Jets to patrol no-fly zone during G20

QMI Agency via Sun Media ^ | 2010-06-10 | Tom Godfrey

[Clive]

TORONTO - CF-18 fighter jets will be on alert to intercept aircraft during the G20 summit, police say.

Only regularly scheduled flights and those on medical emergency will be allowed to fly over Toronto.

At least 16 small airports and heliports in the GTA -- including those at St. Michael's Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, Sunnybrook, Mississauga Credit Valley and Trafalgar Memorial -- will face airspace restrictions June 24-28.

Nav Canada, which controls Canadian airspace, said the heliports will be allowed to open for medical emergencies.

Other aircraft have been ordered by NavCan to keep 30 nautical miles away from Toronto during the G20.

If they don't, one or two CF-18s will be scrambled from either CFB

Trenton or Pearson airport to intercept, police said.

Among those affected are flight training schools, sightseeing ventures, flying clubs and small air taxi firms.

Aircraft used for parachuting, paragliding and crop dusting, as well as radio-controlled aircraft, hot-air balloons and kites, won't be allowed in restricted airspace.

Meanwhile, three Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon helicopters, based at CFB Borden, were hovering Wednesday over downtown Toronto as part of a summit exercise.

Phil Childerhose of Island Air Flight School & Charter said about 25 employees will be affected at his 13-aircraft firm.

"We will suffer a loss in business," Childerhose said on Wednesday. "There are three days in which there is absolutely no flying."

He said some tours are being rebooked.

Pilot Mike Wanless of Cameron Air Service at Billy Bishop Airport said his company will take a hit because its floatplanes can't fly Toronto residents to cottage country because of G8 air restrictions in Huntsville.

"We will lose some business," Wanless said.

Julie Pomeroy of the Brampton Flying Club said she's seeking compensation for three days of lost business.

[Clive]

Box photo:

One of three military helicopters
takes off from in front of the
CN Tower as part of an exercise
in advance of the upcoming G20.
(Mark O’Neill/QMI Agency)

[Clive]

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[WayneS]

Well then it’s not a no-fly zone, is it?

;-)

[walford]

[Cvengr]

Not to worry, the patrols will be flown by Muslim pilots,..ROP and all..

[Sarajevo]

You’d think the G20 were worried about something...............a lack of popularity, perhaps?

[AntiKev]

Hah! You’ve never met a Canadian fighter pilot. You’d be hard pressed to find an ROPer in the ranks.