Project: Parkland Airport - West of Edmonton

[ScreaminBanshee]

Well lets not get racist.

But in all honestly, this is private land. Did they say you were ruining their traditional hunting lands when the locals put up their houses? Private land end of story. The Enoch were fine with the airport for a long time. I think that the AAC was fear mongering and gave misinformation to them to rile them up.

That little article that the AAC just posted is almost laughable. I stopped at the airport to take a look last week. There was a 152 doing touch and goes and you couldn't even hear it over the 737 on approach into international. The dramatic writing may work on some people but for the most part the AAC is just making themselves look even more unprofessional.

The biggest danger and disturbance the airport has caused is that now all the locals slow down to a stop in an 80km/h zone to glare at the development.

[Beefitarian]

Here is proof this person has never been to an actual airport in a rural setting.

The usual tracks of deer, porcupines, and other wildlife that in the past could be seen wandering aimlessly across the snow covered field are absent this winter.

[Cessna driver]

Here is proof this person has never been to an actual airport in a rural setting.

The usual tracks of deer, porcupines, and other wildlife that in the past could be seen wandering aimlessly across the snow covered field are absent this winter.

+1.

For some reason airports attract more animals, many times at ZVL theres deer laying off the approaches, geese in the spring/fall, and the occasional coyote looking for food. I was in ZVL for the 37 arrival and that was probably the quiestest i've ever heard.

[skymarc]

Geeses likes the warmth of the asphalt in the fall.

[Cod Father]

At ZVL I've seen moose, deer, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, mice and have even occasion to step in a pile of their droppings.

[Prodriver]

When are these people going to figure it out that there is no developer! It is a private piece of land and the owners decided to place a runway on it!! They could have built a barn, shed, outhouse or what ever they wanted, but they chose a simple low profile strip of asphalt. I wonder if they should make there hangers look like a barn and maybe everyone would calm down, maybe red tin is in order!!. What is next these people will ask the Indians if they need to okay a barn or out building on there private farm? The Indian card may have held a little water in BC, but it does not in AB as there is totally different land claim issues and title rights. Complete waste of time as I recall.

[Beefitarian]

Oh, I believe the animals have not been by lately. Anyone else suspect it's due to the paving crew not the few airplanes that have stopped in? Soon enough the critters will notice the runway construction is done and start populating their new sanctuary.

[Cessna driver]

Oh, I believe the animals have not been by lately. Anyone else suspect it's due to the paving crew not the few airplanes that have stopped in? Soon enough the critters will notice the runway construction is done and start populating their new sanctuary.

I'll drive by tomorrow and see.

[Beefitarian]

If it's as nice there today as Calgary...

[Cessna driver]

Drove by today, saw a bunch of pheasants running around and jumping through the snow piles. Too cold for the deer and moose today.

[MrWings]

You know, regardless of your support for the Parkland airport, it is pretty condescending calling the local farmers peasants.

[Cessna driver]

Lmao...are you being sarcastic or did u misread "pheasants"

[Beefitarian]

Cessna driver posted this link in the Muni last days thread in response to a question.
http://www.navcanada.ca/EN/products-and ... ity-EN.pdf

What's my point? Oh right, sorry.

I notice Nav Canada has not put Parkland on their little drawing. I wonder why they are not recognizing it yet? There must be a little traffic in and out already. I would think they should make a note to alert people of it's prescience. No?

[ScreaminBanshee]

I asked a guy who is some sort of a tower manager or something. Maybe I have his title wrong. But he said that when they were working on that, Parkland was just an idea in someones mind and they didn't know how big or small it was gonna be if it got built at all. Traffic is still very light at this point too. I bet when they come out with the new airspace changes in the spring it will have it on there.

In other news I noticed on the friends of parkland airport page they now have fuel.

[Cessna driver]

Parkland (aka CPL6) will not show up on maps, in the CFS, and that airspace chart until spring. It is just an interm chart for now. TC is slow at adding new airports apparently. Last I heard they are trying to design some VFR routes through the city and make it work.

[Anti-Aunty]

See article below...hopefully some of the NIMBY people think of the big picture.

By: Richard Florida Published on Tue Dec 17 2013
Many of my urbanist friends are against the proposed expansion of Toronto’s island airport. They say that allowing jets will damage Toronto’s prized waterfront, hurt surrounding neighborhoods, and increase congestion. These are all people I admire, and they make valid points. Their conviction has impelled me to look closely at this issue. I’ve weighed the pros and cons. I’ve looked at the research on how airports affect the economic development of cities. Based on all of the findings, I’ve come to conclude that the benefit of having and expanding the airport far exceeds the costs. And that’s why I’m for jets at the island airport.
There are lots of studies linking airports to the economic development of cities. The broad conclusion is that airports play a huge role in creating jobs and boosting the economies of the cities they are in. As John Kasarda, the University of North Carolina professor and co-author of Aerotropolis points out, airports are to the 21st century what highways were to the 20th — and what railroads and seaports were to the 19th and 18th centuries respectively: critical infrastructure allowing regions to connect and compete. If cities are the primary economic engines of the 21st-century global economy and people are their fuel, then airports are the essential pipelines that keep cities humming.
When my colleagues and I at the Martin Prosperity Institute took a close look at the role of airports in economic development, we were frankly surprised by how strongly airports affect city economies. Most economists agree that two key factors shape the ability of cities to grow and prosper: technology-based industry and talented people. Airports, according to our analysis, played a greater role than clusters of high-tech industry, and about the same as concentrations of high-tech people. That’s way too huge to ignore or neglect.
Airports play a major role in city economies by increasing the circulation of goods, people and ideas. Here Toronto has an additional advantage. Pearson airport can continue to plays its role as Toronto’s main airport, and especially as its primary industrial hub for moving goods in and out of the region. But Billy Bishop airport moves an even more critical type of cargo in and out Toronto: people, and the ideas, connections and creativity they carry with them.
Most of all, the island airport is an urban hub connecting Toronto to such major global gateway cities as New York, Boston, Chicago or Washington, D.C. And it is situated right in the city centre, right downtown. Not on the edge of downtown, not 20 minutes from downtown, but right at the base of the city’s central business district.
The island airport is among the best advertisements for Toronto. At a time when our mayor has dragged the city’s reputation into the dumps, flyers who come into Toronto from New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago rave about the view, the service and the ability to land right in the centre of downtown. It makes commuting to and from one of these major gateways a breeze, and it solidifies the critical connections Toronto has to these global cities — all of which further enhances economic development.
Imagine the added benefits in terms of connectivity and the flow of people and ideas when the island airport can connect our downtown to West Coast cities like Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and perhaps someday even to Europe’s great global gateways like London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and more.
The main objections to jets on the island — increased traffic, noise and air pollution — aren’t insurmountable. It’s not like there’s no airport there at all: There are already planes coming in and out of Billy Bishop. And such complaints discount the revolution that’s taking place in airplane technology, and pooh-pooh the fact the downtown airport will be served with state-of-the-are quiet jets made in Canada.
Big cities like New York, Miami, and Washington already have much larger and busier airports close to their downtowns with much noisier and bigger jets flying overhead. And it’s not as though Billy Bishop is about to turn into JFK: Jet traffic at the island airport is limited by the fact that there is only one runway and a set number of landing spots. There will only ever be so many jets flying in and out of downtown Toronto.
Expanding flights at the island airport gives travelers an alternative to the long commute from downtown to Pearson, reducing energy use and car emissions. Along with the Union Pearson Express, which is expected to open in 2015, an expanded Billy Bishop airport will help alleviate congestion and ease travel in and out of the city.
A working airport on the downtown harbor can be a good thing. It shows that the waterfront is a place to work as well as live and play. Sydney, Australia, has long considered its waterfront a working harbor with industrial port facilities alongside upscale housing, shopping and restaurant districts. The same is true of working harbors and ports from New York to Miami to L.A. The ability to support high-paying blue-collar and service jobs at the island airport can send a strong unambiguous signal that downtown Toronto is a place where all classes — the working class, service workers, and the knowledge-based creative class — can thrive.
Of course, the livability of our city remains key. And great neighborhoods need to be protected. The city needs to do its due diligence and ensure the new jets meet all the necessary standards for noise and emissions. But council should be working toward 21st-century infrastructure solutions, not putting up obstacles before the research is even in.
As with most big, important steps in life, there are risks and costs. But in this case, the benefits far outweigh them.
Richard Florida is director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and global research professor at New York University. He is senior editor of the Atlantic and co-founder and editor-at-large of Atlantic Cities.

[Hipster Exterminator]

Now that is funny. Because I heard that man's name dropped a thousand times or more by the anti-airport hoard who were always talking about how the slum to be built at the airport would be a magnet for hipsters from all over the world to settle in Edmonton to pursue unspecified careers in everything but resource extraction and the transnational blogging class would buffer Edmonton from any commodity shakeup in future.

But back to Parkland, what does this place look like come Christmas 2014?

Are Airco and McEwen going to be turning up there? Is the EFC operating out of a farmhouse permanent?

[Cessna driver]

Now that is funny. Because I heard that man's name dropped a thousand times or more by the anti-airport hoard who were always talking about how the slum to be built at the airport would be a magnet for hipsters from all over the world to settle in Edmonton to pursue unspecified careers in everything but resource extraction and the transnational blogging class would buffer Edmonton from any commodity shakeup in future.

But back to Parkland, what does this place look like come Christmas 2014?

Are Airco and McEwen going to be turning up there? Is the EFC operating out of a farmhouse permanent?

Airco - YEG
McEwen's - Closed for good (the aviation side that is)
EFC will be having a new building built in the spring.


As for the AAC... There is already jets flying over CPL6!!!! Your on an approach to Leduc Regional!!! Do you get mad at EIA for that too? Are you sending them the same letters? Your fighting a losing battle.

[Prodriver]

FYI to the Parkland Mayor and others, our company is looking at moving our office to the new Parkland Hwy 60 industrial park that boarders the Enoch Indian reserve to the North. One of the most compelling reasons for this investment is the proximity to the new airport and the benefits that it will bring to the business in this area and the surrounding towns. It is unreal as the prior poster stated that these economic portals for the future are not being shown more respect.

I feel that this area will literally take off and the Parkland airport will be a major driver of the growth. The upcoming road links to Edmonton, proximity to the Marriot Hotel and Casino, all come together and make this a very attractive business venue. It's time to get on with it and drop the anti business tone, the chill is not very reassuring to the business community in your county, Grow up and DO your JOB!!

[Cessna driver]

It could take off, and when it does im sure aunty aerodrome will be all for it.

[Flybabe]

FYI to the Parkland Mayor and others, our company is looking at moving our office to the new Parkland Hwy 60 industrial park that boarders the Enoch Indian reserve to the North. One of the most compelling reasons for this investment is the proximity to the new airport and the benefits that it will bring to the business in this area and the surrounding towns. It is unreal as the prior poster stated that these economic portals for the future are not being shown more respect.

I feel that this area will literally take off and the Parkland airport will be a major driver of the growth. The upcoming road links to Edmonton, proximity to the Marriot Hotel and Casino, all come together and make this a very attractive business venue. It's time to get on with it and drop the anti business tone, the chill is not very reassuring to the business community in your county, Grow up and DO your JOB!!

^

[Aunty Aerodrome]

To respond to the statement that I would be "all for it"... truth be told, I AM all for progress. I am all for development. This being said, I am equally all for responsibility, respect for others who share this planet, and ensuring that future generations (yours and mine) all have a planet to live on in the future.

I think that our differences of opinion where Parkland Airport is concerned has blinded many to what I actually stand for or against. For the record, I am not in any way against aviation. Please do not put me in that category. I believe that aviation and the services provided as a result of aviation is integral to the progress and development of the world. I recognize that aviation is an important part of transportation that links communities that otherwise would not be linked. There are benefits from aviation that cannot and should not be disputed.

However, in the same light, there are other important factors that protect the future of, and link communities. Respect for others, responsible development, and ensuring that our environment is protected and can sustain basic human needs in the future. Perhaps you are unaware that the property used for this development was classified as Class 1 type agricultural land. What does this mean to you? You buy your food at the local grocery store, and no doubt, like most of us, give little thought to where your food originated. If every developer in the country bought up prime agricultural land in the name of progress and development, and everyone gave little thought to the TYPE of land they were purchasing, eventually we would run out of land to grow food on. Granted, this is only one 80 acre parcel, but its 80 acres less in this country for growing food to ensure sustainability. This means that the product that could have been home-grown will now have to come from somewhere else. Possibly across borders. If that product now has to be shipped from another country, this means increased prices to offset costs. It means food that is more expensive, but doesn't last as long for the retailer or the consumer. The domino effect is unavoidable. Give this some thought for a moment. Give some thought as to whether or not there were ANY OTHER lands around Edmonton that could have been purchased for an airport development without depleting agricultural land. Were there ANY other options?

Keep in mind that in the surrounding area where Parkland Airport has chosen to develop, potato farmers that provide food for residents of Alberta use well over 2000 acres of this same type of land. That added 80 acres of Class 1 agricultural land could have generated tonnes of potatoes or corn per year.

I am not now, nor have I ever been "anti airport" or "anti development". I am only against the manner of conducting business, and the location chosen, by the PADC. I am against irresponsible development. I am against the lack of respect for the surrounding agricultural area. Looking at topographical surveys of the area, Parkland Airport was developed in a natural drainage area for the surrounding farmland. What does this mean? This means that because they have removed the spongy soil that in previous years would soak up or direct excess spring run off flowing down towards the east, and have levelled out an area that was low lying and collected excess water, any excess water in flooding years now will be displaced and has no option other than to flood farmers' fields and/or the roadways giving residents access to their homes. In their haste to build an airport in 55 days, this particular development did not consider the impacts to the neighbouring residents or their livelihoods. I would love to believe that they had. It's hard to convince me of that when not that long ago the PADC constructed a secondary driveway to the property yet neglected something as simple as putting in a culvert for the drainage ditch alongside Sandhills Road so the roadway doesn't flood in the spring. This has been pointed out to them, and was not rectified.

So while the airport is making money, surrounding farmers may potentially be flooded out of making enough money to feed their families, not to mention not being able to produce food that would be available to other Albertans.

The Cree have a saying. "It is only when the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize that we cannot eat money". Fitting, I think.

On a separate note, in the spirit of not wishing loss on anyone, those who are considering moving their business out to Parkland Airport may want to consider the pending legal action against the PADC. It might be a good idea to at least consult with outside legal counsel to evaluate the potential risks. Like Parkland Airport, Enoch Cree Nation has federal standing as well. They also have treaty rights in place for years before Parkland Airport was even thought of. They have a very good legal case. If Enoch Cree Nation is successful in their efforts for injunctive relief, Parkland Airport will be ordered by the courts to cease operations. While no one can tell the outcome until it happens, and there are always risks involved with business, investing valuable time and money at this time is an obvious risk in light of the possible outcome. Just a thought.

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday!

[azimuthaviation]

because they have removed the spongy soil that in previous years would soak up or direct excess spring run off flowing down towards the east, and have levelled out an area that was low lying and collected excess water, any excess water in flooding years now will be displaced and has no option other than to flood farmers' fields and/or the roadways giving residents access to their homes

A flood as some kind of divine justice to punish people for their perceived transgressions? You gotta come up with something a little more original that that! Whats next? PADC was built on lands promised to your people by an allmighty creator who only told you guys?

[Prodriver]

The Cree nation does not have a leg to stand on, it is private land! You must be from BC, AB has totally different issues and it is not on there Reserve, that is why they have the reserve and the hwy 60 development took out a couple hundred acres in the north boundary of there land. Also a good chunk of that airport land will be lease to a farm to continue w/ the ag land rental/ production for extra income.
I think it is a great spot as if was as close as they could get to Edmonton and work around the Enoch boundaries. The reserve was consulted in my understanding and chose not to lease there land.
Too bad as it would have been a great fit with the casino and marriott.

[photofly]

I think that our differences of opinion where Parkland Airport is concerned has blinded many to what I actually stand for or against.

I think everyone is pretty clear on that, actually.