STOL, NEF and a letter to the Honourable Minister
The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
Minister
As you are no doubt aware, the Tripartite Lease Agreement signed by your ministry, the Toronto Port Authority and the City of Toronto is a legal document that governs the operation of the Toronto City Centre Airport.
The Agreement defines a STOL aircraft as one which is capable of maintaining a 6 degree glide path on descent and a 6 degree climb profile on departure. The Agreement allows STOL aircraft to operate out of the airport.
When queried by Ms Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Waterfront Project Director, City of Toronto, in a letter dated April 20, 2006 about the DHC-8 400’s (Q400’s) certification as a STOL aircraft, Mr. Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, responded in a letter dated May 19, 2006, “In closing, please be advised that (while) it is Transport Canada’s that the DCH-8 aircraft meets the definition of “STOL” aircraft in the Tripartite Agreement, … “.
However, less than a year later, on January 27, 2007, your predecessor, Lawrence Cannon, in response to a ministerial inquiry stated, “The Bombardier Q400 is not a Short Take-off and Landing aircraft.”
In short, Minister Cannon’s advisors appear to have been at odds with the Minister as to whether the Q400 is a STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) aircraft.
It seems that an analogous situation is developing over the City of Toronto’s request of your ministry to update the Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) for the TCCA.
The Tripartite Lease Agreement states that aircraft with designated flight paths must be included in noise profile calculations in the TCCA's NEF. The Agreement also states that when the total number of all helicopter movements has exceeded four thousand, helicopters must be designated flight paths and as a result be included in the calculation.
On two occasions the City has requested Transport Canada to specify flight paths for all helicopters flying two or from the Island Airport. Elaine Baxter-Trahair, wrote requests to Debra Taylor, Regional Director General – Ontario, Transport Canada on March 1, 2006 and again on April 25, 2008.
In her latter correspondence dated June 3, 2008 Ms Taylor replied with the following. “Please be advised that in response to your request, Transport Canada will look into the establishment of specified helicopter paths in accordance with the Tripartite Agreement. We will keep you informed of our progress over the next few months.”
A year has passed since Ms Taylor’s letter. Transport Canada has not specified helicopter flight paths. However, Ms Baxter-Trahair did hear from Mr. Michael Stephenson, Regional Director General – Ontario, Transport Canada in May. He wrote that helicopter movements would not be included in the new NEF study.
It appears that both Ms Taylor and Mr. Stephenson are willing to ignore sections of the Tripartite Lease Agreement with regard to helicopters and flight paths.
Their seeming lack of compliance on this question, I believe, leaves you in a position not unlike that of Minister Cannon's several years ago. Accordingly, will you direct your officials, Ms Taylor and Mr. Stephenson, to comply with the legal obligations set out in the Tripartite Lease Agreement?
Respectfully,
Bob Kotyk
Volunteer Researcher
Community AIR
Minister of Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
Minister
As you are no doubt aware, the Tripartite Lease Agreement signed by your ministry, the Toronto Port Authority and the City of Toronto is a legal document that governs the operation of the Toronto City Centre Airport.
The Agreement defines a STOL aircraft as one which is capable of maintaining a 6 degree glide path on descent and a 6 degree climb profile on departure. The Agreement allows STOL aircraft to operate out of the airport.
When queried by Ms Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Waterfront Project Director, City of Toronto, in a letter dated April 20, 2006 about the DHC-8 400’s (Q400’s) certification as a STOL aircraft, Mr. Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, responded in a letter dated May 19, 2006, “In closing, please be advised that (while) it is Transport Canada’s that the DCH-8 aircraft meets the definition of “STOL” aircraft in the Tripartite Agreement, … “.
However, less than a year later, on January 27, 2007, your predecessor, Lawrence Cannon, in response to a ministerial inquiry stated, “The Bombardier Q400 is not a Short Take-off and Landing aircraft.”
In short, Minister Cannon’s advisors appear to have been at odds with the Minister as to whether the Q400 is a STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) aircraft.
It seems that an analogous situation is developing over the City of Toronto’s request of your ministry to update the Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) for the TCCA.
The Tripartite Lease Agreement states that aircraft with designated flight paths must be included in noise profile calculations in the TCCA's NEF. The Agreement also states that when the total number of all helicopter movements has exceeded four thousand, helicopters must be designated flight paths and as a result be included in the calculation.
On two occasions the City has requested Transport Canada to specify flight paths for all helicopters flying two or from the Island Airport. Elaine Baxter-Trahair, wrote requests to Debra Taylor, Regional Director General – Ontario, Transport Canada on March 1, 2006 and again on April 25, 2008.
In her latter correspondence dated June 3, 2008 Ms Taylor replied with the following. “Please be advised that in response to your request, Transport Canada will look into the establishment of specified helicopter paths in accordance with the Tripartite Agreement. We will keep you informed of our progress over the next few months.”
A year has passed since Ms Taylor’s letter. Transport Canada has not specified helicopter flight paths. However, Ms Baxter-Trahair did hear from Mr. Michael Stephenson, Regional Director General – Ontario, Transport Canada in May. He wrote that helicopter movements would not be included in the new NEF study.
It appears that both Ms Taylor and Mr. Stephenson are willing to ignore sections of the Tripartite Lease Agreement with regard to helicopters and flight paths.
Their seeming lack of compliance on this question, I believe, leaves you in a position not unlike that of Minister Cannon's several years ago. Accordingly, will you direct your officials, Ms Taylor and Mr. Stephenson, to comply with the legal obligations set out in the Tripartite Lease Agreement?
Respectfully,
Bob Kotyk
Volunteer Researcher
Community AIR
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