40+ Year Edmonton flight department moving to Calgary

[manyratings]

For those that are in the know the news may be old. It has been confirmed that after many decades of service out of CYXD the Canadian Utilities flight department is moving to CYYC early in the spring of 2013. There are many reasons surrounding the airport closure and other political reasons i am sure for this move. It is sad that the city of Edmonton was so willing to loose such a powerhouse of a company and department to Calgary. I hope this move shows the city of Edmonton and current mayor how short sited the airport closure really is.
I am sure that Calgary will enjoy having the CU flight department as one of its businesses. They operate one Citation 560 Encore and a Citation X, soon to add a long range large business jet as well. Good thing that is not the type of operation that the Edmonton Airport Authority wants on it roster.
I am sure that the decision makes good business sense for the ATCO company. Even better i am sure for some pilots around the Calgary area as i am sure they will be looking to add and replace some of the old gentry that have been with them for years, and are not going to relocate. Great organization, with some great guys to work with, with great equipment. Good on you Calgary for picking up what Edmonton is throwing away.

[RatherBeFlying]

Could be a number of reasons for this, but I'd start with the fact that they need new hangarage and office space along with a maintenance organisation that can look after their equipment including spares. Having $15-45 million worth of equipment sitting a few hours waiting for a part to be flown up from YYC is not something a CP wants to be explaining to a CEO who needs to be making a deal.

I have not heard of any initiatives by YEG to make it cheap for the maintenance and parts guys to relocate from YXD; so, where the corporate flight departments gonna go -- and the head offices that use them?

[bizjets101]

What ??? long range jet are the acquiring ???


photo BCavpics/Flickr


photo BCavpics/Flickr

[8675309]

What's Mikey, Craig and the other guys going to do?

[Skully]

When you don't give a company a reason to stay here, then they move to a place that makes sense. It is that simple. Edmonton has a long history of this, and this is just another notch in that successful business plan of make everyone leave.

[azimuthaviation]

Its a shame how the character of the city has really changed the last few years, and the closing of the Muni is just part of it but really helps to accelerate it. A few aviation companies have moved to Calgary but it's a bit of a stretch to say theyre making everyone leave. Theres not much future for aviation in Edmonton thats for sure but Edmonton will continue to be a growing and prosperous city for the foreseable future, unfortunately those of us in the aviation industry wont be able to be a part of it.

[westcoastwonder]

Is there a date set for the city airport to close.
I live in Vancouver but hoping to use it this summer

[5x5]

There is no set date at this time. The City wants to hasten through expropriation and try to clear out all the tenants as soon as possible, but they're hitting roadblocks there. No clarity as to how long that may be delayed. There is also the issue with lawsuits that are progressing in the courts - especially the request for an injunction by the EFC. And there is the requirement to provide adequate Medevac facilities - which are not in place yet to replace CYXD.

Long story short - unlikely that you will have any problems using the airport this summer.

[Hipster Exterminator]

Can you expand on that please?

I saw some old friends still at YXD over Christmas and they said that the lawyers were saying that the city had made some catastrophically bad arguments while fighting the injunction that can be used to challenge the legitimacy of the expropriation (can a municipality conveniently enough expropriate itself out of legal obligations?) and shut down the whole green hipster horror show for at least a few years.

Is this what you speak of, or just wishful thinking?

[RatherBeFlying]

The EFC has a lease until 2028 and it looks like its lawyers have a good chance of enforcing that lease.

If/when the city's lawyers come to the conclusion that the City is stuck with the lease, I suspect the City (i.e. the developers behind it) will be forthcoming with some serious cash to per$uade the EFC to relocate earlier.

Mind you, one of the problems with a downtown flying club is that a considerable number of the younger members are dependent on public transit to go flying.

[Hipster Exterminator]

But where would they go? I thought the EFC had already been and gone from Villeneuve years ago?

More power to them if they can fight it through, but this city and the hipsters, morons and grifters who run it (or are at least extensively pandered to) are already dead to me. I have fits of rage when I think of all businesses and careers destroyed by the ERAA and cities war against the airport.

[Hipster Exterminator]

So, where are we with this?

The judicial challenge of the expropriation seems to have been rejected and Krushell seems to be declaring victory to anyone who will listen. Can the airport be closed without the other lawsuits being resolved first?

I'm hearing October 1st is eviction day.

[grimey]

Can the airport be closed without the other lawsuits being resolved first?

It can if you're Daley.

[longjon]

Did not SHAW have their flt. dept. in Edmonton initially.