PORTER SAYS BOTH RUNWAY OPTIONS ACCEPTABLE

Porter Airlines indicated yesterday that it submitted an update of its runway proposal to the City of Toronto as part of its ongoing review of the airline’s application to operate Bombardier CS100 aircraft from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA). There are now two equally viable proposals for a runway extension that Porter would like to be given consideration. The original proposal presented in May includes a 168-metre extension into the water at each end of the main runway. A second proposal submitted on Sept. 3 includes a 200-metre extension into the water at each end of the main runway.

Both options meet the city’s request to not result in “an extension of the Marine Exclusion Zone as currently configured, that would materially encroach upon the western channel shipping channel.”

“We want to be clear that we have now presented two runway designs for the city to review as part of its process,” said Porter president Robert Deluce (pictured). “The 168-metre proposal is still a very good option and one that we support. The 200-metre option is another scenario that provides other benefits we believe are worth considering.”

Benefits of the 200-metre variation include: Favourable positioning of the existing Marine Exclusion Zone buoys, continuing to ensure no effect to the boating community by not materially encroaching upon the Western Channel; Additional take-off runway distance allows for improved noise abatement procedures, including using less power on take-off; A slightly longer runway should enhance the Western Channel’s safety and navigability for vessels by providing a breakwater for wave protection and reducing sediment build-up in the area. (http://www.porterplans.com)