I understand that B. Roman is scared living near the City Centre Airport after reading about the Colgan crash in Buffalo.

Mr. or Ms. Roman, despite the tragic event in Buffalo, flying is categorically the safest mode of transportation - that has not changed. I live under the approach or departure path (depending on winds) of the busiest runway at the busiest airport in Canada - PEARSON.

For perspective, on Pearson's busiest day, there are almost 1200 arrivals and departures. How does the Island airport compare - maybe 50-70 Porter flights?

If icing was the primary cause of the crash in Buffalo, remember that ANY aircraft is susceptible to icing and that long exposure will make ANY plane lose control -that includes the 747s that overfly my home every day. I can't tell you not to be afraid but all I am asking is that you keep things in perspective.

I have had my battles with Mr. Sparrow many years ago pleading with Community Air to take a more balanced approach, and to avoid fear mongering and speculation. Honestly, I can say that based on your website, there is some improvement and I sincerely applaud your efforts but feel that more can be done.

Credibility and respect will only come with continued emphasis on honest, balanced and reasonable information. Anything else is a disservice to the community you claim to represent.

Joe

Dear Joe:

Thank you for your compliment that we are balanced in our coverage of the Island Airport.  That is an important objective of CommunityAIR.  But we still are trying to achieve the same objective of Alan Sparrow of closing the Island Airport.

It is true that there are far more flights out of Pearson and those flights are very disturbing and destructive to the neighbours living around Pearson, but we believe that the Island Airport is a particular problem for the people of Toronto.  These are the issues:

• Because of its close proximity to the city, the flights out of the Island airport affect a large number of people.
• The aircraft at the Island create excessive air pollution and noise that have an impact on hundreds of thousands of people.
• Safety is a special problem.  The runways at the airport are very short, there are several hazards near the airport that create a large number of  "pilot cautions."  That is why a number of people in the community were spooked by the accident in northern New York State
• But most of all the Island Airport is incompatible with the redevelopment of the Waterfront.

It is this last point that is most important to me.  We should be attempting to build a city where quality of life is paramount.  An airport within two kilometers of the downtown and virtually a stone's throw from densely populated condos and co-ops makes no sense.  The islands, Lake Ontario and Toronto Harbour are our greatest recreational resource.  A busy airport in the centre of the city makes no sense.

Think of the alternatives.  The Island Airport occupies 215 acres.  To the west is Humber Bay, to the east Toronto Harbour, to the south is Lake Ontario and to the immediate north is the city.  This is the most spectacular piece of undeveloped land in the City of Toronto if not Southern Ontario.  We need to expand the Toronto Island Park, create access to the park across the Western Gap and built a truly stunning facility for our visitors and all of the people in the city.

That is what members of CommunityAIR are striving to achieve.

Bill Freeman, for CommunityAIR