Firefighter requirement puts | heavy cost on local airport By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN THE NORTHWEST Re- gional airport could be adding a hefty bill to its operating costs as new federal legislation requires ‘it start up an airport fire . fighting service. ’. The new regulation was. introduced June 19 and re- quires 25 mid-sized Cana- dian airports to introduce fire fighting services called Aircraft Emergency Intervention Services (AEIS) within the next two years, including Terrace. It applies to airports that handle more than 2,800 passenger flights per year by aircraft that seat 20 or more passengers. Airport manager Rick Reed said adding fire ser- .vice at the airport will be an extremely costly ven- ture. He said the airport is a break-even business as it is and adding expensive fire fighting services is not economically feasible. Based on the new cri- teria, the airport is re- quired to have firefighters on duty when airliners ar- rive and depart. Transport Canada says it will cover the cost of a -new fire engine ~ estima- ted at $300,000 — plus in- itial fire fighting training. ~~ Transport Canada esti- mates ongoing operational costs at $35,000 for each SCENES SUCH ag this one from the 1990s featuring airport firefighter Mark Kennedy with firefighting vehiclas could once again be a fixture at the local air- port thanks to a new federal. requirement. FILE PHOTO Lots Of Packs For Back To School & Mashroom Picking. Come in & See Our New Inventory! tor of aerodrome safety, said the regulation is draf- ted in such a way that people such as baggage handlers, maintenance people or other staff al- ready working at the air- parts could also act as firefighters. “I believe that there are a number of personnel at the airport that are capable of taking this training and doing a good job in the case of an emergency,” said Maxwell, “We have assumed it would take 10-14 hours a week for personnel to do duties specifically related to the provision of the AEIS service.” Members of the airline industry are not happy about the regulation, “It's our position that Transport Canada should ~ be paying for all incre- mental costs including ca- pital and operations,” said Curtis Grad, the chair of the airports committee for the B.C. Aviation Council. The council also charges the federal pov- etament scrapped airport fire services just prior to selling them off in 1998-99 to make the transfer less costly. “Essentially when these airports were transferred, they were transferred with a very attractive business plan that did not include or incorporate the cost of fire protection,” Grad said. “And then, six months later, the regulator turns fundamentally changing the business. It’s around bad faith bargaining.” e BACKPACKS «TENTS « SLEEPING BAGS « But Maxwell said indu- stry representatives were consulted and their com- ments were considered be- minister David Coilenette made the decision to implement the fore transport new regulation, The fire fighting service at Terrace’s airport here was eliminated at the end of 1998 when Transport Canada still owned the airport. It cost $300,000 per year and employed six firefighters. SGHOOL WeRM NEW LOOK Sit at the head of the class this year with your, Grade A New Hair Style. 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The two-engine Dulch-German aircraft ' “You can estimate just are considered too old and too inefficient. for budgeting purposes that Air Canada has gradually been retiring "a new employee will cost the aircraft and there are only five left in you at least $50,000, in- service as it is, Jazz official Dennis Er- cluding benefits.” ickson said last week. They'll be replaced If the airport were to by increased use of British-made, four-en- hire three or four dedicated gine Bae-146 jet aircraft and by Dash 8s. employees that cost could The Bae-146 aircraft is already used reach $200,000 —- money here and was a mainstay foraa.decade; when Air B.C., a predecessor to Jazz, flew here. . Reed said the airport sim- This month also brings a schedule HAIR * ESTHETICS # REFLEXOLOGY ELECTROLYSIS «© MASSAGE & BODY TREATMENTS ® TANNING e WAXING — change to Jazz in that there will be two flights a day to and from Vancouver com- pared to three during the summer. But they will be direct flights, and not routed through Prince Rupert as was the case during the summer, said Erickson. “We have been watching very closely and we believe for the market, the Bae- 146 will de just fine,” he Said. Jazz did introduce a7 a.m. flight out of Terrace (the return portion of a flight coming in from Vancouver the night be- fore) during the summer but abandoned it soon after... ... “Again, we're constantly. ‘looking at traffic patterns and we make changes ta fit the market,” Erickson said. ply does not have. But John Maxweil, Transport Canada’s direc- -4718-B LAZELLE AVENUE, TERRACE 635-4997 # 1-800-251-4997 Service Changes effective Aug 28 Starting Sept 1, we've made some schedule adjustments to offer you more seats, more trips and more destinations! | More Seats for Students! . ae * more direct service to Skeena Jr, Clarence Michiel Elementary and Caledonia Sr Secondary. 7 * new College Express trips from Southside, Birch Hill and Kalum Road direct to NW Community College. ¢ additional 2 City Shuttle trip to Birch Hill leaving Skeena Mall at . 4:50pm. oe e handyDART service is offered all day on weekdays. More Ways to Pay! #school students can now purchase a semester bus pass (a month pass) for a $10 savings. Available at City Hall and the Transit office. Family Pass: families with multiple school-age children can obtain 4 or more student monthly passes for, the price of 3. Available at City Hall. 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Olfer ends Septernber 30, 2002. For complete details, pick up a Rider's Guide or visit the website, www.busonline.ca . Sas Wherever Life Takes You... PUBLIC TRANSIT 633; 2008 Www. busonline. ca 4641 Keith Avenue . Terrace, BC V8G 1K4 (250) 635-4344 —