Boeing, an American builder of aircraft, estimates that the increasing demand for flying will require 44,000 additional commercial planes during the next 20 years. These new planes will be added to the current fleet of about 25,500 presently serving the flying public. Of course, Boeing expects to build a generous portion of these planes, while competing with Airbus and a rising Chinese aviation industry.
Continue reading The Quadra Project – Flying Into the FutureTag Archives: Airplanes
SRD Asking Transport Canada About The Cortes Island Landing Strip
There were questions about what can be accomplished, but the SRD will be asking Transport Canada about the safety requirements, noise levels and frequency of planes using the Cortes Island Airstrip.
At their May 22 meeting, Cortes Island Director Mark Vonesch told the SRD Board:
“There is an airstrip on Cortes Island that’s been there for a long time. A new buyer bought the land and has been upgrading the runway significantly. I’ve heard numbers: allegedly a thousand gravel trucks. They’re paving it and there’s a big concern from the community regarding: safety issues, what kind of planes can now land, frequency of planes that can now land, whether they need permission from the owner to be able to land. And also further gentrification of Cortes Island as it becomes more accessible.”
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Battling the blaze from the air
By Mark Brett, Penticton Herald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Greg Adams is tasked with the aerial choreography of fighting wildfires with the ultimate goal of bringing his pilots home safe.
As an air attack officer for the BC Wildfire Service, he sits in the often bumpy front seat of the lead, bird dog aircraft to plot out the plan of attack on the unpredictable, fiery enemy below.
“Our primary role in the bird dog is make sure the tankers can safely deliver the retardant we’re asking them to deliver,” said Adams, 49, who formerly rappelled from helicopters as a frontline firefighter.
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It’s not Christmas on B.C.’s rugged coast without a visit from the Goose
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Even Scrooge knows a goose is essential to celebrate Christmas.
And that rings equally true for folks living and working on B.C.’s rugged Central Coast, who also depend on a goose for yuletide spirit.
Like Santa’s sleigh — and sporting the same signature red-and-white colour scheme — a “flock” of Grumman Goose aircraft brave rain, sleet and snow to get people and presents home for the holidays.
From Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, Wilderness Seaplanes operates the last commercial fleet of the historic aircraft, which fly year-round and act as a lifeline for more than 50 villages, resorts and work camps along the West Coast.
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How telephones came to Cortes Island
According to Lynne Jordan, former president of the Cortes Island Museum, there have been telephones on Cortes Island for more than 110 years. They arrived in 1910, along with telegraphs, but only in the stores.
“Telegrams were really cheap. They were so much for 10 words and so much for 100 words. People got really good at confining their messages to 10 words. Telegraphs that came in for people were just put in an envelope and then pinned on the bulletin board at the store. Then they either had to check themselves or a friend would tell them that there was a message there for them,” she said.
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