Canadian Airports' Electrical Association Formed

- The Canadian Airports Electrical Association (CAEA) was recently registered with Industry Canada as a "not for profit" Canada Corporation with a federal charter. The head office is located at Richmond, British Columbia with The Vancouver International Airport Authority taking a lead to organize the initial activities of the CAEA.

The President of CAEA, Mr. Herman Hui, P.Eng., said that it is important to have all airport electrical personnel across Canada working together to achieve the common goal of improving the safety of operations at all Canadian airports from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. The CAEA will sponsor and organize an annual workshop, known as the Canadian Airports National Electrial Workshop (CANEW). Prior to the formation of CAEA, the annual workshop had been organized by individual airports each year. Now, the CANEW workshops will be one of the functions of the new association.

Hui announced that the next CANEW event will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba with the assistance of the Winnipeg Airport Authority, from September 10-14, 2001.

Future activities of the CAEA include committee work on airport standards, procedure and recommended practices related to the installation and maintenance of airport electrical plant. Future projects incldue an internet website which will encourage members to exchange information as well as a market for transferring surplus electrical equipment between airports in Canada and around the world. Currently, members are working on revision to Section 74 of the Canadian Electrical Code. The objective of this and other projects will be to enhance safety and operational reliability of electrical systems at Canadian airports.