New Control Tower Recommended for Gatineau

[DHC-1 Jockey]

Following an Aeronautical Study that showed a large increase in traffic levels, NavCanada is now recommending that Gatineau change from a FSS to a Control Tower.

https://www.navcanada.ca/en/scr/_locali ... 162026.pdf

[DanWEC]

That's really, really surprising. Especially as we've been in a phase for decades of downsizing and closing any airport where GA is the majority of traffic. Some other plan or strategy in the works?

[DHC-1 Jockey]

That's really, really surprising. Especially as we've been in a phase for decades of downsizing and closing any airport where GA is the majority of traffic. Some other plan or strategy in the works?

I just think NavCanada is starting to really invest in increasing service.

Just a few years ago they changed Red Deer from FSS to a Tower. Peterborough, ON is going from an uncontrolled airport to an FSS and I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually became a tower as well based on the huge increase in flight training there.

It’s nice to see an increase in service and the company putting money towards these upgrades.

[linecrew]

That's really, really surprising. Especially as we've been in a phase for decades of downsizing and closing any airport where GA is the majority of traffic. Some other plan or strategy in the works?

It is likely that Gatineau now has sufficient aircraft movements to meet the threshold required to transition from a Flight Service Station (FSS) to a full control tower.

[DHC-1 Jockey]

Gatineau would also be a good candidate for the new digital remote tower facility Nav is building at Kingston. Aside from YOW, Gatineau would be the next closest tower to Kingston, so it would be an easier transition technology and connectivity-wise as opposed to transitioning another tower in SW Ontario to Kingston.

Just delay the change at Gatineau from FSS to a Tower to coincide with the new tower controllers being in Kingston as opposed to being on-site at Gatineau and then needing to eventually move to Kingston anyways.

[pelmet]

Gatineau would also be a good candidate for the new digital remote tower facility Nav is building at Kingston. Aside from YOW, Gatineau would be the next closest tower to Kingston, so it would be an easier transition technology and connectivity-wise as opposed to transitioning another tower in SW Ontario to Kingston.

Just delay the change at Gatineau from FSS to a Tower to coincide with the new tower controllers being in Kingston as opposed to being on-site at Gatineau and then needing to eventually move to Kingston anyways.

Places like Gatineau likely don't need the expense of a new tower. They are busy due to one-school wonders that may or may not continue on. One bankruptcy and the whole argument for a tower falls apart. Foreign students seem to be falling off.