Yellowknife (Oct 20/04) - There may soon be a resolution to two of the more unique memories from this past summer: the fighter plane crash and the missile that dropped onto the golf course.

The Air Force's Flight Safety Investigator has released a preliminary report on the June 19 crash of a CF-18 at the Yellowknife airport. Capt. Joanna Campbell of Canadian Forces Northern Area said a report on the missile that fell on the golf course the previous day is pending. It will be made public after the flight safety director reviews it.

After both reports are released, Campbell said Area Commander Norm Couturier plans to speak before city council on the incidents.

"His intent is to appear before council to make a presentation on what the military has done about the incidents and what will be done to prevent a re-occurrence," said Campbell.

"He wants to be open and transparent about what the military is doing."

Damages claims filed

Campbell said that claims filed against the Canadian Forces for damages or lost revenue due to the incidents and the subsequent closure of Highway 3 are currently under review.

"They've been forwarded to the area Judge Advocate General in Cold Lake and from what he's told me, he's reviewing them right now," she said.

Campbell said three claims have been filed against the Canadian Forces. One came from the golf club, as confirmed by general manager Trevor Maywood. Campbell said the second claim came from a business at the airport and the third from a group whose travel plans were upset.

"It didn't just happen and we forgot about it," said Campbell. "There are protocols and procedures to deal with this."

At the time of the incidents, MLA Dave Ramsay spoke out about the need for compensation from the Canadian Forces.

Ramsay reaffirmed that recently.

"I think they're liable. I'm not a lawyer, but a missile falling on the golf course is a pretty obvious mistake."

Business lost

The bomb closed the course on June 18, a Friday, and although the course reopened Saturday, the subsequent plane crash closed the highway and prevented golfers from reaching it. Assistant manager Guy Kennedy estimated the course lost the business of 400 to 600 golfers.

"An organization that's only open three and a half months a year, that's a big chunk of change for them to be losing," pointed out Ramsay.

The plane crash closed the airport and Highway 3 for 10 hours. Airport manager Michel LaFrance said more than 100 First Air and 140 Canadian North passengers were delayed.

First Air could not be reached for comment, but Canadian North's Kelly Kaylo, director of marketing and sales, said the airline did not file a claim because delays are so common.

"There wasn't a huge cost to us and we have standard policies in place for this," she said. "We manage under any circumstances, weather and delays and so on."

The preliminary report on the fighter plane crash does not rule directly on the cause of the incident, but says the runway was "bare and wet," and "after landing roll, aircraft directional control was lost with the aircraft turning through 300 degrees."

The pilot ejected from the plane and sustained a "serious injury." He was hospitalized in Yellowknife. A missile was dislodged from the plane in the crash.

The report says the investigation is ongoing. It indicated there will be reviews of ejection seat-related injuries, landing roll calculations, the plane's anti-skid systems and physician training in aviation medicine.