Victoria International Airport
Encyclopedia
Victoria International Airport serves Victoria
, British Columbia
, Canada
. It is 12 NM north northwest of the city, in North Saanich
, quite close to the town of Sidney
on the Saanich Peninsula
. The airport is run by the Victoria Airport Authority.
Like most airports that are run by local authorities in Canada, Victoria International Airport charges an Airport Improvement Fee
for each outgoing passenger. It is currently $10.00.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
by NAV CANADA
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle aircraft with no more than 450 passengers, when unloaded from the aircraft in stages, or 150 normally.
In 2010, YYJ served 1,514,713 passengers and had 144,255 aircraft movements making it one of Canada's busiest airports in terms of passengers. It was British Columbia's second busiest airport in terms of passengers, and third in terms of aircraft movements.
There are two popular locations for plane spotters. The first is at the end of Canora Road, on the south-east side of the airport, next to a small cemetery. A second, lesser-known location is an open field off of Mills Road, near the Mills Road and Meadlands Road intersection on the north-east corner of the airport. This location offers excellent views of aircraft approaching runway 09.
s at the time, proved to be an excellent location. The Department of Transport took over the airport in 1948. It was then called Victoria (Patricia Bay) Airport, and many locals still refer to it as the "Pat Bay Airport." Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada
) began regular service in 1943.
The last Royal Canadian Air Force
unit left the airport in 1952. In the late 1980s the RCAF returned to the property when 443 Helicopter Squadron
began operating CH-124 Sea King
ship-borne anti-submarine helicopter
s from Victoria International Airport. The RCAF refers to 443 Squadron operations at the airport as the Patricia Bay Heliport.
In 1959, the airport was renamed to its present name of the Victoria International Airport.
In 1997, as part of a broad scale restructuring of airports across Canada, Transport Canada
(formerly the Department of Transport), gave operational control of the airport to the Victoria Airport Authority.
In 2000, the Victoria Airport Authority began the process of renovating and expanding the terminal to meet passenger needs. In 2002, the new "airside hold room" was built as well as the new "arrivals rotunda." By 2005, the new "departures area" was completed.
In May 2005, the federal government, which owns the land, announced a reduction in the rent paid by the Victoria Airport Authority. This will save $0.6 million Canadian each year and $12 million CAD over the life of the lease, which is 50 years.
Gates 1-5 are used to handle international passenger arrivals. As of December 1, 2010, free wi-fi internet service is available terminal wide. There are three luggage carousels: Two located at the arrivals area for domestic passengers, and one for international flights located beside the customs area.
. It is served by direct shuttle bus service to and from downtown hotels, by taxis service and by BC Transit
route 83. By car, the airport is nominally a twenty minute drive from downtown Victoria via Highway 17.
A new interchange at Highway 17 and McTavish Road, the main highway access point to the airport, was completed in April 2011. Funding for the interchange was shared between the federal, provincial governments and the Victoria Airport Authority.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is 12 NM north northwest of the city, in North Saanich
North Saanich, British Columbia
North Saanich is located on the Saanich Peninsula, approximately 25 km north of Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island...
, quite close to the town of Sidney
Sidney, British Columbia
Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities. It has a population of approximately 11,300. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport,...
on the Saanich Peninsula
Saanich Peninsula
The Saanich Peninsula is located north of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded by the Saanich Inlet on the west, and various straits of the Gulf of Georgia on the east, chiefly Haro Strait The exact southern boundary of what is referred to as the "Saanich Peninsula" is somewhat fluid...
. The airport is run by the Victoria Airport Authority.
Like most airports that are run by local authorities in Canada, Victoria International Airport charges an Airport Improvement Fee
Airport Improvement Fee
An Airport Improvement Fee or Embarkation Fee or Airport Tax or Service charge or Service fee is an additional fee charged to departing and connecting passengers at an airport. It is levied by government or an airport management corporation and the proceeds are usually intended for funding of major...
for each outgoing passenger. It is currently $10.00.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
Airport of Entry
An airport of entry is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors arriving in a country.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
by NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle aircraft with no more than 450 passengers, when unloaded from the aircraft in stages, or 150 normally.
In 2010, YYJ served 1,514,713 passengers and had 144,255 aircraft movements making it one of Canada's busiest airports in terms of passengers. It was British Columbia's second busiest airport in terms of passengers, and third in terms of aircraft movements.
There are two popular locations for plane spotters. The first is at the end of Canora Road, on the south-east side of the airport, next to a small cemetery. A second, lesser-known location is an open field off of Mills Road, near the Mills Road and Meadlands Road intersection on the north-east corner of the airport. This location offers excellent views of aircraft approaching runway 09.
History
The airport started in 1914 as a grass strip, and was used as a military training base. The airport is located beside Patricia Bay, which, due to the prevalence of flying boatFlying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s at the time, proved to be an excellent location. The Department of Transport took over the airport in 1948. It was then called Victoria (Patricia Bay) Airport, and many locals still refer to it as the "Pat Bay Airport." Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
) began regular service in 1943.
The last Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
unit left the airport in 1952. In the late 1980s the RCAF returned to the property when 443 Helicopter Squadron
No. 443 Squadron RCAF
443 "City of New Westminster" Maritime Helicopter Squadron is a Canadian Forces helicopter squadron under Royal Canadian Air Force, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
began operating CH-124 Sea King
CH-124 Sea King
The Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare helicopter designed for shipboard use. The Canadian variant is based on the US Navy's SH-3 and has been continuously in service with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces since 1963.-Design and development:The advent of...
ship-borne anti-submarine helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s from Victoria International Airport. The RCAF refers to 443 Squadron operations at the airport as the Patricia Bay Heliport.
In 1959, the airport was renamed to its present name of the Victoria International Airport.
In 1997, as part of a broad scale restructuring of airports across Canada, Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
(formerly the Department of Transport), gave operational control of the airport to the Victoria Airport Authority.
In 2000, the Victoria Airport Authority began the process of renovating and expanding the terminal to meet passenger needs. In 2002, the new "airside hold room" was built as well as the new "arrivals rotunda." By 2005, the new "departures area" was completed.
In May 2005, the federal government, which owns the land, announced a reduction in the rent paid by the Victoria Airport Authority. This will save $0.6 million Canadian each year and $12 million CAD over the life of the lease, which is 50 years.
Terminal
The main terminal has 9 gates, organized as gates 1-7 and 9-10. Gates 1,2 and 9,10 are equipped with aircraft loading bridges.Gates 1-5 are used to handle international passenger arrivals. As of December 1, 2010, free wi-fi internet service is available terminal wide. There are three luggage carousels: Two located at the arrivals area for domestic passengers, and one for international flights located beside the customs area.
Airlines and destinations
Scheduled services
Cargo airlines
Year 1-5
- Full parallel taxiwayTaxiwayA taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
E to runway 09/27. - New taxiway exit from runway 09 to taxiway S.
- New maintenance facility and fire hall on the west side of the airport (Completed).
- First phase of apronAirport rampThe airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
IV expansion to accommodate interim demand. - Extend approach lighting on runway 27 by 320 m (1,049.9 ft).
- Additional terminal building public parking. (Completed)
- Construct a bicycle/walking path around the perimeter of the airport property. (Completed)
- Add two new passenger loading bridges. (Completed)
Year 6-10
- Upgrading of approach lighting on runway 09.
- Decommission taxiway D.
- Apron IV expansion to the north.
- New taxiway from apron IV to runway 02/20.
- Construct a new general aviationGeneral aviationGeneral aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
taxiway. - Construct road access from Mills Road.
- Realign Willingdon Road to accommodate additional terminal building parking.
- First phase of terminal expansion (upper level hold room and two additional loading bridges).
Year 11-20
- New Canadian border control & customs facility and US border preclearance facilityUnited States border preclearanceThe United States operates border preclearance facilities at a number of ports and airports in foreign countries. They are staffed and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections...
. - North concourse terminal expansion.
- Construct a car parking structure.
- A 427 m (1,400.9 ft) runway expansion of 09/27.
Flight training
There are several organisations that offer flight training at the airport- Pat Bay AirPat Bay AirPat Bay Air is a charter float plane and airline flying from the Patricia Bay/Victoria Airport Water Aerodrome Seaplane Terminal at the Victoria International Airport on Widgeon Drive in North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada, where its headquarters are located...
Seaplanes (charter service, tours, and training) - Ocean Air Floatplanes
- Victoria Flying Club
- Pacific Sky Aviation (Formerly Juan Air)
- Island Pacific Flight Academy
Transportation to the airport
Victoria International Airport is 22 km from downtown VictoriaDowntown Victoria
Downtown Victoria is a neighbourhood of Victoria, British Columbia that acts as the commercial and entertainment hub of the city and surrounding region....
. It is served by direct shuttle bus service to and from downtown hotels, by taxis service and by BC Transit
BC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
route 83. By car, the airport is nominally a twenty minute drive from downtown Victoria via Highway 17.
A new interchange at Highway 17 and McTavish Road, the main highway access point to the airport, was completed in April 2011. Funding for the interchange was shared between the federal, provincial governments and the Victoria Airport Authority.
See also
- British Columbia Aviation MuseumBritish Columbia Aviation MuseumThe British Columbia Aviation Museum is located in Sidney, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is on the grounds of the Victoria International Airport at 1910 Norseman Road on the north edge of the airport....
- Victoria Airport Water AerodromeVictoria Airport Water AerodromeVictoria Airport Water Aerodrome, , is located north northwest of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft...
- Victoria Inner Harbour AirportVictoria Inner Harbour AirportVictoria Harbour Airport or Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome, , is located in Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada....
External links
- Victoria International Airport
- 443 Squadron History
- Page about this airport on COPA'sCanadian Owners and Pilots AssociationThe Canadian Owners and Pilots Association is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes...
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