Airport Authority Celebrates Anniversary
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 @ 12:30 PM
Anniversary cake on the left, while on the right, John Gibson and Les Waldie , honour Jim Blake – photos-250NEWS
Prince George, B.C.- It was party time at the Prince George Airport this afternoon as YXS celebrated it’s 10th anniversary of being under the operational wings of the Prince George Airport Authority.
Board Chair Jim Blake has been at the helm of that Airport Authority since day one, and was even busy in the three years leading up to the airport’s transfer from Transport Canada to the PGAA.
“It is interesting to note that each year Transport Canada ran this airport, it lost $1 million dollars a year” says Blake. “This year, we are posting a modest surplus of $400 thousand, and we have had modest surpluses over many of the past ten years.”
For Blake, the anniversary today also marks the pending end of his tenure as head of the Board. He has served the maximum term allowed, and will officially step down at the end of May. “it is bitter sweet” says Blake, he has started a new life having recently become eganged to a woman in Newfoundland, and isn’t in Prince George as much. “I will still be available if they need me. I have found that emails, and video conferences work well.”
There have been many accomplishments over the years says Blake, not the least of which was the recent signing of a three year contract with unionized staff. “That agreement was hammered out in a matter of hours on one day, and that speaks volumes about the great relationship that exists between our union and non unionized employees. I look at other airports that are still trying to reach an agreement after months of negotiations.”
Other accomplishments include the international arrivals area, the upgrades to the departure lounge, the runway expansion, the parking lot expansion, the diversity art project and the World Host designation. YXS has started international flights, and there is work underway to increase the options for foreign destinations, and soon the Q400 flights will arrive.
There is still much work to be done before the Prince George Airport will reach it’s tech stop and cargo handling goals. 
It is expected the fuel storage facility will be open this summer, and there will be a cargo facility on site. Blake says there are just one or two more hurdles to clear before YXS will be truly competitive and will be a preferred stop.
It is expected the fuel storage facility will be open this summer, and there will be a cargo facility on site. Blake says there are just one or two more hurdles to clear before YXS will be truly competitive and will be a preferred stop.But before there could be any cake cut, Blake’s contributions were recognized by Airport CEO John Gibson and Airport Authority Vice Chair Les Waldie.
They presented a special clock to Blake “A clock can represent a lot of things” says Waldie, “There are lots of metaphors we can use to reflect what a clock at the airport symbolizes, time for arrivals and departures, time to get luggage from the airplane to the baggage rack, time to get through security, and the list goes on. On top of all that, what it does reflect is the time you spent here, providing the leadership you have to this airport and community and it will never be forgotten.”
The inscription on the clock reads “Time flies, thanks for being our pilot.”
Comments
This is wonderful Jim Blake has done an outstanding job. he will be missed. Les Waldie is another great contributor to making PG a great place. John Gibson has put together very good team and with his leadership is obviously doing an excellent job.
Bravo to these fine folks!
Wonder where all the heavy jets are landing?
So with a modest surplus of $400,000, does this mean the PGAA is in a position to start paying back its loan to the NDIT fund ? Maybe Dan McLaren should have asked for the same, let it slide, kind of deal.
The word “windsock” ever enter into the conversation?
Just wondering. Are we ever going to see a covered walkway to and from the planes?
When the Federal Government ran the airport there was no Airport Improvement Fee.
Since 2003 the fee has risen from $5.00 per flight per passenger, to $20.00 per flight per passenger. This fee in itself requires no work or effort by the airport authority but generates about $2 Million dollars a year.
In addition the airport authority owes $11 Million to the NDIT, and I beleive some $5 Million to CIBC.
They were supposed to start making lease payments in 2011 however they haven’t done so, and in addition the feds have written off other monies, and given them some other breaks.
So to suggest that they are doing a better job than the Feds, is somewhat misleading.
The area in which they far outdid the Feds is the salaries that they pay their top four Management positions, much, much, more than the Feds ever paid.
Increasing options to foreign destinations? Lets start with a direct flight to Alberta…
Your so funny Harbinger. I guess that backs up Pals post.
Cheers
“…supposed to have been making payments…however they haven’t done so”. Maybe PG can have the dubious honour of being the first town in Canada to have their airport foreclosed on by a bank.
Airplane doors are not at ground level. Now if the airport wants to be world class and have coverd walkways they can build stairs inside the terminal to walk up to the level of the doors on the airplane. Or an escalator or even an elevator. Just like the one at the Hudson’s Bay store. My idea would be dig a hole in front of the terminal with a slope into the hole allowing the airliner to be let down and pulled up out of the hole, by a winch or motorized piece of equipment. Kinda like the entrance to an underground parking lot. Just deep enough to have the airplane doors at ground level. Voila! A covered “gangplank” right to the door. A boon for wheelchairs, too. Help yerself to my idea. It ain’t copyrighted
Thats a good point we neet to remember weelchair access and guys like myself that need all the help we can get when it comes the physical activity and under standing the things about loans and for closeures.
cheers
âIt is interesting to note that each year Transport Canada ran this airport, it lost $1 million dollars a yearâ says Blake. âThis year, we are posting a modest surplus of $400 thousand, and we have had modest surpluses over many of the past ten years.â
I don’t see him thanking the public for their AIF ‘contributions’ over the years. That’s the only reason they’re running any kind of surplus.
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