Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 29/98) - Nav Canada, the not-for-profit provider of the country's air navigation, is proposing sweeping changes in the way services are delivered in the North.

The changes include a range of moves affecting various types of services offered at several communities.

Among the most significant is the addition of community aerodrome radio stations (CARS) at Lutselk'e and Rae Lakes.

Another move would replace the Aklavik CARS station with an automated weather information system. Detailed weather information for pilots would come out of Inuvik 50 kilometres away.

"The GNWT is very very pleased, at this stage, with the proposals," said Peter Vician, assistant deputy of operations for the NWT Transportation Department.

Ultimately, the proposals will mean 10 new jobs, mostly at the new CARS facilities in Lutselk'e and Rae Lakes.

The proposals, announced Friday, result from over 100 meetings with business, federal and territorial governments, and industry.

Other changes for the North include:

- Centralizing flight information services in Yellowknife, North Bay and Whitehorse serving the Western NWT, the East, and Yukon respectively.

- Extending operation hours to 24 hours a day at Taloyoak and Cambridge Bay.

- Adding remote communications outlets at Iqaluit, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Resolute Bay, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith and Hay River.

- Converting flight service stations at Baker Lake, Fort Smith, Hay River, Resolute Bay and possibly Fort Smith to community aerodrome radio stations.

- Installing aviation weather observation systems at Gjoa Haven and Arviat.

- Installing limited weather information systems at Nanisivik, Pangnirtung and Broughton Island.

Conversions to CARS will mean 40 Nav Canada staff, mostly flight services specialists, will have to relocate if they want to stay on with the corporation. Some could stay in the North.

Nav Canada is offering the 40 employees jobs at other locations.

The net staff gain from the proposals would be 10 new jobs.

"Our goal throughout this process has been to design an air navigation service which meets the needs of users and provides the highest possible level of safety and efficiency," Nav Canada president and CEO John Crichton said.

Crichton, a former top executive with First Air, also said Nav Canada is offering an "improved, more responsive system."

Following the current review and consultation, Nav Canada will present the recommendations to its board of directors, likely this fall, and then to the minister of transport for final approval.

After final approval, Nav Canada estimates it will take 18 months to two years to install equipment, train new personnel and relocate some employees.