Business aviation / CYYZ Operations Recent corporate aviation limitations imposed at Pearson airport have prompted some operators to investigate the services available at outlying airports. Eric Dumigan Photo at the end of the runway? Runway rehabilitation work at Pearson International may benefit regional airports looking to attract corporate aviation customers. By Ken Pole allout from a decision by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to limit the corporate aviation window at Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) hasn’t been all bad. Outlying airports are evidently getting inquiries from prospective customers, and some are already handling more traffic. The GTAA’s bombshell announcement forced all business and general aviation oper- ators to book arrival and departure slots on a first-come-first-served basis, at least 48 hours in advance, beginning March 26. Slots were limited to between 15:00 and 19:59 during rehabilitation of runway 05/23, the longest of three east-west runways at 11,120 feet (3,389 metres) with a landing distance of 10,985 (3,348). Two others run north-south. The restriction (which excluded medevac, police, military or helicopter operations, sports charters and visiting heads of state) F 20 SKIES Magazine | May/June 2017 initially was to last until mid-May and then was to be reinstated from Oct. 10 to Nov. 3 and possibly longer. The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) immediately jump- started a campaign aimed at GTAA presi- dent Howard Eng, GTAA chairman David Wilson, senior Transport Canada officials and Members of Parliament. “GTAA has overstepped and is unfairly punishing our operators,” CBAA president Rudy Toering wrote in a March advisory to members. He told Skies that limiting 05/23 use can create problems when weather is poor. “We’re all having a bit of trouble understanding why, with so many runways, there can’t be some better protocols than just cutting out a complete segment of aviation.” Industry pushback resulted in the creation of a technical committee comprising repre- sentatives not only of the CBAA and GTAA, but also Nav Canada and two major corpo- rate operators, Execaire and Skyservice. The CBAA was represented by its vice-chairman Anthony Norejko, a former Walmart aviation director and chief pilot and now owner of CrewSked, which connects aviation profes- sionals with operators. The committee was able to come to a com- promise which essentially resulted in two early stages of runway renovation, including new concrete and rebar, being rolled into one. At the time of writing in late April, GTAA spokesperson Erin Kennedy confirmed to Skies that those early phases were expected to be completed by mid-May. As for later work, the GTAA was looking for “efficiencies we can use right now to minimize work in the fall.” However, Kennedy suggested that the GTAA was keeping its options open, saying that “we continue to look at ways to optimize the current closure period.” She also said that