kEiThZ
Superstar
I noticed this morning that they had the Blue Angels do a fly-by during the Port Authority AGM (at around 10am). I expect that was to show the potential benefits from allowing jets at the island.
Today proved that jets can fly downtown and no one would notice![]()
+1
It also shows how ridiculous the argument is that having an airport would necessarily attract jet airplane noise. Legally speaking there is zero restriction on jet operations over downtown Toronto or the waterfront. If Air Canada has the money to burn and the will to do it, they could do high speed passes of the beach with a 777 all day long. That may sound far-fetched but it seems to me most people didn't notice the noise when the CF was running combat air patrols over Toronto with fully loaded Hornets for months following 9/11. They even used the Island and Downsview as turn points while conducting patrols (below civilian clearance altitudes). As long as the aircraft operate within rules regarding obstacle clearances, there is nothing stopping any jet aircraft from creating tons of noise at any point over the city. So the argument that an airport in the core would inevitably attract jets and the noise that comes with jets is not necessarily true. That noise could be there regardless. I fully support the restriction on jet operations at the Island. However, the other side should be as truthful that closure of the Island won't necessarily mean no jet noise along the waterfront.