Issue # 12 - February 2009
GTAA
April 2009 will mark the 5th anniversary for YYZ Airport Watch. During the past 5 years we have made significant
inroads to become a respected presence at YYZ. In order for the program to be successful a lot of planning and
discussion had to been done with our partners at the GTAA, Peel Regional Police, & RCMP. While there is still work
left to do we want to acknowledge one individual. Over the past 4 and a half years our liaison at the GTAA was
Director of Safety & Security, Mr. Jim Bertram. It was with Jim's assistance that YYZ Airport Watch became a reality.
In late 2008 Mr. Bertram was promoted to Executive Advisor, Safety & Security. The Airport Watch committee would like to thank Jim for
all his assistance and wish him well in his new position.
With Jim's promotion, the position of Director of Safety & Security and our new liaison is Debbie
Ciccotelli. We have had the pleasure of working with Debbie in the past on a couple of occasions and extend our
congratulations on this promotion. In each instance Debbie resolved the issue in a very professional and timely manner.
In order to assist Ms. Ciccotelli on the progress and status of YYZ Airport Watch, 3 of our committee directors had a meeting with
Debbie on February 2. A number of key points were addressed and the consensus is very positive. We outlined some of the benefits that
other airport watch chapters share and how we can work towards enjoying those rewards here in Toronto. One of the most frequent requests
we receive from our members has to do with organized airside tours of YYZ. Debbie acknowledged that it would be on the agenda during future
discussions. During the one hour meeting Debbie also mentioned the possibility of Airport Watch being granted use of a meeting facility at YYZ.
This could be used for monthly or quarterly functions such as slide shows, presentations, etc. Again this will be discussed in more detail
at our next meeting with Debbie.
Peel Regional Police
In preparing this newsletter we contacted Peel Police and asked if there are any concerns or comments they wish
us to convey to all members. They report no specific issues at this time and just advised us to remind all to
keep our eyes and ears open. We'd like to thank Sgt. Al Gorrill and his staff for their continued support.
Visiting Other Airports
With the growth of the airport watch program some of our members have asked whether there are any arrangements
for members that visit other airports. The simple answer is no. There has been no formal agreement between the
various airport authorities to honour and recognize ID from other airport watch groups. If members travel to
an airport with an airport watch program it is best that you contact the committee who can put you in touch with
local members who can act as guides. It should be noted that when visiting other airports, you are not to wear
your airport watch cap, jacket, and/or t-shirts as this can and has caused misrepresentation issues. By all means
carry your ID card with you, but until formal agreements are in place it's best to avoid using the YYZ gear.
Members Activity Logs
During the 2008 calendar year members of YYZ Airport Watch reported 8462 hours at YYZ. This is over 1000 hours
more then 2007. A very encouraging sign. Since we implemented the airport activity reporting program in February 2006
we have recorded 21685 hours. An Honourable mention goes out to member Chris Sundberg who reported a total of 948
hours during 2008. Chris is out at YYZ almost daily in his usual spot in the infield area. All members are encouraged
to report their hours, however many or few they may be. It is very simple to do,
just visit the Members Activity Logs page.
2009 Annual General Meeting
How time flies. It seems like only yesterday that
members of YYZ Airport Watch gathered at the Canadian
Air & Space Museum (formerly Toronto Aerospace Museum)
for our 2nd annual general meeting. This years AGM took
place on Saturday February 7th, and it was a record turn
out. 82 members attended this years meeting. Please
click here to read the 2009 AGM journal.
Tours & Events
As we slowly inch towards spring and an increase in spotting activity, the YYZ committee are actively working on
tours for the upcoming spring and summer months. With the help of our members who provided a myriad of suggestions,
the committee is working hard to organize a number of tours. At this time we can say that Bombardier and the Pearson
Airport Control tower are two of the tours that are in the organization stages. Members will receive announcements
as each tour is organized and approved. Remember to visit our
Tours & Events page for journals of past tours.
National Airport Watch Update
Here we grow again... Those that have followed the
progress of the Airport Watch program will know that it
all began 10 years ago at the Ottawa/MacDonald-Cartier
Int'l Airport (YOW). As the official 10th anniversary
approaches in Ottawa, we are pleased to announce that
Montreal (YUL) and Minneapolis (MSP) have joined our
ranks and officially launched an airport watch program.
The Montreal airport watch program is unique in that it
actually encompasses two airports, YUL and YMX. Although
traffic at YMX is not what it once was, it does offer
some interesting spotting opportunities. The Montreal
committee are meeting authorities to finalize issues
such as sign up procedures, website, etc. As we learn
more we will update the information.
Switching to MSP, the following is an excerpt from the
official announcement that appeared in the January 23,
2009 MAC (MSP-Metropolitan Airports Commission) Update.
MSP's new "Airport Watch" program takes flight.
Beginning next Wednesday, don't be alarmed if you begin
seeing individuals adorned in matching grey hats, shirts
and jackets, with large cameras around their necks,
walking the perimeter of the airport. They are simply
members of an exciting new program from the Airport
Police Department - "the MSP Airport Watch" program.
Airport Police Sergeant Al Cooper heads up the team that
created and oversees the program, which was founded in
November of 2008. The program is similar to
neighbourhood watch programs and modeled after "airport
spotter" programs that began in Canada.
To read the full announcement and for more details,
please Click here (note Acrobat Reader is required to
view this file).
We wish to congratulate all parties associated with
getting the programs going in YUL/YMX and MSP and
welcome them to the Airport Watch family. On the horizon
are Vancouver (YVR), Seattle (SEA) and Sydney (SYD)
Australia all of whom are still in the organization
stages. We will post updates and contact information
when available for those interested in joining.
YYZ in 2008
YYZ played host to some rare and first time visiting
aircraft in 2008. We have put together a gallery
featuring some of the sights from the past year at
Pearson Airport. This is by no means a complete list,
but rather a small capsule of some of our favorites.
Please click here to access the photo gallery.
Pearson Airport Firefighters Donation
YYZ Airport Watch has formed a strong bond with the
Pearson Airport Firefighters. Our group was privileged
to be given 2 exceptional tours of the GTAA north fire
hall. Those that attended can attest to the gracious
reception we received by our hosts. On both occasions we
were given a real insight into the job these
firefighters do, putting in on the line to help and
protect us. It was without hesitation that upon learning
of the personal battle Firefighter Dave Patterson's son
Tucker was going through, that we decided to do our part
and help out. A cash donation was made in trust to the
Pearson Airport Professional Firefighters Association on
behalf of all members of YYZ Airport Watch. To read more
about Tucker Patterson please visit this link.
Millardair's Last Piston Heavies Gone
Story and Photos by Andrew H. Cline
Two icons at Pearson International in Toronto have been
reduced to scrap. The Douglas DC-4s owned by Millardair
Ltd. of Mississauga, ON are undoubtedly the longest
residents at Pearson International Airport, and neither
have flown in over 15 years. A 2007 attempt to restore
Douglas DC4 C-GQIA (C54B-1-DC, c/n 10464 / 195, built
1944) to airworthy condition was halted when it was
determined that airframe corrosion in the centre spar
had gone beyond economical repair. It was broken up in
August 2008. Both airframes were scrapped on site at
Pearson, the last being C-GDWZ (C54D-1-DC) (c/n 10636 /
367) which was broken up in early October.
Carl Millard started commercial operations in 1963 as
Millardair Ltd., based at Malton Airport (now Pearson
International) in Toronto. Millard acquired six DC-4s
from American surplus military stocks in 1976. He added
two ex-Royal Danish Air Force DC-4s in 1979. They were
operated alongside Millardair’s fleet of DC-3s and
C-117s. They largely served the automotive industry
ferrying components around Southern Ontario and the
Northern US. As business diminished in the late 1980s
they were withdrawn from use, Millardair ceased
operations in May 1990. The fleet was dispersed and
several languished in open storage at Toronto and
Picton. The last two DC-4s were offered to the Toronto
Aerospace Museum and the Museum of Flight in Seattle who
unfortunately declined due to space requirements and
more pressing projects. Many parts were recovered,
however. The Toronto Aerospace Museum received some
relics, and the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
benefited by the donation of a large store of spares
from Millard. The foundation operates the first DC-4
that Millard acquired, C-GQIB (c/n 27370 / 316, now
N500EJ) as a C-54E called the "Spirit of Freedom" on the
airshow circuit each year. The Canadair Northstar
restoration project at the Canada Aviation Museum in
Ottawa also received a good supply of spare parts.
Please click here to see Andrew's photos. |
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A Little Note
Welcome to a long overdue issue #12. Please accept our sincere apologies for the lapse in publishing a newsletter on a
regular basis. We recognize that it is important to report the latest activities in a timely manner and we will do our
very best to meet this criteria. In order to help promote not only the Airport Watch program, but give a greater insight
to the hobby, we hope to add more reader submitted articles that feature the wide ranging facets of our hobby. While the
common bond that ties our hobby together is spending time at the airport watching aircraft, the advent of newer technology
has opened a number of doors for the aviation enthusiast. Digital communications such as ACARS and SBS-1 (real time
virtual radar) have brought an entirely new dimension to the hobby. Flight simulators have gone from the desktop computer
to full scale cockpit mockups providing an even greater realism. Aviation photography remains very popular, a visit to
websites such as Airwayphotos.net or Airliners.net will keep one busy for hours viewing some stunning works. Aviation
collectables such as die-cast scale models remain popular. Some have even gone to the extreme of building scale
dioramas of airports to accompany their ever expanding fleets. The limits to our hobby are almost as endless as the
open skies around us. As the world of aviation moves forward, so does the hobby. Along with the current events of
Airport Watch, we intend to bring a little more of a personal touch to our newsletter by encouraging enthusiasts to
tell their story. In order to do this we invite our members to submit articles of interest to be included in future
newsletters. Without further ado, on to the news.
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