Planned runway closure raises fears about safety LOCAL PILOTS aren’t happy with a Transport Canada plan to close one of two runways at the Terrace-Kitimat Airport. The runway is called 03/21 and runs al an angle to the main 15-33 one commonly used by large and small aircraft. ~ meee But 03/21 is just as important because it provides another land- ing option when winds blow across the main runway, says lo- cal Qying school operator Mike Mohr. He’s done a check of local weather records and found that there are cross winds about 20 per cent of the time at the airport. In turn, aboul 20 per cent of the cross winds are strong enough to make landing a light aircraft dangerous, Mohr added. “I’m not saying ’m aa expert on the weather statistics, but [ am speaking with 20 years as an in- structor and a bush pilot,’’ said Mohr. “This is known to be one of the windier areas around here for flight training,’’ he added. What typically happens, said Mohr, is a shift in the wind throughout the course of the day as different weather systems move through the area. That means the main runway may be fine for landing in the moming and ruled out later that day. “There is a plan to reduce the number of runways in use at Ter- tace. If a runway is not utilized a great deal, it’s eligible for closure,’’ airport manager Darryl Laurent said last week. The planned closure date is Aug. 18, after which time the run- way will be tumed into a taxiway. While. Laurent didn’t disagree with 03/21 being useful, he said the airport has to look al ways of cutting its spending. “Tf you look at the number of people who annually use it, you start to ask is it worth it,’ Laurent added, He estimated that of 100 flights a month, three or less land on 03/21, ‘Unless there’s a really strong with Mattresses Rag, $749 ONLY eS trate * Complete Bunk Bed set ‘399 * Flip-Flop Hide-A-Beds ay oak MIKE MOHR is one of a group of local pilats worried about the closure of one of two runways at the airport. Winds blowing across the airport's main runway can be dangerous to light aircraft, making the second runway a welcome option. crosswind, the runway seldom gets used,’’ said Laurent He declined to confirm ..a projected annual savings of ap- proximately $20,000 a year if the runway was closed. Another one of those unhappy with the prospect of the runway closing is James Gilham, «an ‘ organizer of the local air search and rescue group. “As it is, that. runway isn’t maintained for five months-in the winter,’’. said Gilham. ‘So. if you're looking at figurés, you have to remember they. aren’t for 12 months of the year.’ He said search and rescue light aircraft could be grounded during windy weather, “We're safety minded at all limes. Without being able to launch or to land would be a big problem,’’ Gilham added, One. of the more obvious: is search and rescue aiteraft having to-ensure they have extra fuel in case they have to go’ to another airport to land. ; That would cut down their sear- ching time, Gilham said. **This is a false economy. If we _ can’t fly, a Buffalo would have to come up from Comox and that - would cost money,” he said, Dave Parker, the chairman of the local airport advisory com- mittee, said it doesn’t yet have an opinion on the planned closure. “We want ta hear from users, to hear what their opinions are,”’ said Parker, Deficit help sought THE SCHOOL DISTRICT is looking for help to pay for the op- eration of the REM. Lee Theatre. ‘The theatre ran a $65,000 deficit in the last year, all of which was picked up by the schoo] district, The issue came up at a recent * 7 piece Bedroom My Gramma couldn't believe the money she saved when she bought her new furniture at Lakelse Liquidation. They have the best prices in town because they're Factory Direct. That means the nice guys at Lakelse Liquidation can offer my Gramma lower prices with no middle-man costs. meeting between city and school board representatives. School district ~— secretary- treasurer Barry Piersdorff said one possibility is for contribu- tions ta the theatre’s operations to be made by the city of Terrace and the Kitimat-Stikine: regional district. se The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 18, 1994 - A3 News In Brief Police counterattack TERRACE RCMP have begun their annual spring search for drink- ing drivers. . The spring CounterAttack campaign got underway May 14 and continues unlil May 24, just after the long weekend, Last year Terrace RCMP checked 2,570 vehicles and charged 14 people with impaired driving. A further 15 people were given 24- hour licence suspensions and another 152 people were charged with other motor vehicle offences. Gitksan course on display EDUCATION MINISTER Art Charbonneau is to visit a Gitksan language immersion program at Gilwangak May 31. The program divides more than 40 children inte twa age groups — two to four and five to 11. It’s sponsored by the Gitwangak Edu- cation Society and has been going for six years. Society official Katie Johnson says the program offers the equiva- lent to a Grade 4 education and can serve as a model for other areas. Tag! This bear’s it! AS MANY as 72 bears wearing ear tags are out roaming the great northwest and the provincial government wants to know where they area. The bears wear red or yeilow identification tags and were relo- caled over the past three years because of their potential conflict with humans. Knowing where those tagged bears are provides the environment ministry with valuable information. The bears, including 10 grizzlies, were relocated from Burns Lake in the cast to Prince Rupert in the west to Morice Lake in the south to Meziadin Lake in the north, When you spot or have hunted such a bear, phone the local conservation office. Four arrested for theft FOUR YOUTHS were arrested May 9 in connection with the theft of a car stolen in Williams Lake. RCMP said all four are facing charges of possession of stolen property. They are also to face charges for other offences that took place in Williams Lake. Rick King remembered RICK KING, a city councillor killed last fall in an automobile acci- dent, is going to be remembered by the Terrace Beautification Society. As part of its annual planting of flowers in concrete tubs around the city, the society will put a plaque on one of the tubs in front of Safeway, said society member George Clark. ‘‘He was council’s representative on the society and a good Friend of the society,”’ said Clark. The society is also going to plant a tree on the arena hilt in King’s memorty and place a plaque on the large rock on the top of the hill. May 28 is the day the sociely will be putting Howers in approxi- mately 170 tubs around the city. ‘Phone if you spot a fire TI'S THE forest fire season again and that means laking care in the woods, . 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