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20th Anniversary Celebration!

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Airport Watch at YYZ!

Airport Watch member Michael Yaneff gave us a great overview of what it takes to livestream from YYZ on YouTube as Wake Turbulence Aviation. Turns out it takes a boatload of cash, just like any hobby! Peel Regional Police Constable John Hillie spoke about the relationship between PRP and APW, how we provide a valuable service to not only PRP but also the GTAA, and provided good advice for dealing with scofflaws we may see around the airport: Observe, Record, Report! And, as promised, there was cake!

For those in attendance, there was also free swag. Both Rob and Paul have extras so if you didn’t get yours, stop us if you see us at YYZ and we’ll gladly hand one out. (Current members only.)

Also, we promised an added bonus at a great price: Airport Watch 20th Anniversary baseball caps for just $10! We both have some of those leftover as well so again stop us and we’ll gladly sell you one. (Current members only.)

Here’s to many more years!

Obituary

Peter Ivakitsch

By Andy Cline

Peter Ivakitsch. Photo by Andrew H. Cline.

One of the three founding directors of YYZ Airport Watch, our friend Peter Ivakitsch has sadly passed away.  He jointly created Toronto’s Airport Watch chapter along with Brian Dunn and Andy Cline in 2004.  Before that he and Brian worked hard on a petition to get GTAA to establish official spotting areas at Pearson. His organizational skills and imagination were a driving force for the formation of YYZ Airport Watch, and he was the administrator and a board member until passing the torch in 2010. 

Peter was a pioneer in another area, he built an impressive website called Canadian Aeronautical Communications (canairadio.com) which is an authoritative site covering many aspects of airband radio locally as well as nationally.  Pete was a radio expert and spent endless hours listening. 

He was very passionate about his aviation hobbies: airband radio, aircraft spotting, and collecting diecast DC-8 models. He was also a very talented musician, playing bass with several cover bands over the years.  His favorite bands were Rush, Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden as the below image by Tom Kim will attest.  

Peter Ivakitsch (left) with Don McKay in front of Iron Maiden’s Ed Force One.
Photo by Tom Kim.

Although he didn’t visit Pearson much in recent years, his sense of humour and laugh will be missed from the spotting scene. Pete was easily recognizable with his trademark pony tail (he’s in the band!), and usually wearing Arsenal Football Club gear. 

Peter tragically suffered a heart attack in his sleep on May 17, 2020, and never awakened. We must thank him for his selfless efforts to improve spotting at YYZ. Rock On and Blue Skies Pete!

Obituary

Brian Dunn, 72

The YYZ aviation enthusiast community has lost one of its best known and most inspiring spotters. Brian Dunn passed away on July 23rd at the age of 72 after a long illness.

(c) copyyright Andrew H. Cline 2013

Brian was an Air Canada passenger services / operations employee from 1969-2003.  He subsequently became a gate planner with GTAA until 2010 and later a GTAA Welcome Team volunteer. Brian went to great lengths to bring the YYZ spotting community together for as long as any of us can remember. Many will remember him as one of the three founding Directors of YYZ Airport Watch and for many years Brian maintained the YYZ News blog / web page, a treasure trove of aviation news and fleet information, and perhaps the first online gallery of local enthusiast photographs.

In 1973 he spearheaded the creation of the Ontario Aviation Enthusiasts’ Society, putting together and distributing the OAES newsletter with other local spotters, often assembling it with the help of his young son Rob in the kitchen. It became North American Aviation News (NAAN) in 1976 as interest and subscriptions grew and movement reports came in from other enthusiasts across the continent.

These outlets helped Brian spread the word about Toronto aviation, bringing countless people into the hobby over the years. He gained the nickname ‘The Colonel’ for his leadership and drive to get things done, though he was never in the military.

Brian can be credited with selflessly connecting a nucleus of Pearson enthusiasts, which snowballed over the years, and which will hopefully perpetuate his efforts and memory for many years into the future. Blue skies, Brian.

Obituary

STEVE MEANEY

We  have some sad news to report. Long time member of YYZ Airport Watch Steve Meaney has passed away.  Steve was a stalwart participant in the group, and was one of the first 100 members.  He had valiantly fought severe medical problems for several years. He could often be seen spotting at Runway 05 on his breaks from work at Princess Auto, and on the weekends with his buddies in his lounge chair with a cooler beside him at Director`s Gate.  His friendly east coast demeanor was contagious, as was his jovial sense of humor.  He will be missed by all who knew him   There are no funeral arrangements, however, a memorial service may take place at a later date.  We will forward details if this transpires.

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UPDATE ON AGM

It has been a busy winter for many of the YYZ executive, and many changes will soon be transpiring within the group.  For this reason, combined with many personal commitments, the AGM has not yet been scheduled, and obviously will not be held this weekend, when it usually is each year.   As soon as we to sort out the changes, the meeting will be scheduled and the group will be advised at the earliest possible date. We apologize for not sending out notification earlier.   If anyone has ideas for the AGM, or possible guest speaker presentations, please contact Andy at andrew.cline@sympatico.ca

Obituary

Derek Horsey

It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce the passing of YYZ Airport Watch member and former Tour Director Derek Horsey.  Derek fought a long and valiant battle with cancer but unfortunately he succumbed on Saturday October 29th.  Those that knew Derek know what a true gentleman he was, and his characteristic British sense humour and staunch enthusiasm for the hobby were legendary.  Derek, who originally hailed from England had many stories to share of aviation in it’s glory years. His role as Tours Director for YYZ Airport Watch saw him organizing virtually every event we have participated in as a group in recent years.  He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.  We know that you will share in sending our condolences to his family.  Derek has been cremated, and as per his wishes, there are no plans for a funeral or memorial service.  Obituary

 

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GTAA and City of Mississauga announce new viewing facility

It has been a good year for spotting and some interesting developments.  The newest on the spotting scene has been GTAA’s announcement in conjunction with the City of Mississauga of a new aircraft viewing facility at the newly developed Danvile Park.  This is located on a series of large hills on the west side of Highway 410 between Courtneypark and the 401. The park is a City of Miississauga initiative, which GTAA has kindly supported by donating $300,000 to create a pavilion which will afford a good, although distant view of Pearson to the east.  It is located approximately midway between the approach for runway 05 and 06L, and aircraft on arrival can be seen but only from a long distance, and unfortunately can only be photographed with very long telephoto lenses or heavy cropping of the images.  GTAA is hoping the park will increase awareness of the airport and it’s role in the community with the general public which will use the park. It also features cricket pitches, toboggan hill, dog park and other attractions.

GTAA also installed an indoor viewing area at the west end of the renovated Terminal 3 Pier (airside) in 2015.  it includes stabilised binoculars and interpretive panels. These moves address the general public’s casual interest in aviation in Toronto, but unfortunately do little to address the case for official viewing areas on the periphery of Pearson itself, which would obviously be preferred by enthusiasts such as ourselves. Future plans may include the establishment of other viewing areas at Pearson according to a GTAA spokesperson.  YYZ Airport Watch will happily provide information, suggestions and support for any GTAA spotting area initiatives as required.

YYZ Airport Watch Committee Director Andy Cline commented on the new park in an interview with Global News last week.

GTAA provides more information on their website.

 

Upcoming Events

Upcoming event – CAHS Dinner Sunday May 1

From John Bertrand:

I am sending out this “Last Chance” flyer to anyone who may not yet have heard about the very special annual dinner meeting being held this May 1st by the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society..

This year, TWO guests will be in attendance to show and discuss examples of their work, and each gentleman has some extremely impressive work to discuss…

cahs

But since it would now be cutting it too close to try and mail in a cheque + a printed form, if you’d like to reserve a last-minute spot please send me a reply at  jb@jbmg.ca (or call 416-702-2486), or better still, contact Sheldon Benner (who’s overseeing the total guest list and meal selections) at 416-923-3414 (e-mail:  cahsnatmem67@sympatico.ca)

If you are considering attending, don’t delay — since the final tally for food and seating has to be confirmed in advance.

 

 

Spotting

Iron Maiden 747-400 at YYZ

 

im747

story and photo by Danilo Cekrdzin

On April 2,2016 an Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-400 registration TF-AAK arrived at Toronto from Montreal. The famous British rock band Iron Maiden leased the aircraft for its latest Book of Souls tour. The jet was piloted by the leader of the band, Bruce Dickinson, a licenced ATP pilot who also works for Air Atlanta. It was custom painted in an eye catching colour scheme as ‘Ed Force One’ featuring IRON MAIDEN titles and the band’s mascot ‘Eddy’ on the tail.  A group of about 60 Pearson aviation enthusiasts gathered on top of a parking garage on Airport road to photograph the arrival. There was a tense moment for the entire the group while waiting for runaway assignment for the aircraft, but that soon turned into joy as Runway 23 was announced. When it landed it turned left off the runway and taxied back on taxiway Hotel and runaway 15 towards the Signature North Lounge. It was pushed into the tight space by an airport tug. It was greeted by large crowds of Iron Maiden fans who significantly outnumbered the aviation enthusiasts and were seen around the North Lounge fence line for the rest of the weekend.  The aircraft remained parked there until April 4 when it departed to Detroit for its next gig.

Promoting airport security through the eyes of enthusiasts