Richmond Mayor Wants Small Planes Banned at YVR

[Diadem]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... crash.html
This has to be one of the most poorly thought-out suggestions ever presented by a politician, to put it politely. Why would he want to evict businesses from his city? Has he thought of the ramifications not just for inconveniencing charter passengers, but for those who fly on scheduled flights from Vancouver Island on Orca and KD to connect on other flights at YVR? FedEx has two Caravans which fly to and from YYJ every weekday in order to get urgent, time-sensitive shipments onto both domestic and international flights. If they had to go to, for example, ZBB, they would be stuck in the Massey Tunnel in rush hour traffic; it would completely end overnight shipping from Vancouver Island.
There's also the small matter of that little float plane base down on the river which generates huge amounts of revenue. How many passengers from Victoria, Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands connect to other flights at YVR? How many people from Richmond fly to the islands, or vice versa, to do business, and simply wouldn't bother with the hassle if they had to commute all the way downtown for a half-hour flight? And, of course, where would Harbour Air and Seair do their maintenance? The only other places in the Lower Mainland are Pitt Meadows and Fort Langley, both of which are far out of the way and susceptible to the fickleness of the Fraser; when I first attempted to do my float training it was cancelled because of chunks of ice coming from upstream.
The simple fact is that banning small planes from YVR would only shift any risk that they may carry to other communities; instead of crashes happening in parking lots in Richmond they would happen in backyards in Delta or Pitt Meadows. It wouldn't solve any problem. On the contrary, it would inconvenience thousands and cost the city of Richmond millions in tax revenue. Then, of course, there are the legal implications, and doubtlessly a flurry of lawsuits would ensue. I simply can't imagine such a ban being constitutional. Luckily it seems that Ottawa has recognized that there's nothing to this, and that a civic politician has no jurisdiction over a federally-run airport, and he has thus far been ignored.

[short bus]

Knee jerk reaction..

This just in: mayor of richmond is an idiot

[longjon]

I think mayor Mandell of Edmonton is putting thoughts into his head, maybe the land could be better used for apt buildings

[Panama Jack]

Of course Ottawa hasn't responded. It is a diplomatic way of saying "grow up."

Any legally-registered, airworthy aircraft is entitled to use any aerodrome in Canada which receives public funding. Besides that point, I don't think that the mayor has considered the connectivity issues of YVR being a hub. Often people flying into YVR on small planes are also flying out of YVR on other aircraft. They don't want a 2 hour commute to a back-waters airport (especially considering the lack of good ground transport infrastructure in Vancouver such as freeways or really efficient light rail).

The mayor should feel privledged to be governing a municipal jurisdiction which is close to such an important aviation hub. Argueably Richmond has benefited and prospered more than suffered due to its geographic location next to YVR. I guess at least we alll know now who has been smoking a bit too much "BC bud."

[200hr Wonder]

Voice your opinions as to what you think:

Mayor's Office
Mayor: Malcolm Brodie

Executive Assistant to the Mayor: Deb MacKinnon
Phone: 604-276-4123
Fax: 604-276-4332

Mailing Address:

City of Richmond
Mayor's Office
6911 No. 3 Road
Richmond, British Columbia
V6Y 2C1 Canada

Email Address:

mayorandcouncillors@richmond.ca

It is after all an election year and I am a Voter

[human garbage]

Thanks for the contact info Wonder... Going to send the mayor a snail mail appraisal of how stupid his plan is. I prefer the physical letter approach versus email, too easy for someone to ignore an email.

Politicians know that for every letter they receive, there are at least five and maybe as many as ten constituents who feel the same way according to studies I've seen in the past. Even one letter can make a difference...

[grimey]

Tell him it's OK, you'll make sure the next plane that crashes short of the runway is an A380 with 400 people on board.

[Flybabe]

I think mayor Mandell of Edmonton is putting thoughts into his head, maybe the land could be better used for apt buildings

Not *quite* the same thing. But definately knee-jerk.

[iflyforpie]

When I was living in Richmond, two accidents come to mind.

First was the DC-3 that lost an engine and crashed by River Road.

Second was the Canadian Airlines DC-10 that overran 26 (L) because of a late and incorrect abort.

Neither of those were 'small' airplanes.

[ScudRunner]

Wait a second did he just say that "he's concerned with YVR's plan to ad a second runway, to increase capacity"?
hmm has he even looked at a map or ever been to YVR?

[boeingboy]

The plan is a 3rd main runway - out in the water. And that's not a joke.

[moocow]

Hey may as well ban small planes over flying YVR while he's at it.

[Les Habitants]

I say we start a riot over this

Seriously though, what is he thinking exactly? What's a small plane? Anything smaller then a dash 8? Even if you COULD pull strings to ban them King Airs, Metros, Navajos, Travel Airs, etc. flying into CYVR, where would they go? Boundary Bay? Yeah right, that place has more GA traffic then it can handle. It would have to ban all of it's GA traffic and move all it's schools to Pitt Meadows or Langley. Langley is up to it's eyeballs in traffic right now and can't handle anything more, even with the new runway. Pitt Meadows could probably handle a little more...an extension of 08L/26R would help (not sure if that's even feasible) and you're last option is Abbotsford which is a ridiculous commute for those living in Vancouver. Even Pitt Meadows or Langley is bad enough. And if we do ban all King Airs to Boundary Bay...well that's called a traffic DISASTER for those needing to get to the airport. At least Richmond is kind of in the middle of all things. Isn't it like, a 45 minute drive in no traffic conditions (let's not even suggest rush hour ) from North Van to Boundary Bay?

Nice thinking mayor! Oh, I forgot, there's an election on and you're trying to get the votes of the NIMBY's. Right.

[Topspin]

When I was living in Richmond, two accidents come to mind.

First was the DC-3 that lost an engine and crashed by River Road.

Second was the Canadian Airlines DC-10 that overran 26 (L) because of a late and incorrect abort.

Neither of those were 'small' airplanes.

He's probably thinking about the Seneca in the living room and Navajo by Ikea.

[Rowdy]

Lets ban ridiculous politicians from the media! That sounds like a much more feasible and agreeable solution.

[Wilbur]

His reasons may be foolish, but the notion of moving much of the smaller charter, corporate and commuter traffic out of YVR is not necessarily so. A very well respected airport manager had floated a regional airport plan about 15 years ago that made a lot of sense then, and probably still does. It just didn't gain traction due to small town politics within the various lower mainland jurisdictions. As I recall, it was:

1. YVR - primarily large airline passenger ops
2. YXX - primarily dedicated frieght ops
3. ZBB - primarily flight training
4. YPK - primarily charter, corporate, commuter ops
5. YNJ - primarily helo ops

The driving time from YPK to downtown Vancouver is not much different than YVR southside to downtown. Realestate values are much lower at the smaller airports, and the time sensitive corp and charter flights could come and go as they please without delay.

[200hr Wonder]

His reasons may be foolish, but the notion of moving much of the smaller charter, corporate and commuter traffic out of YVR is not necessarily so. A very well respected airport manager had floated a regional airport plan about 15 years ago that made a lot of sense then, and probably still does. It just didn't gain traction due to small town politics within the various lower mainland jurisdictions. As I recall, it was:

1. YVR - primarily large airline passenger ops
2. YXX - primarily dedicated frieght ops
3. ZBB - primarily flight training
4. YPK - primarily charter, corporate, commuter ops
5. YNJ - primarily helo ops

The driving time from YPK to downtown Vancouver is not much different than YVR southside to downtown. Realestate values are much lower at the smaller airports, and the time sensitive corp and charter flights could come and go as they please without delay.

There is so much wrong with that idea it is silly, first off,

First off drive time is not even close CYVR to Downtown or CYPK to Downtown. Using 800 Burrard as the Location, to CYVR 14km and 25min VS 41km and 51min according to Google Maps. Forget moving corporate to ZBB unless the tunnel magically becomes 8 lanes and the counter flow goes away. Then yes it would be OK for corporate jet to get in to ZBB. Also Commuter ops out of YPK? When I worked for a tiny commuter op the percentage of people who connected hovered around 50%. Changing from a 10min shuttle to an hour shuttle would be impractical.

Secondly a lot of the "dedicated freight ops" are also coming from downtown so changing the drive time to over and hour to YXX is not going to work for FedEx, Purlator as the cut off for packages would have to roll back and hour AND all the heaves would have to arrive an hour earlier to make the early morning delivery commitments.

As it stands YVR is positioned centrally with descent enough connections to the Lower Mainland and beyond that makes it the go to airport. And that does not even take into account the NIMBYs in all the other places that are not going to want Metroliners screaming overhead at 6am with bank bags and Lears rolling in at 11pm.

[ahramin]

I've got a better idea for the Mayor. He should move Richmond away from any airport that has small airplanes. That would keep him safe.

Of course with the demographics of Richmond he's more likely to die in a fiery car crash, but I guess that's not a very politically palatable proposition.

[Kilo-Kilo]

The mayor is absolutely right. Small aircraft are deathtraps that rain from the sky even in good weather. The safest thing to be in during a crash is a large airliner. Look at Sully on the Hudson, the LOT 767 gear up landing the other day, the Gimli glider, or the fiery Air France runway overshoot a few years back. Everybody survives! Do we need anymore proof? Why else do all young commercial pilots aspire to fly for the airlines other than to get away from risking their lives in small planes?

The mayor is a genius..

[laticsdave]

Of course with the demographics of Richmond he's more likely to die in a fiery car crash, but I guess that's not a very politically palatable proposition.

[InTheGame]

Ha Ha Ha LOL!!! So true so true. Best post yet!

[mgeni]

seriously, some decisions people make... its amazing!

[loopa]

instead of crashes happening in parking lots in Richmond they would happen in backyards in Delta or Pitt Meadows.

Are you kidding me? At least this way the fire and debris created from the plane crash would burn a corn field versus in the million dollar mansion owned by one of Vancouver's greatest investors. This mayor is completely in the right.

In case you didn't catch that, I was being sarcastic. The suggestion of banning small flights into YVR is just absurd.

[Colonel Sanders]

The mayor is an idiot, unless he is politically grandstanding to
some constituents that hate aircraft in general and wants
to score some points.

All the airport operator has to do, is enact a $1000 landing
fee at the airport for aircraft under 8,000 pounds. Sure, it
would be legal for you to land your buck-fifty at YVR. Would
you ever do it? Not bloody likely.

[iflyforpie]

The mayor is an idiot, unless he is politically grandstanding to
some constituents that hate aircraft in general and wants
to score some points.

Probably, just look at this one constituent of Richmond who I am sure was aware of the impeding parallel runway when he got his land for a (relative) song....