IMPORTANT!! Parkland Aerodrome Meeting Nov. 11

[Flybabe]

Please PLEASE attempt to attend this if at all possible.

I feel like a hypocrite posting this, as I am NOT able to attend. I have, however, written several letters to pertinent authorities in support of this project.

[Tom H]

This is the way to work isn't it

Closed meeting and the ultimate insult...on Remembrance Day!

A day when we are supposed to be remembering those that have sacrificed their youth, their health and in many cases their lives to take a stand for others and the freedom of others.

In Bomber Command alone (you know those guys that flew big airplanes) over 10,000 Canadians were lost in service between 1939 and 1945, plus all the other areas of the RCAF, the Royal Canadian Navy and of course those of the Canadian Army.

Nice AAC real Nice, couldn't have waited a day?

In my highly biased personal opinion

[Flybabe]

^ +1

[azimuthaviation]

Oh rural folk, such a unique breed. They really like living in their own world and hate it when anything upsets it. You honestly think that people who have 80 or 160 acres all to themselves to do on which whatever it is they please and still want to control what goes on on a several mile radius around them give a damn about what anyone else did or died doing 70 years ago?

Good luck to the PADC folks, theyre making fantastic progress. I was somewhat pessimistic for a while there but they really pulled it off.

[MUSKEG]

Hope you feel better now azi. Painting every rural landowner with the same brush is inflammatory. Insulting their Nov 11 traditions is presumptuous.

[Scout44]

Agree with Muskeg. As a rural kid not all of us are opposed to aviation. The various flying farmer groups would also tell you that.

But yes, the NIMBYism surrounding this issue is frustrating for sure.

[Prodriver]

I wish Rob Ford was the mayor of Parkland!

[Flybabe]

Well, Prodriver, not sure about that, but I wonder if there's been some proverbial crack smoking going on. Stupid crap.

[lownslow]

That flyer seems to be shouting pretty loudly that there's nothing they can do to stop an airport from being built. What's the meeting for, pitchfork sharpening/noose tying practice? AA gun intro course?

LnS.

[Flightfan151]

It is a funny little dynamic. The ring leader of this circus lives in Edmonton and is desperately trying to get her foot in politics. She is a protest queen and has devoted her life to various protest causes for the last 10 years. Unfortunately, she is a small fish in a big pond in Edmonton, so she is coming our here to complain...while telling anyone who actually lives in Parkland- but is Pro Airport- that they are not allowed to attend her meetings. The AAC was even denying access to local (Sandhills residents) at this last meeting, if they were not openly opposed to the development. I don't think they can keep up their momentum though, their members are dropping like flies. They are trying to recruit the Enoch band for support because they are losing it everywhere else. Enoch will listen to all the facts and then send their support where they feel it is most beneficial and I, for one, don't see them forming an alliance with the pitch fork congregation. My only real concern is how they keep dragging other politicians into this and trying to make this an international crisis. If they have any luck stripping the federal government of airport control, it will spell doom for the aeronautics industry and Canada as a whole. But I am sure they don't care about that, so long as they get their name in the paper.

[farm friend]

When I initially posted this blog on the AAC website in mid October, I had no intention of posting here; however, I encourage you to give this some thought, given what is at risk…..

When I was a kid, my dad had been flying often out of Blatchford field to far off places in northern Canada since the 50’s. He would tell us hair raising stories of the navigation, the cold and a multitude of adventures of the flights and was among the first to design and build a hanger on the permafrost. How he would have loved to go down to the field on October12th for the fly in and to give his respect to this field that opened up Edmonton and the North in a way that it would never have otherwise. The stories would have gone on for hours and I wish I could remember the names and the stories in detail now. Blatchford closing leaves behind a world of memories.

I know my dad would have been amazed and appalled at the development by the PADC here near the land he and mom decided to raise their family on. It would not been a reaction devoid of understanding of the importance of aviation or of the need for responsible development of aerodromes in strategic locations to provide necessary services or of entrepreneurship. It would not been devoid of understanding of the importance of community, solid planning principals, safety or the need for due diligence on the part of the developers but also on the part of Transport Canada and the need in a country that purports to be a democracy to have systems in place to allow for due process.

The Public Interest test is significant. Why hasn’t Transport Canada intervened to date – at minimum to clarify jurisdiction during development. If jurisdiction truly rests with Transport Canada, where is the due diligence and due processes in place at this point before irreparable harm is done?

I see the scars on the land, see the gravel trucks on the road, see the arrogance of the developers as they defy the stop work orders and show their disrespect for the land, the wildlife, the livelihood and lifestyle of the locals, and the authority of the municipality – and even the safety of the pilots who may one day legitimately fly in and out of the aerodrome if the Public Interest test and accountability to uphold the sanctity of the factors is only to be found in the Act and not exist in reality.

COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association), if in support of this project, is sadly making a mistake despite its belief in the freedom to fly; rather the association should be challenging the PADC for putting all they stand for at such risk by backing such a poorly thought out plan and blindly moving forward at a precarious pace in the race against time and the reality November 30th will bring; reflecting poorly on pilots and the proponents of aerodrome development in Canada. I’m sad that Blatchford Field, honoring the last days and the many decades of service, is juxtaposed against the PADC development and their processes which will harm the aeronautical world far more broadly than the closing of the field ever could by putting many future well planned, necessary aerodromes at risk. Our history has shown, regulation becomes more stringent and detailed when irresponsible individuals proceed in irresponsible ways. My dad would have been saddened to see this poorly planned development cropping up under the veil of the tradition of the Blatchford Field – how sad to see such a poor cousin trying to capitalize on such an honorable field being plowed under.

My dad taught me well. You don’t tromp all over the land, the people, the community, ever …. You never back a horse that isn’t sound in the big race. I suggest the investors, COPA, the blind supporters wading in on the AVCANADA forum should consider if they truly want to back a permanently lame horse. If they were to truly examine the project in relation to the public interest, they would likely join the community in their opposition to the project rather than to have this the test case relating to jurisdiction, public interest and the freedom to fly. Blatchford Field may be lost, COPA and aerodrome proponents should be wisely be considering if this is the horse they want to back in this big race.

As a community, we have weathered the test of time and challenge, we are strong, we are determined, we are organized and we are right. COPA I challenge you to consider how much you and your community are willing to lose – perhaps a critical peer review of the project relative to the Public Interest might be in order.

In my highly biased opinion

[Flybabe]

Don't think they really care about the industry as a whole. Pretty sure tunnel vision is entrenched.

[farm friend]

Don't think they really care about the industry as a whole. Pretty sure tunnel vision is entrenched.

Flybabe, I am glad you see the same concerns regarding the risk the PADC poses to the broader industry with their tunnel vision. Hopefully, they are stopped in their tracks before they create irreparable harm.

In my highly biased opinion.

[Flightfan151]

Sorry, Farm friend, but I think one of us is confused - either me or you. I was under the impression that flybabe was agreeing with me on the tunnel vision of the AAC. I think there was a delay in your post and it was inserted after flybabe made her reply...but perhaps I'm mistaken?

[Flybabe]

You're not mistaken, Flightfan.

farm friend, if there's anyone that knows about aircraft, runways, and farms.. it's me.

I would appreciate if you would not attempt to reword what I say and the position I take in order to meet your own personal agenda.

Thank you... and that's in the opinion of someone that is NOT highly biased.

[Prodriver]

You gotta love FREEDOM, and private land, lets protect it!