Al6 Terrace Review — Wednesday, October 17, 1990

Thrills on the runway

by Tod Strachan

Many people complain about the air service in the Terrace-Kitimat area. Almost everyone has taken one of our famous three-hour bus - rides home from Prince Rupert or Smithers after a one-hour flight from Vancouver.

It’s frustrating, there’s no doubt. But real Terrace boosters say it’s not really all that bad. It could and does, they say, happen at every other airport in the land. Chronic complainers, though, say: that’s utter nonsense. "I could see the runway," they say. “It’s all a devious plan to discourage us so we won't complain when they cut the service.” .

This ongoing argument may

~ finally have been settled. It’s true. These pilots that fly into our area every day are good. They can land almost any way, under almost any circumstances, Any chronic com- plainers that were on a Terrace bound Canadian Airlines Boeing 737+ =«last «Thursday moming, though, may have changed their minds about the wisdom of landing when things are touch and go.

Ending a relatively pleasant journey by travelling down the runway sideways at a speed of well over 100 miles an. hour is not a pleasant experience. Complainers might now be saying, "The bus ride is kind of nice. Gives you a chance to see the country..."

Five members of the Premier's Advisory Council on Science and Technology were on that flight and they agree. The bus ride can be a pleasant experience. At the same time, though, they give top marks to their Canadian Airlines pilot. When the going gets tough it’s kind of nice to know the guy up front, the guy who has your life in his hands, can handle the aircraft

like a sports car,

In disjointed union, the Premier’s Advisory Council described their experience to the Terrace Review. It was an ordinary flight; even the part where visibility was a little

_ short at-the Terrace airport. The pilot aborted his approach, headed for Smithers, and passengers began to. contemplate the inevitable bus ride. They were supposed to be in

Terrace at 10 a.m. but now it would be more like 1 p.m.

The landing in Smithers was alright. The weather was nice. And the pilot had some good news... He was going to take another shot at a Terrace landing; everyone just might be in Terrace before junch.

No such luck, however. Terrace was still socked in and passengers were told they were Smithers bound once more, And this time, it was the bus for sure.

In the few minutes since they had left Smithers, however, the weather had changed. It was snow- ing, “a blizzard", and there was slush on the runway. Visibility was

poor, so the pilot came in high;

apparently to locate the runway.

“This done, he circled and began

‘his approach. Too high again. And this is where the excitement began.

Everyone was a little tense. Two missed approaches and you begin to wonder what's going to happen

next. Well, the one thing the pilot doesn’t want-to do, apparently, is

lose sight of the ground. There was a cliff off the right wing tip. The plane was in a left bank; “I think to keep the wing from hitting the cliff." The left bank becomes steeper; "Trees were flashing by... We were too low to be flying." Finally, another approach. And a Janding... "What the heck... When we hit the runway we knew it wasn’t going to be a crash land- ing." But that feeling didn’t last long. Reverse thrust... brakes. And

the plane was sideways... Some-.

thing wasn’t equal. Eventually, the aircraft slid to a halt, "and the lights at the end of the runway were right under the end of th wing." Welcome to Smithers. There was a “long” silence —

given the situation, though, “long” doesn’t necessarily mean very many seconds. And then the pilot spoke: "You may have noticed a couple of brisk maneuvers," recalls one member of the council. "But we didn’t have any choice. We were getting low on fuel." Again, however, the council had nothing but praise for the pilot. "He followed the rules," said one. And as for the rules, commercial flights .are supposed to carry enough fuel for their planned desti- nation as well as.an alternate plus 40 minutes flying time. for safety.

Nothing was said, but the next:

recommendation of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Science and

’ Technology may be that the rules be examined for flaws.

T WAREHOUSE OPERATION

(AH no commission SALES STAFF

HA nocostiy F

NO MEMBERSHIP FEE

RILLS OR GIMMICKS

ow as 1/2

NDOUS

4650 Keith Avenue Terrace Phone: 635-4111

~ Bomb threat delays

Terrace departure |

Canadian Airlines International passengers booked on an evening flight from Terrace to Vancouver last Thursday had an unexpected delay of nearly six hours. A bomb threat, apparent- ly phoned from Terrace to the Canadian Airlines Vancouver office, delayed the 8:25. p.m. scheduled take-off time to 2:15 a.m. Friday morning.

Airport manager Darryl Laurent says the 119 passengers

‘on the flight were asked to get ‘off the aircraft and move to an

isolated location In the Terrace terminal while all luggage and cargo was unloaded by a Cana- dian Airlines ground crew. Pas-

sengers then claimed their per- sonal luggage and each was interviewed by an RCMP officer before being allowed to return to the normal airport security check in groups of 20.

After receiving security clear- ance, passengers were asked to carry their own luggage onto the

' tarmac and place it by the alr-

craft befere boarding. As one pfroup finished, another began the security routine. With all

-passengers back on board, crews —

re-loaded the luggage and cargo

and the flight left Terrace with |

119 passengers, six hours behind schedule.

[O pinect FACTORY PURCHASES (A tuce MANUFACTURERS’ DISCOUNTS VOLUME DEALER - LOW PROFITS

LARGE SELECTION OF BRAND NAMES

SAVINGS!

those of regular i _

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday

Closed Sunday

LO a.m.-6 p.m.

TR ee

pepres

= Es

ee ee eget tacts rata Fee revatio die