In the May 1998 edition of COPA’s Canadian Flight in
the Pilots to pilots segment, Claude Goyette, Client Service Manager at Natural
Resources Canada’s Aeronautical and Technical Services, responded to COPA member
Clark Muirhead’s letter that had appeared in the March issue of the same year.
Muirhead was concerned about the type of paper used to print the VFR charts. (It
ripped easily.) Goyette stated that a review of the paper would be done with a
look at possible alternatives. Goyette is pleased to report that an Aeronautical
and Technical Services (ATS) quality team was formed and one of its first
actions was to have the existing paper tested by an independent third party to
verify that it was manufactured according to specifications. It was, and even
surpassed the minimum requirements.
“The quality team then consulted the representatives of the supplier, Rolland
Inc. They confirmed that the specially designed Map Bond Wet Strength paper
offers, among other things, a balance between: stability during the printing
process; folding capabilities; and the correct opacity. No standard paper on the
market comes close to meeting these requirements. Nevertheless, with the
cooperation of Rolland Inc., the formula for producing the paper was modified to
increase the folding capabilities. This was done at marginal cost by adding more
soft wood fibre to the pulp content. Any further improvements to the folding
properties could only be accomplished by adding linen to the paper, and this
would come at a much higher cost.
As a test, Rolland Inc. supplied a special mill run of the new modified paper
which was used to print the Toronto VNC in March 1999. Since then, all Canadian
VFR charts have been printed on the new Map Bond Wet Strength paper. I would
greatly appreciate receiving comments about VFR charts printed since the change
was effected.
“ATS’s objective is always to minimize production costs while providing pilots
with the best product possible for use under normal conditions. As I mentioned
in my letter of May 1998, the VFR chart is an important navigation tool; it
should be treated with TLC to better serve you.”
Contact Claude Goyette, Tel.: 613-992-3489, Fax: 613-943-8959, e-mail:
cgoyette@nrcan.gc.ca
Web site: www.ats.nrcan.gc.ca.