- The Grey Cup arrived in Vancouver on board an RCAF CH-149 Cormorant helicopter ahead of Sunday’s CFL football game. “In 1942, during the height of World War II, with the war in Europe raging and thousands of young Canadians serving overseas, both the football unions and Canada suspended play and disbanded their teams,” said CFB Comox base commander Colonel Chris Shapka. At the welcoming ceremony at downtown Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, Col. Shapka explained that at the 30th Grey Cup competition in 1942, the RCAF fielded teams in a bid “to lift national morale”, emphasizing that the RCaF and the CFL “share a deep historical connection.” That year. the RCAF Hurricanes (of Toronto) defeated Winnipeg’s RCAF Bombers 8 to 5 to win the Cup.
- While there was much media coverage (including by us) of the final flight of the Hawaii Mars from its Vancouver Island base at Sproat Lake to the British Columbia Aviation Museum near Victoria, there was still one remaining Martin Mars flying boat left, the Philippine Mars. It too is based at Sproat Lake and will be departing this week for its final resting place at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. The Philippine had already been repainted in US Navy livery of the 1940s years ago on speculation of it being delivered to a different U.S. museum, but that deal fell through. “We are pleased to have the Philippine Mars join our museum where we will preserve this World War II-era aircraft for decades to come,” said the Arizona museum’s CEO Scott Marchand.
- The federal government announced on Nov. 14 a $30 million grant to Manitoba’s Thompson Regional Airport. The money is earmarked for the construction of a new apron, a new paved taxiway, a new gravel taxiway and new drainage and electrical systems. The grant is part of the feds’ Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). “The Thompson Regional Airport is an important hub for essential passenger and cargo services to remote and Indigenous communities in northern Manitoba and western Nunavut,” said Dan Vandel, the federal minister for northern affairs.
- CAE’s CEO Marc Parent will be leaving the company after 15 years at the Montreal company’s helm. His last day will be at the simulator company’s next AGM, scheduled for August 2025. “CAE’s innovative technology and outstanding people now set the standard for training and safety worldwide,” said Parent in a prepared statement. CAE’s board chairman Alan N. MacGibbon added, “Under Marc’s leadership, CAE has become a global leader in training for civil aviation and defence and security forces, through which we have furthered our mission to make the world a safer place.”
- Air Canada announced last week that it had signed a contract to purchase approximately 78 million litres of unblended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from Finnish company Neste Oyj. “This SAF purchase from Neste contributes significantly to our target of procuring SAF for one percent of our estimated jet fuel use in 2025,” Air Canada’s CEO Michael Rousseau said. According to Neste’s website, the SAF they produce is made from 100 percent renewable raw materials and is compatible with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure and will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent.