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45th Anniversary of Time Air Reunion BBQ Update

Just over a week to go until all the wild stories start flying and so very many former Time Air folks all share great memories at the 45th Anniversary reunion at the Alberta International Airshow in Lethbridge. We have had responses from folks across Canada and the U.S. even as far away as Dubai! If everyone who has RSVP'd shows up, we should have more than 200 folks joining in the fun.

We can confirm that Peter Scheiwiller will be bringing North Caribou's awesome F-18 BBQ for the big night. You really have to see this creation to fully appreciate it but here are some photos to get your attention! 

Tickets are available by sending an e-mail to susiestewart392@hotmail.com and she will set you up. Tickets are limited so be sure to contact Susie as soon as you can to guarantee your spots! Contact Ken Meintzer at Integra Air if you need more information at kmeintzer@integraair.com.

See you all in Lethbridge on Saturday, July 23rd for what promises to be an event for the ages!

A TRIP TO CALGARY'S CONTROL TOWER

I had the pleasure of attending a session put on by Nav Canada and the Calgary Airport Authority to explain some of the changes forthcoming to the airspace and the facilities of the International Airport. In the course of the visit we were treated to a look at the new expansion that is underway including the new parallel runway and the associated taxiways plus the new control tower.

This is Calgary's current control tower which stands at about 140 feet high at the operational level.

Built before the 1988 Winter Olympics this tower will soon be replaced by a new tower which will be 270 feet high at the operational level and will be located centrally between the parallel runways once the new east runway is completed.

Some of the assembled operations folks from various aviation concerns in the Calgary area.

This is a view of the control tower simulator in the basement of the tower. The view on the screens is so accurate to the actual view. This is located where the approach control used to be located before being transplanted to Edmonton Centre.

Our tour guide gave a most informative walk through of this impressive building.

The realism of this simulator is amazing!

Here is the artists rendering of the soon to be constructed new Calgary International Airport control tower. With the antennas on top, it will measure over 300 feet tall.

Here's a view from the Northeast of the new parallel runway which will actually be "17 L" as the magnetic deviation is expected to change enough before it opens to warrant the name change! The dotted blue line shows where the much debated tunnel will go and the area circled in red will be the new central deicing facility.

A little better view of the new International concourse tinted green. The new building will basically double the size of the existing airport terminal when it is completed.

The best view from ANY desk job ANYWHERE!

Air Canada A330 touches down on arrival from Germany.

If you look really closely at this diagram, you can see the new parallel taxiway that will be built this summer alongside taxiway "Charlie". This will allow two way traffic on the east side of runway 16/34. It is marked in turquoise.

Brent showing us the pretty awesome software that allows the Calgary tower to maximize the airspace for optimum arrivals and departures while the parallel runway is being built to relieve air traffic pressure.

No two ways about it...best view in the world!

INTEGRA AIR HOSTING 45TH ANNIVERSARY TIME AIR REUNION BBQ

Calling all former Time Air employees! Integra Air is pleased to announce we are hosting a reunion BBQ at the Alberta International Airshow this July in Lethbridge. The BBQ will take place at our new head office facility being constructed at the Lethbridge Airport. We are incorporating an original WWII era hangar that saw service as Time Air's hangar along with a modern all metal building that was constructed for building manifactured homes for Triple M homes. This will give us the perfect venue for the reunion which will also be attended by the airshow performers including the Canadian Forces Snowbird pilots and crews.

Cost for the BBQ will be $40/ person and includes a steak dinner and entertainment. There will also be a silent auction for you to place bids on. Cocktails at 5:30PM, dinner at 6:00PM and entertainment at 8PM.

Just learned recently that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Lethbridge and July will mark the 75th anniversary of Air Traffic Services at the Lethbridge Airport. So many great aviation milestones to celebrate in Lethbridge this summer.

There will be more details to follow in the next few weeks. If you are interested in attending the BBQ or if you have any questions, please contact Ken Meintzer at kmeintzer@integraair.com . Please spread the word to any interested Time Air folks.

OUR NEW HEAD OFFICE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

As promised, here is a sneak preview of Integra Air's new head office facility currently under construction at the Lethbridge Airport. We are truly proud of our future new home as it is developing from two existing structures into one complete building featuring hangar space, offices and meeting rooms plus a departures/ arrival area with a stunning view of the airport.

This is the view of the new head office building looking from the Northwest. The original WWII/ Time Air hangar is on the left of the photo. The former Triple M Homes plant is on the right hand side of this photo. The next phase of the development will be built in the middle of the frame between the windows and the concrete firewall visible on the North wall of the old Triple M Homes plant.

This is the Builder's rendering of what the new addition will look like. The two story attachment will feature plenty of glass for a commanding view of the apron to the west where Integra Air flights will depart and arrive.

Here is a closer look at the new departures and arrivals lounge. This building will also house offices for Integra Air's head office along with meeting space, flight planning and pilot rest areas. 

Here is a view of the floor plan of the first floor. You can see the hallway at the top right that will bring our guests from the parking area to the departures and arrivals lounge while passing between the original WWII/Time Air hangar. We are planning to honour the history of our original hangar with a gallery of photos and items that will help portray the days when Lethbridge was home to training air crews for the Second World War and as the home for Time Air.

Though it doesn't look too impressive right now, this concrete wall will serve as part of the hallway that Integra Air's guests will walk down from the parking area to the departures lounge. The wall is the north wall of the south hangar in our new facility. To the left in this photo is the original WWII hangar from when the Lethbridge Airport was home to an Elementary flight training school and later to a Bombing and Gunnery school. The hangar later served as part of the home of Lethbridge based Time Air. We are very proud to be incorporating such an important and historical structure in our new head office structure.

This is what our 70 year old hangar looks like today. These buildings were initially built for a 10 year lifespan yet they still provide service all these years later.

When Time Air used this hangar for their DeHavilland Dash 7 and Dash 8 aircraft in the 1980's, they had to cut a hole in the hangar doors allowing the tail (which was too tall to fit into the hangar) to remain outside while still being able to close the doors!

Here is the inside view of the second hangar building. Triple M Homes used this building to construct manufactured homes here. We will be the first to use this structure as a hangar for aircraft!

We will have plenty of space for aircraft parking and maintenance between our two sizable hangars.

This impressive view will greet our departing and arriving guests when they fly with Integra Air! The open space will allow for a panoramic view of the airport and the beautiful mountains to the West of Lethbridge.

 I am sure you can sense our excitement and anticipation awaiting the final construction of our new facility at the Lethbridge Airport. We hope to be fully operational in the completed building by the end of 2011.

WELCOME TO INTEGRA AIR'S "SKY TRAILS"

Hello fellow travellers!

Here begins Integra Air's very own blog, "Sky Trails" where we hope to keep you up to speed with the latest developments with Southern Alberta's Airline. There have been many exciting changes with our company recently and we have plans for even more growth in the near future. Stay tuned right here for a little closer look at what we are working on.

For starters, Integra Air purchased Bar XH Air based in Medicine Hat and Calgary in the fall of 2010. The newly combined company features a nice blending of aviation roles such as continuing scheduled weekday air service between Lethbridge and Edmonton, air medevac service for Alberta Health using two Medicine Hat based and one Calgary based King Air 200 aircraft plus charter services on British Aerospace Jetstream 31/32's, King Air 200, Piper Cheyenne and Navajo aircraft. Soon, the Bar XH name will fade into the background as the company marches forward under the Integra Air banner.

Along with the acquisition of Bar XH Air, Integra Air is excited to announce the construction of a new head office facility at the Lethbridge Airport. Work is already underway on the building which will feature hangar space, departure/arrival lounge areas along with much greater office space for our Lethbridge based staff. The new structure will incorporate a World War two era former RCAF hangar along with a new hangar building. The older hangar also saw use for Lethbridge based Time Air and for a manufactured home builder prior to being developed into our new facility. Integra Air will be paying homage to Lethbridge's rich and lengthy aviation history with a display honouring the Lethbridge Airport's role in training pilots for World War Two as home to both Elementary Flying Training School #5 and later to #8 Bombing and Gunnery School. The display will also illuminate the proud history of Time Air which was founded at the Lethbridge Airport in 1966 and grew to become one of the largest regional airlines in the world.  The new passenger arrival/ departure area will be very pleasantly appointed, giving visitors to Lethbridge an impressive first impression of the region.

So welcome once again to Integra Air's brand new blog, "Sky Trails". We will have lots of features on our newly expanded company in the coming months. Please write to us with any questions or comments about our company at kmeintzer@integraair.com . We would be most pleased to hear from you!