Lease questions on Victoria's seaplane terminal up in the air

by Jeff Bell, Times Colonist

Even though three float plane companies have been added to the roster at Victoria's Hyack terminal, the future of the facility is far from certain.

That's the word from Jim Allard, vice-president of Hyack Air, who said the terminal's current lease is set to expire at the end of the year. He said the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, which owns of the water lot where the terminal is located, seems interested in only a one-year lease renewal.

Allard said he needs more stability than that to keep the terminal running, as it has since 1981.

The business could cease to operate, he said.

"Right now, that's a very real possibility."

But Sonterra Ross, the harbour authority's acting CEO, said there have been no overtures made about lease issues or other complaints.

"We haven't even been approached to know a length of term, how many flights, how many airplanes."

Allard aired his concerns at the same time Tofino Air and Seair announced their intention to start using the Hyack terminal in the late summer. The downside of that, he said, is that neither can make a long-term commitment with the terminal lease so close to an end.

Joining Tofino Air and Seair at Hyack this summer is Whistler Air, which has already begun flying a Victoria-based schedule.

Whistler Air's Mike Quinn said the company has been here before, but not with such a set presence.

"We've been in business for 26 years, so we've been in Victoria many, many times," Quinn said.

He said the new Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre has made it possible to get more established in Victoria.

"It's a significant step, and it's all a result of being able to operate now down in the Vancouver area. We started two weeks ago flying between Pitt Meadows and Victoria, and on Monday we're going to start flying from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria."

Quinn said he expects the current schedule of one morning and one afternoon flight to quickly double, with expectations of six round trips a day eventually.

He said Whistler Air will be around for some time.

"We're here for the long haul." The overall look of the Inner Harbour's float plane business could be in for a change with a proposal in place for a $3.5-million terminal and dock extension that would bring together Harbour Air Seaplanes, Harbour Airowned Westcoast Air and Kenmore Air.

Elsewhere in aviation news, the Comox Valley Airport has become the first airport in Canada to be given a "safe harbour" designation, meaning that it promises to give respectful treatment to all people and provide a safe place for anyone needing help. Employees attended workshops as part of the certification process, which is provided in the Comox area by the Creative Employment Access Society with provincial and federal funding.

More than 50 other Comox Valley businesses have committed to the same concept.