Edmonton City Centre Airport information available online
Edmonton City Centre Airport information available
online
August 19, 2010 (Edmonton, Alta.)-Edmonton Airports has updated
several of the ECCA briefing notes used during last year's public
consultation process and has made these available online.
To download the complete briefing notes package, click
here.
These briefing notes provide a range of background information
on various aspects of ECCA operations and economic impact and the
phased transition of the airport lands. The notes also address
alternate arrangements for general aviation and air ambulance
services.
For your convenience, outlined below are the key messages for
each of the primary issues related to the phased closure of
ECCA:
1. Consolidation
was required and has worked; we are investing $1B at EIA based on
consolidation.
- a. Also investing $20M at
EIA for GA
- b. Also investing up to $3M
at Villeneuve for GA
2. Scheduled
service concludes at ECCA in 2012.
- a. Even now, the
limited schedule service allowed at ECCA is not used to near its
capacity; for example, in June 2010 only 7.8% of allowable
scheduled seats were used.
- b. As of August 1,
scheduled traffic from Grande Prairie and Peace River was operating
at ECCA. High Level and Fort McMurray, which are both permitted
scheduled service, had no such service.
3. ECCA provides
services to a small number of specific users; it does not provide
significant service to the North.
- a. 41% of flight
movements were flight training, for example.
- b Flights from
and to Calgary International Airport rank as the third-highest user
of ECCA, after ECCA itself (flights originating from and returning
to ECCA - primarily the flying school) and Fort
McMurray.
- c. Access to
and from the North is excellent at EIA, which is the region's
primary airport serving the North. Passengers currently using ECCA
can be easily accommodated at EIA. In addition, driving to key
business areas from EIA can differ by as little as 10 minutes
compared to ECCA.
4. One runway is
closed at ECCA. This does NOT mean closure or change in use of
ECCA. The airport remains fully operational. Many airports around
the world operate with one runway; Kelowna and Gatwick, for
example. Additionally, many of the airports where flights to ECCA
originate only have one runway and quite a few have no navigational
aids.
5. The City
continues developing its vision for development of the airport
lands. Currently, five international firms have been selected to
develop their vision for a redeveloped green site.
6. Air ambulance
service is NOT required to transition from ECCA UNTIL full
transition plans and infrastructure are completed, by the Province
of Alberta.
- a. Therefore air
ambulance services continue operating out of ECCA.
- b. Alberta
Health Services is responsible for air ambulance services
throughout Alberta and continues to work with EA and other health
stakeholders to develop appropriate plans for the eventual
transition of air ambulance from ECCA to EIA.
- i. When the
transition occurs, EIA - like other airports including Calgary
International - will support a safe, efficient air ambulance
system. For example, for the very small subset of air ambulance
patients who are time sensitive, rotary transfers to hospital will
be used instead of ground transfers, as they are at other
airports.
- ii. U of A Hospital
is the primary trauma hospital in Edmonton - approximately 8
minutes further by ground ambulance. Helicopter transport time from
EIA to U of A hospital is just 12 minutes; from EIA to Royal
Alexandra Hospital is 13 minutes.
- iii. Majority of red cases
are flown directly by STARS, who have bases in Grande Prairie,
Calgary and Edmonton. Example, August 7 weekend, automobile crash
in Grande Prairie - person flown directly to U of A Hospital by
STARS.
- iv. Use of jets versus
turbo props will significantly impact time: actual transportation
time for fixed wing air ambulance is a small portion of total
decision making and patient stabilization time.
-30-
Media inquiries:
Traci Bednard
Communications
p. 780 890 8055
c. 780 909 9554
e. tbednard@flyeia.com
Sarah Meffen
Communications
p: 780 890 2434
c: 780 884 2966
e: smeffen@flyeia.com