Comments on: Opinion: Close the City Centre Airport

By: Mark F

Mark F — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:33:26 +0000

There no shortage of misinformation here. STARS are not the main player in medevac. They have a few helicopters and a huge PR department. They are shorter in range, slower and more expensive then the fixed wing planes that do 90 percent of the provinces medevacs. Public perception has been skewed by the fact that STARS is always advertising while all the others do not.
Transport Canada has not put a height limit on all city buildings but lazy city planners have. They could go much higher with the airport still there but only one building even reaches the current limit which could easily be drastically increased based on proximity to approaches and what type of approaches you want.
In short getting rid of the airport would also get rid of the aviation industry in Edmonton. Leduc and Villeneuve would do OK but the overall industry will be reduced. Edmonton will gain the notability of the worst air access city in North America.
The reduction in commuter aircraft service already means many more people die on Alberta’s northern highways. Statistically airlines are 20 times safer than driving but you need to keep the convenient airports in order to get people to utilize them.

By: A shifting discourse « pseudo psyence

A shifting discourse « pseudo psyence — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:26:13 +0000

[...] councillors would have done so on other issues?). Organically because the two (and a group of other concerned individuals) came forward and joined forces — if only loosely — to champion a common cause. The [...]

By: Mack D. Male

Mack D. Male — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:31:29 +0000

The Great Edmonton Airport Debate Continues at MasterMaq's Blog

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:18:58 +0000

What Ryan said.

By: Ryan Engley

Ryan Engley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:07:21 +0000

Unlike you, I was around when the citizens of Edmonton voted to consolidate air traffic to the EIA (incidentally, it was the same vote that saw Edmonton shut down Keillor Road to public traffic–an equally contentious issue back in the day.) If you ask me, when Edmontonian’s voted to consolidate, they put the final nail in the coffin of the Municipal Aiport.

Why, then, this airport is creating such a stir among the locals is beyond me. Our city happily sold Epcor (A business that MADE the city money), proceeded to GIVE our state of the art waste treatment plant to the new private owners of Epcor, has wasted millions of dollars paving, tearing-up, paving, then repaving Ellerslie Road, and yet people say nothing.

I often don’t understand what motivates people to argue against the city when it tries to move forward and develop Edmonton. In this case, I think that it must be personal ties to friends or family who have a stake in the Municipal Airport. What other reason could there be? Like you said, if I want to fly somewhere I need to haul myself out to the International Airport even though I live mere blocks from the Municipal Airport. I would really like to see the city develop that land (and make some money off of it.) Edmonton needs to start filling up and in, not out.

Speaking of which, shutting the Municipal Airport may change the height restriction laws imposed by Transport Canada that forbid downtown buildings from growing past a certain height. Imagine that, a downtown with tall buildings.

Anyhow, I hope to see the city close the airport and develop the land in a smart, profitable manner. The city should be thinking long-term, profit generating; enough with short-sighted initiatives and pandering to developers. This is city land that should benefit its citizens.