the airport. This will either result in a ton of money going towards CZVL expansion which I highly doubt will happen due to proximity of the city and EIA's agenda. CZVL doesn't even have potable water the last time I was out there let a lone anything remotely close to the proper facilities CYXD has.

PS. Just wondering why the summer event at the museum is no longer called Air Fest? I see the new name is The Summer of Thunder at the Alberta Aviation Museum?