Big Bird Lands at YXS
Friday, July 13, 2012 @ 12:41 PM
Antonov 124 arrives on Apron 5 at YXS ( photo-Opinion250)
Prince George, B.C.- Boeing Road, at the north end of the Prince George Airport property, was lined with vehicles, as Prince George residents , packing cameras, turned out to get photos of the Antonov 124 landing at YXS.
The aircraft is the third largest aircraft in the world, and it was arriving in Prince George to pick up its cargo, seven helicopters from Vancouver Island Helicopters, bound for Angola.
Yes, the Antonov has been here before, in 1995, before the runway was extended, but back then, the Antonov was not carrying cargo, so the shorter runway was fine. Tomorrow, the new runway will mean the fully loaded Antonov will be able to successfully take off.
The only thing that would have made this an even more successful event would be if the new fuel storage tanks were ready to serve customers. “The tanks will be ready in August,” says John Gibson, CEO of the Prince George Airport “If the tanks were ready today, the Antonov wouldn’t need to make a stop in Edmonton to refuel.”
This is not the first time Vancouver Island Helicopters have shipped their choppers to Angola, Russ McGowan of VIH says they sent several over several years ago, and the Antonov 124 delivered them. At that time, the shipment was out of Vancouver. “This is an important contract for us for sure, we were over there in Angola in 2008, 2009 for about 12 months. We had 6 aircraft there in 2009, during the elections. This time, they’ll by flying election officials and equipment and supplies to towns and villages in the 18 provinces. We’ll be stationed at the provincial capital and flying to the villages and towns. Prince George is where the Bell 212 helicopters are based here and we have a hangar here. It just made sense because this is where our maintenance facility is.”
For YXS CEO John Gibson, the arrival could mean the beginning of new work with Russlan, the operator of the Antonov 124 “They do a lot of project work, so we’ve been in discussion with them as well because of the economic development in the region, for the transportation of equipment, mining equipment, pipeline equipment, whatever. They can bring it in to Prince George instead of having to take it into Edmonton or Vancouver and trucking it up. So for a project based business it’s really important for us.”
For those who missed witnessing the arrival of the Antonov today, they can catch it in action tomorrow when it leaves Prince George. The latest estimate of the departure is 1030 tomorrow morning.
There will be two more opportunities as the Antonov will return in about three months time to bring the choppers home.
Below, l-r Staff Sergeant Pat McTiernan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond, Mayor Shari Green, Sgt.Al Steinhauser, John Gibson President and CEO of YXS, in the rear, Cst. Matt Waroway (submitted photo)
Comments
In 95 the aircraft flew cargo in twice, compressors used on the natural gas pipeline. The runway length requirement is not as great when landing. When the runway was shorter it would not have been able get out with a load that heavy.
Anyone know what time it leaves tomorrow?
1100 am departure time
Thanks seamutt, I was about to correct the author about the compressors.
Wow.. What an event. Whatever happened to the air show? Now That was an event..
Have a great weekend.
Thanks getagripreally
Here are a few photos from this morning:
http://tinyurl.com/7yw4f6w
Here is a rumour, maybe someone has the facts. That 747 cargo jet that landed here awhile back could have made maybe three stops a month for fuel, but because its destination was Venezuela the feds were not going to allow fueling because of sanctions.
I am confused for why the politicians and RCMP are posing with the jet ? If anything it should be the company that hired the plane and the reason why it is here.
The RCMP were on site to direct all the traffic that was in the area. Once the folks left, they were offered the opportunity to pose for a photo, sort of a way to say thanks for their assistance today. Nice gesture, and the person who took the shot sent it to me to use. There were many “posed” photos, but none that showed the real cargo capacity of this jumbo.
Elaine Macdonald
Jeez Al, you look so short! LOL
Does anyone know if it is visible from the road overnight?
DooGood. The Air Show will be coming back, but it will be in Vanderhoof, where it originally started. This year will be a small event, (In August I think) and they hope to grow it after that.
Seamutt. There was something fishy about the Southern Air 747 that landed here in 2009. The original flight plan was South Korea to Pr George to Miami then Venezuela. Then it was changed to Japan, to Pr George to Miami, then Venezuela.,
As I understand the final flight was Japan to Anchorage, to Prince George to Miami, to Venezuela.
In any event seems there are rules in place that will not allow planes from South East Asia to fly over the USA without a stop at a US Airport, specifically in this case Anchorage Alaska.
In any event I think the whole thing was more of a publicity stunt. Southern Airlines are a huge airline leasing company. They basically supply planes and crew to various airlines as needed. I doubt if they actually have any set, direct, cargo traffic.
“there are rules in place that will not allow planes from South East Asia to fly over the USA without a stop at a US Airport”
Pull your toupee down a little tighter, I can see your tinfoil hat showing…
Stopping to refuel in Edmonton, eh? Just think of all the carbon tax they’re gonna save! Plus cheaper fuel!
The PG airport is one of 26 designated emergency landing areas for all aircraft larger than a 757 and it’s the primary reason why there is a fire department at the airport the airport got the emergency landing designation in the 1970’s during Trudeau’s reign.
Since that time there have been 5 747’s that have landed here the Antonov 124 has landed 3 times and 5 cargo jets and PG is only one of 8 airports in Canada designated as an emergency landing point for the airbus A380
Really ? I thought Transport Canada fire staffing requirements were based on length of aircraft and seating capability. If 737’s stop landing here……
Whoop’s….based on regular scheduled traffic.
Interceptor. If you know something (which is highly unlikely) that we dont, then feel free to elucidate.
If you think any airline can fly willy nilly over US Airspace your living in a dream world,. All Countrys have agreements, and in the case of the US, as far as I know, there is a rule or requirement that planes stop at a US Entry point.
I could be wrong, however so could you.
This might help explain US over flight rules and landing requirements which may include the desire to land in order to avoid overflight fees.
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ifim/airspace
Here are the fees for US overflight and US controlled Pacific overflight.
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/international_aviation/overflight_fees
We should take a page from that book to apply fees for oil and gas passing though BC from other provinces/countries that is not destined to stop in BC first in order to add value by refining, for instance.
;-)
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