Heli-skiing company sues VANOC, police

[Widow]

A heli-skiing company is suing VANOC and the police over restrictive security procedures that it says has resulted in job layoffs and the suspension of operations.

Coast Range Heliskiing Ltd. says that in August last year it was approached by the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU), which is comprised of police responsible for security during the Olympic Games.

ISU told the company that starting in Jan. 29 this year, its clients would have to be subjected to security and goods screening before boarding helicopters headed for back-country ski excursions, says a statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

The new security procedures make it “impossible” for the company to carry on its business and would require it to transport its clients to the Pemberton Airport before they could board the helicopters, it says.

Normally, clients board the choppers at staging areas adjacent to the terrain to be skied.

“The security and goods screening procedures are unlawful and unnecessary, unreasonably interfere with the plaintiff’s business operations and frustrate the performance of the [business] licence,” says the lawsuit.

“The plaintiff has attempted to mitigate its losses by laying off its employees and discontinuing its business for the 2010 winter season.”

The procedures, which would have to be repeated before each ski excursion, would result in prohibitive transportation and helicopter fuel costs and in delays in having clients undergo the security checks.

By refusing to compensate the company for its losses, while agreeing to compensate other businesses for similar losses, VANOC and the other named defendants have discriminated against the firm, it adds.

The company, which says it has been successfully operating for several years without interference or security restrictions, is seeking general and special damages, including loss of revenues, loss of profits, loss of goodwill and increased expenses, past and future.

No statement of defence has been filed. A statement of claim contains allegations that have not been proven in court.

A spokeswoman for VANOC said yesterday there would be no comment since the matter is before the courts.

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Hel ... story.html

[MUSKEG]

It's about time. I am so sick of hearing about the olympics that it has jaded what these games are all about. This security thing is so way over the top that it is out of control. Yesterday we heard that they are not allowing people to line the ski slopes because it's slippery and soft. Well no shit there buddy boy, it's a winter sport on snow. I hear NASA is looking for rocket scientists, you sir are a shoo in.

[Wilbur]

When are you applying? They closed the slope side standing areas because there is no snow, just wet, slippery, unstable mud.

[Carrier]

Well done! Let's hope other affected business owners and individuals climb on this bandwagon. Perhaps they should get together to share costs and make it a class action suit. This is one case where the sue everyone connected with it (deepest pocket) principle is welcome. Such a law suit should have been started long ago and then they could also have applied for an injunction to prevent the culprits from interfering with or obstructing their operations.

Which brings up another issue: Canada has supposedly passed laws to prevent interference with air traffic or air crews performing their duties. The whole point of these laws is to facilitate the safe and effective provision of air transport, not to obstruct it; that is what the terrorists are trying to do. Doh! Have these laws been repealed? In First World countries that respect the rule of law, law enforcement agencies and employees do not have the option to apply or ignore laws as and when they feel like it and they are also subject to the laws. The ignoring of such laws points to dereliction of duty or corruption. There should be a public inquiry to establish who refused to protect the rights of ordinary Canadians to operate their lawful businesses and perform their jobs.

It is very gratifying to see that the Olympic Shames are being referred to around the World as the Calamity Games because of the never ending disasters. What goes around comes around; it serves them right! Canada did a good job of running the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. This was not done on the backs and out of the tax pockets of ordinary Canadians. VANOC and associated government agencies should have followed that example. Instead, the Vancouver crowd have approached their games with utter thoughtlessness towards anyone else. Vancouver and British Columbia deserve this resulting negative reputation.

Unfortunately Canada as a whole has now got a serious negative reputation from this disaster. It is to be hoped that all affected will remember to vote against the responsible MPs and MLAs at the next elections.

[Nark]

IF there isn't any terrorist type influence, all this security will be touted as success.

[Grease Nipple]

What about all the peeps laid off becouse of the flight restrictions, will they be compensated?

[North Shore]

It is very gratifying to see that the Olympic Shames are being referred to around the World as the Calamity Games because of the never ending disasters.

Olympic Shames? Calamity Games? Dude, give your head a shake. Good. Now do it again. Who calls it the 'Shames'? A bunch of unwashed malcontents with a grab-bag of complaints from the Tar Sands to 'stolen land'. I wonder what the Tar Sands have to do with the Olympics, apart from the fact that they are in the same country. As for the stolen land bit, didn't I just see the 'four host First nations' jumping around like dervishes at the opening Cermonies - seems like they're onboard with the show.

As for the calamity bit...well, the luger's accident was a tragic way to start off, and, probably, completely preventable. Beyond that, the athletes are competing, and the venues are working. Disasters? My Oxford dictionary defines it so: 'Sudden or great misfortune, calamity, complete failure'. A little over-the-top to describe some technical glitches as a complete failure - kinda like failing you on a ride because you got an s/b on one item...

Why is it "gratifying to see..."? It's not going to be Vancouver or BC wearing this if the prevailing sense at the end was that it was a disaster - it's going to be the Country - as in 'you're [Carrier] from Canada, hey? What a place, they f@cked up the Olympics.' As a Canadian, it gives you pride that we might be getting a black eye on the world stage?


Ok, off to get some coffee..

[CBSW]

Recently visited Vancouver..

I think all of you out there should be filing the biggest lawsuit in Canadian history..

It seems like VANOC has things completely ass backwards. The olympics are supposed to BRING business.. not hurt it. The olympic security is a sham.. Yup, you guys have Griffon helicopters, CF18's flying around 24/7,the largest peacetime RCMP/ CF contingent and they let a KNOWN security threat get within arms reach of Joe Biden. And let people get within feet of " the great one" What hogwash..

Your restraunts/ roads were empty, friends in whister tell me VANOC has bought out all parking spaces in front of businesses... so that people cannot go to stores/ restraunts up there either.

And the floatplane/ helicopter thing is utter b.s. I'm a Canadian but NOT from BC and I'd love to take a ride on a beaver or C185 and go up the coast!! I can imagine that others from all around the world would like to do so as well.

I hear the FBO's hired tons of staff to deal with visitors and didn't get anywhere the numbers expected.. herm..wonder why..


Its sad that visitors will not get to experience Beautiful British Columbia/ your hospitality as they should..

I think there some people that do benefit.. The rich! And its all on your dollar.. * Which you aren't making due to all the restrictions etc. Enjoy !

On another note.. I fully support our athletes! Go Canada, GO!

[CBSW]

P.S. And this is my perception from someone out of town.. I can't imagine what all the international visitors are thinking..

[piston]

This heli-skiing company had like what, 7 years to prepare for this. Sounds like a way to make a quick buck to me...sue, sue, sue!

[Carrier]

I listened to the full interview with John Furlong on James Pearce's BBC blog. Furlong makes no mention of any compensation for Canadian business owners and workers whose livelihoods he and his cronies have so selfishly stamped upon. Talk is cheap! Furlong should have mentioned how many restitution cheques and their amounts that he and the rest of the 50,000 (not Canadian taxpayers) are sending out to those they have blighted.

If John Furlong is sincere let's see him post on Avcanada and PPRuNe the procedure for affected Canadians to obtain full compensation for the damage done to their businesses and earnings by the Olympics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jamespearce/ ... _back.html

Yes, there are many good Canadian athletes with decent ethical standards who will be embarrassed that their events have been provided at the expense of so many ordinary working Canadians and small business owners whose attempts to earn a legitimate living have been so selfishly damaged. I too hope they do well but they should be feeling uncomfortable about the whole situation. So should the rest of Canada! This is not what Canada is all about. It's more like something from North Korea or Zimbabwe.

[xsbank]

I haven't been particularly pro-Olympics but jeeezuz you guys sound like a bunch of Quebeckers complaining about Les Anglos! What a bunch of old farts you are! "Uncles rumbling in their chairs."

Take your meds.

[Driving Rain]

Let Johnny boy know how you really feel.
http://2010vancouver.ca/john-furlong-si ... 013520.php

pressoffice@olympic.org

[SAR_YQQ]

This heli-skiing company had like what, 7 years to prepare for this.

My thoughts exactly. It's not like everybody didn't know that the Olympics were coming.

[The Mole]

Canada's going to pay more than 1000 million for security, on this BS... And what do you get. Having to hold for in excess of 30 min outside the security rings waiting for clearance. Because the ISU and ASOC don't pass any flight info to the controllers. Who pays for this? You did everything right , jump through a bunch of stupid hoops and still have to wait. Try filing 10 flight plans for a simple trip, thats only 1hr long. This whole system was designed for IFR only traffic. The ISU has crippled VFR work in the lower mainland and it last another month.

The helicopter and float operators are taking it in the nuts.

[Cat Driver]

And what do you get. Having to hold for in excess of 30 min outside the security rings waiting for clearance.

Do you have a transponder code that was assigned to you when they ask you to hold, or do you arrive at that point without a transponder code?

[cessnafloatflyer]

And the floatplane/ helicopter thing is utter b.s. I'm a Canadian but NOT from BC and I'd love to take a ride on a beaver or C185 and go up the coast!!

*Come on out!*
We're open for business and found the controllers here to be very helpful and understanding. Under the circumstaces i've found it to not be all that bad. Annoying for sure, but not too bad overall.

[The Mole]

First you submit a request for an RFA code, via email only with a word 95 doc attachment. Then you submit a passenger manifest, word 95doc again. 48hrs min notice. Then you file a flight plan with kamloops min 1hr notice for each leg of your flight. Then you open your flight plane with kamloops and get transponder code or you get one from clearance delivery. Then you go and nobody with ATC has any info on your flight, and you get held till they clear that up. The 30mile ring is really spotty for radio coverage, so you may have to divert to contact them before violating class F airspace. Our you call clearance delivery and wait, cause they have no info on your flight. Or catsa doesn't tell ATC you've been screened. Again, wait till they clear that up. Then you do your flight and ATC is unable to push the button to close your flight plan. There supposed to do this, according to TC and Nav Canada. SOooo you get a call from kamloops cause your 2hrs overdue.



Don't even get me started on trying to do essential service work or anything out side of the norm. And with helicopters it all out of the norm.

Yep well worth the 1000 million.

[sky's the limit]

This heli-skiing company had like what, 7 years to prepare for this.

My thoughts exactly. It's not like everybody didn't know that the Olympics were coming.

Two of the more ignorant points of view thus far...

I work for a YVR based helicopter company, and we're all taking an absolute shit-kicking with this, with the exception of Blackcomb Heli who are in the thick of it. That Heliski outfit had "7 years to prepare?" Are you serious? What, were they supposed to move ski season until May?

You guys have no idea what you're talking about, this entire thing is a travesty, and the best part is we who live/work here are the ones taking it on the chin. There are a great many unanswered questions coming out of these Games, and I know of at least two other potential lawsuits that are pending.

Canada is taking a major black eye on this, and rightly so. It's been a joke from the day it was announced. This has nothing to do with the athletes, or athletics, it's about control, politics, and lining the pockets of a few.

Read Mole's reply again, it's just the tip of the iceberg.


stl

[CBSW]

Try 2 Billion...................

[piston]

Canada is taking a major black eye on this, and rightly so. It's been a joke from the day it was announced. This has nothing to do with the athletes, or athletics, it's about control, politics, and lining the pockets of a few.

I'm just happy the majority of Canadians don't think the same way as you.

[sky's the limit]

Canada is taking a major black eye on this, and rightly so. It's been a joke from the day it was announced. This has nothing to do with the athletes, or athletics, it's about control, politics, and lining the pockets of a few.

I'm just happy the majority of Canadians don't think the same way as you.

Annnd that "the majority of Canadians" have no idea what the real ins and outs are of this situation are means what, exactly?

stl

[godsrcrazy]

This heli-skiing company had like what, 7 years to prepare for this.

My thoughts exactly. It's not like everybody didn't know that the Olympics were coming.

Two of the more ignorant points of view thus far...

I work for a YVR based helicopter company, and we're all taking an absolute shit-kicking with this, with the exception of Blackcomb Heli who are in the thick of it. That Heliski outfit had "7 years to prepare?" Are you serious? What, were they supposed to move ski season until May?

You guys have no idea what you're talking about, this entire thing is a travesty, and the best part is we who live/work here are the ones taking it on the chin. There are a great many unanswered questions coming out of these Games, and I know of at least two other potential lawsuits that are pending.

Canada is taking a major black eye on this, and rightly so. It's been a joke from the day it was announced. This has nothing to do with the athletes, or athletics, it's about control, politics, and lining the pockets of a few.

Read Mole's reply again, it's just the tip of the iceberg.


stl

Couldn't agree more all the security BS with no fly zones was only put in place 6 to 9 months ago. Not 7 years ago. When your business is designed to do some thing at certain time every year you don't just shout it down for 1 month. All you people that feel these people were not effected should try going with out pay for 1 month and support the Olympics. I am sure the Olympic comity would be more then happy if you donated his months pay.

[The Mole]

cessanfloatflyer

*Come on out!*
We're open for business and found the controllers here to be very helpful and understanding. Under the circumstaces i've found it to not be all that bad. Annoying for sure, but not too bad overall.


Great glad your open, Can i book a flight for tomorrow, have 5 guest in town. they want to be picked up in YVR and then a tour of the north shore mountains and then dropped in pemberton......


Oh wait, i didn't give you 48hrs notice......damm

and no scenic flight......dammmm

and well you cant fly up the sea to sky corridor.....dammmm


oh and you probably don't have a landing reservation for yvr

Good times........

[Carrier]

Below is a news item from Avwebflash. http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/a ... tml#202104 Have any of the ordinary working Canadians and business owners who have been similarly negatively impacted by the Olympics received full compensation? If not, is there a similar combined approach to obtain it or is it just the one heli company that is prepared to stand up for what is right and just?

OBAMA VISIT IMPACTS HAWAII AVIATORS
The Oahu Aviation Initiative, an ad hoc coalition of 20 small general aviation businesses in Hawaii, is asking the federal government to compensate them for $200,000 in losses they incurred due to almost two weeks of flight restrictions during President Barack Obama's recent holiday visit to Oahu. The group is also working with the Secret Service and the TSA to negotiate less severe restrictions before the next presidential visit to their state. The restrictions essentially banned flights within a 30-mile radius of the rented house where the Obama family was staying outside Honolulu. Pat Magie, president of Island Seaplane Service, told the Honolulu Advertiser that aviation company owners were not informed of flight restrictions until four days before the president's arrival, and many of them had no option but to shut down entirely during the 12-day visit, from Dec. 23 to Jan. 4