City Council formally asks NAV CANADA to reconsider proposed flight path changes

Port Moody City Council has sent a formal request to NAV CANADA asking the air navigation service provider to reconsider potential changes to flight paths in the Metro Vancouver region, announced in late 2022 as part of a proposal for airspace modernization surrounding Vancouver International Airport (YVR). 

“NAV CANADA’s proposed new flight paths include arrival approaches that would directly affect the Tri-Cities area, with the potential for more frequent flyovers and more noise pollution,” said Mayor Meghan Lahti. “As a Council, we feel it’s important to advocate for the health and safety of our residents. Given the likelihood of negative effects for our community, we respectfully ask NAV CANADA to reconsider and look for other ways to meet their project goals.” 

The request was sent by Mayor Lahti, on behalf of Council, via a letter dated January 31, 2023. The letter expresses Port Moody City Council’s opposition to NAV CANADA’s proposed changes to arrival approaches for YVR, included in the corporation’s Vancouver Airspace Modernization Project. 

The letter also lists the following concerns: 

• the lack of demonstrated necessity for changes;
• noise pollution;
• the impact on residents physical and mental health;
• the impact on land value; and
• the lack of transparency with respect to the methodology, outputs and assumptions that were used by NAV CANADA in creating the modelling for assessing aircraft noise impacts on communities. 

NAV CANADA launched a public consultation on the proposed changes in December 2022 and the corporation is accepting feedback until February 3, 2023. Visit navcanada.ca/VAMP to learn more.