Response from Nanaimo Port Authority regarding seaplane noise over Gabriola Island

Extracted text (beginning)

From: Satinder Singh <ssingh@npa.ca> 
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 11:21 AM 
To: Wil Cottingham 
Cc: Vanessa Craig; Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee; EC 
Subject: RE: Float Plane Flights over and affecting Gabriola Island 
 
Good morning, Wil. 
 
This email is an official response to your complaint regarding float plane flights over and affecting 
Gabriola Island. Your complaint was received on August 24
th
, 2022 @ 1421 hrs and subsequently 
investigated by my office.  
 
During the investigation, NPA reached out to Harbour Air to understand current protocols for aircraft 
approaching or departing Nanaimo Harbour in relation to Gabriola Island - of particular importance to 
NPA were questions surrounding height and distance requirements and how protocols are enforced for 
operators of the aircraft? 
 
NPA’s findings are as follows: 
 
1. Harbour Air could not speak to other operators or general aviation aircraft that use the area 
2. Harbour Air stated that this is a busy transiting aircraft corridor for both US and local general 
aviation aircraft 
3. Harbour Air reviewed a recent sampling of their flights in their satellite tracking system and 
there has not been any of their aircraft over Gabriola Island either below the altitudes stated in 
the Canadian Aviation Regulations, which is the actual regulation mandating the parameters of 
flights to be as follows - 
a. 1000’ over built up areas 
b. 500’ over non built up areas 
4. Harbour Air requires that all their flight crew adhere to the recommended altitudes stated 
5. Harbour Air flight crews avoid flying over Gabriola Island as well as many other of the local 
Islands, at any altitude, whenever possible 
6. Harbour Air is very cognizant of the noise impact of their aircraft 
7. Harbour Air do their best to mitigate any impact to local communities without affecting the 
safety of the flight 
 
Therefore, I hope the information herein informs the concerns raised in your complaint. Please feel free 
to contact me at the undersigned for any further clarification or questions. 
 
Kind regards, 
S 
Captain Satinder Singh, MMM, MM 
Vice President, Marine Operations and Harbour Master | Vice-Président des opérations maritimes et 
Capitaine de port 
 
 
 
100 Port Drive 

Nanaimo, British Columbia  V9R 0C7  |  Nanaimo, Colombie-Britannique  V9R 0C7 
 
ssingh@npa.ca  
Tel | Tél: (250) 753-4146 ext 231 
Fax | Téléc:  (250) 753-4899 
 
 
 
 
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