On May 10, 2005 the Toronto City Centre Airport seaplane base CPZ9 (Toronto harbour) was closed to seaplanes by a NOTAM from Transport Canada.
Given the critical importance of this facility and the timing of the prohibition (the week before the holiday weekend at the start of the peak flying season), COPA stepped in to help resolve the situation by calling its Seaplane Committee into action and member, Doug Ronan, who is also President of the Southern Ontario Seaplane Association www.ontarioseaplane.com (and COPA Flight) took the lead.
Transport Canada closed CPZ9 because the Ontario region had some issues with the TCCA Floatplane Operating Procedures and also some perceived safety concerns.
On Monday May 16, 2005 Doug met with Bill Yule (TCCA airport manager), Greg Cross from Transport Canada, and various commercial and private seaplane operators who use this seaplane base.
The result of this meeting and subsequent negotiations was that by May 19 the NOTAM was revised to allow seaplanes back into the TCCA on a limited basis. Transport Canada still had perceived concerns that during anticipated peak boat traffic times there would be safety issues, so the NOTAM prohibited operations during specific times that happened to coincide with times when many of the seaplane operators also wanted to use the base.
After further negotiations, including a discussion of the excellent operating record over 75 years and an organized letter campaign by Doug for input from experienced users of the base, a satisfactory solution was developed and on May 25, 2005 a revised operating policy and NOTAM were issued.
Prior Notification Required (PNR) must be used in order for TCCA to remind pilots of the procedures and also fully brief those not familiar with the harbour of the extent of boat traffic which may be encountered.
As part of the solution, COPA offered to disseminate the operating procedures via our web site and in the next issue of our newspaper in order to make sure that members who may use CPZ9 know of the potential for conflict.
We ask that you keep a copy of the procedures handy (a copy can be downloaded from our web site). Be sure to call ahead when flying into CPZ9 and check NOTAMS.
This is an important victory for seaplanes and general aviation. If this issue was not resolved, we would have lost the use of an integral part the aviation infrastructure in Ontario and more specifically Toronto.
This is the only full service seaplane base in the Toronto area. It is a vital link for floatplane operators – both private and commercial - to central and northern Ontario and beyond.
It is also a full service facility for straight float aircraft with maintenance, customs, fuel, parking, beaching/launching, hangars, and one of only two avionics shops accessible by straight floats in Ontario.
CPZ9 has safely served our needs for 75 years – with our members help by adhering to the operating procedures we can ensure it is available for another 75 years!
This issue was resolved quickly because of the willingness of our volunteers to devote time and effort for coordination, and negotiations. Although COPA staff was available to assist, we were not available on such short notice for the critical meetings. This is volunteerism in action!
TCCA FLOATPLANE OPERATING PROCEDURES
The following procedures are in effect Victoria day up to and including Thanksgiving weekend:
All floatplanes requiring use of the Toronto Inner Harbour and Toronto City Centre Water Aerodrome facilities must contact TCCA operations office by telephone (416-203-3739), between the hours of 0700-1830 local daily, as Prior Notification is Required (PNR) to land or takeoff from the Toronto Inner Harbour.
The TCCA operations staff will remind those calling of the possibility of marine vessel activity and that due to boat traffic an arrival or departure from the Inner Harbour may be delayed or prohibitive.
Pilots not familiar with operations in the Inner Harbour will be given a complete briefing on the conditions that may be encountered and advised that they should be prepared to expect delays or proceed to an alternate location if marine vessel activity is excessive. The Inner Harbour has peak marine vessel activity during the following times:
Monday thru Thursday 3 PM until DUSK daily
Friday thru Sunday and Holidays 12 NOON until DUSK daily
A CAUTION will be published in the next edition of the Water Aerodrome Supplement advising pilots of the times that peak marine vessel activity may be encountered.
Notification of floatplane operations does not imply that the Toronto Inner Harbour is safe to operate from. All floatplane operations (approach, landing, takeoff, climb-out) are conducted solely at the discretion of the floatplane pilot, and he/she is responsible for ensuring that an approach, landing or takeoff and climb-out can be completed safely and without interference to marine vessels.
No regularly scheduled floatplane operations are permitted from the Toronto Inner Harbour. Floatplane charter activities may be allowed if the floatplane operator has given PNR to the Airport Operations Office.
Floatplane operators must contact the TCCA Air Traffic Control Tower on frequency 118.20 prior to landing and/or departing in the Toronto Inner Harbour.
These ‘Float Plane Operating Procedures’ will be monitored for compliance by the Airport Manager of the Toronto City Centre Airport, Toronto Port Authority.