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Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services
Plans in place
A spokersperson for Diavik Diamond Mines, Tom Hoefer, said Diavik does eventually plan to use the taxiway that has resulted in complaints from Adlair Aviation.
"We made arrangements with the airport to extend the taxiway, specifically for that reason," said Denise Burlingame, a spokesperson for BHP Billiton, which operates a sorting plant beside the taxiway. She declined to say if or when BHP would be needing the taxiway. Arslanian Cutting Works NWT Ltd., one of the companies that has an airside lease, admits it's unlikely they will use the taxiway. "Most of the polishing plants wouldn't use the taxiway," said Arslanian's director, Hilary Jones. Jones declined to provide details about the lease agreements. But does she think planes should park on it? "I really haven't thought about it, quite frankly," she said. - |
 Paul Laserich, general manager of Adlair Aviation Ltd., is upset that this taxiway lay idle, while dozens of planes have nowhere to park. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo |
The taxiway raising the ire of Laserich is located behind three diamond sorting and polishing companies, close to Adlair's hangar. The cost of the taxiway, including related services and roads, cost about $2 million.
Laserich said the diamond companies have not used the taxiway to pick up diamonds for three years. Instead, he said the companies truck product in on the highway.
"It's a $2-million taxiway of nothingness," he said.
To date, no apron connects the three diamond companies to the taxiway.
In the meantime, Laserich wants to see the taxiway used for itinerant traffic. He said the public has no place to park airplanes and he is constantly turning people away.
"There's no parking space for strangers coming into town," he said.
"The airport should get off its butt and do something."
Diavik is currently constructing a plant at the taxiway's end.
"I'm hopeful that Diavik will use it," said Laserich. But he added that Diavik's plant won't be ready for some time.
Laserich said there isn't any reason why the taxiway could be decommissioned to allow aircraft to park there until Diavik is ready.
"It wouldn't be a total waste of space if it was used, but it's not used."
When he proceeded to park his planes on the taxiway, the airport manager told him to stop blocking an active taxiway.
"Joe Handley says he needs money for the highway. Well, this is $2 million that could have been used for something else."
Jamie Tait, owner of Summit Air, which leases space from Adlair, said there is a double standard at work when it comes to diamond companies.
Tait said he knows of a business that attempted to purchase the old First Air cargo building, but was turned down because it was a non-aviation business.
Good for the economy
Both Tait and Laserich said the diamond companies are good for the economy, but believe the airport is doing more for diamond companies than for aviation-related businesses.
Daniel Auger, regional superintendent of the Department of Transportation, North Slave Region, said there currently isn't enough demand to justify building that connection.
Auger said the airport's long-term development plans may include another taxiway when the demand is there.
"At this point, we don't have the volume," he said.
According to Auger, the first phase of the taxiway was built for both the aviation industry and diamond industry in 1998. The second phase was designed to open up more property.
It was extended for the diamond industries, which became interested in the property because it is secure and fenced in.
The diamond companies requested airside access when they signed on and this access is part of their lease agreement. He said the companies pay the rent associated with airside access and the airport can't reneg on the deal.
"We do have leases and we have to respect those leases, " he said, adding the lease doesn't include a clause that requires the diamond companies to use the taxiway.
Auger said even if it did, the department can't allow parking on the taxiway because strict Transport Canada regulations prohibit parking on taxiways.
"It would be similar to allowing vehicles to park in the middle of a highway because it's not used that much," he said.
Auger said leasing the lots to the diamond companies was a good business decision -- the companies create employment, boost other businesses and generate revenue for both the GNWT and the City of Yellowknife.
"The government made an investment to build a taxiway to establish the mining industry," he said. "Attracting the diamond companies has a lot of positive fallout."
'No double standard'
He said there is no double standard. "Any development on airport land is limited and we have to make sure there is a reason for businesses to be at the airport," he said. "We have limited funding and we have to invest in a sensible manner where there is good demand and business case."
The reason, in the case of the diamond companies, was tight security.
Auger does, however, sympathize with Adlair's parking problem.
"We allowed them to use a portion of an adjacent lot to their facility on a short-term basis," he said.
"The airport will respond to any parking issues," he said. "There is land available and we can come up with a solution. But they can't use the taxiway."
Laserich said at the Prince George Airport in B.C. an unused taxiway was decommissioned.
"Anything on an airport can be decommissioned," said Brian Looker, operations manager at the Prince George Airport. "There's just a proper process."
Looker added the Prince George taxiway was not tied to any lease agreements.
