Gander International Airport Blog

In the dead of the Newfoundland’s winter, the best way to defrost yourself is with a trip to the sun-soaked Caribbean. And what better place than Cuba’s Varadero?

Varadero is much closer this year with Sunwing Vacation’s flights from Gander with Wednesday departures from March 10-April 28.  To book online, visit www.flysunwing.ca or call your local travel agent.

 Having been to Varadero twice myself, I can guarantee vacationers will fall in love with the place. The beach, the food, the people, the music … Cuba is the sort of place that leaves an indelible mark on you. You can combine an immersive beach holiday with the cultural exploration which makes the country unique.

 Cuban culture is much influenced by the fact that it is a melting pot of cultures, primarily those of Spain and Africa, with landscape ranges from semi-arid desert to lush tropical rainforests.

 Here’s a bit of a primer for those of you entertaining a Cuban vacation.

 The Climate

Cuba’s climate is moderately subtropical and warm. The island’s average temperature is 25.5ºC and average relative humidity is 78 per cent. It also sees an average of 330 days of sunshine a year. Varadero’s trademark beach boasts an average year-round water temperature of 24ºC-26ºC, ideal for swimming, sailing and other watersports.

 The Music

Music is Cuba’s richest expression of culture—it gave birth to the Mumba, the Salsa, the Rumba and the Cha-cha-cha. Vacationers may need to limber up before Cuban jazz sets the evenings ablaze.

 The Cigars

Cigar lovers claim Cuban cigars are the world’s finest. . The exceptional quality is thought to arise from the growing climate, combined with the fact that Cuban cigar rollers are regarded as the most skilled. All cigar production is controlled by the Cuban government, with Habanas rated as the best brand. How good are the cigars? The day before John F. Kennedy signed trade sanctions against Cuba, he had 1,000 Cuban cigars delivered. To ensure authenticity and quality, only buy cigars from government stores.

 The Capital

Don’t visit Cuba without seeing Havana. Simply put, it’s one of the world’s great cities.  The capital of Cuba, Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its glorious old Spanish Colonial Architecture with bountiful historical and cultural sights. The must-sees include the Malecon (sea wall), the Artisans Market, Ernest Hemingway’s old haunts, Old Havana, the San Cristobal Cathedral, the Plaza de la Revolucion, the legendary Copacabana, the old cemetery and the Capitol building. Havana is a great place to sit on a patio, enjoy a daiquiri and a toasted Cubano sandwich and watch the people pass by. 

 The Food

Cuban cuisine is strongly influenced by African and Spanish cultures. The national dish is ajiaco, a stew of assorted root vegetables cooked with pork, poultry or beef. Other typical dishes are lechón (roast pork), fried green plantains (tachinos), congrí (rice with red beans), picadillo a la habanera (ground beef in tomato sauce), roast chicken and tamales among others.

 The Drink

The quality of Cuban rum is recognized internationally and comes in four distillations: refined, white, gold and aged. Gold and aged rums are better for drinking straight, while white rum (carta blanca or carta plata) is best for cocktails. Several of the world’s most famous rum cocktails are Cuban, including the Cuban libre, the daiquiri, the Cubanito and the saoco. But don’t leave without trying Cuba’s flagship cocktail, the Mojito (pronounced Mo-HEE-to.) It’s two parts heaven, one part breath mint. Its combination of sweetness and refreshing citrus and spearmint flavors are intended to mask the potent kick of Cuba’s famed rum. Ernest Hemingway was among its greatest fans.

Mojito: a Hemingway favourite. Mine, too.

 Sonja Maloney has worked with Shanahan’s Investigation & Security Limited, the service provider for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), since 2003. The business of airport security can be a challenge, for both passengers and those professionals who have been handed an enormous mandate to ensure the safety of air travel in the country. It’s a job Sonja and the CATSA team at Gander undertake with pride. She approaches work the same way she does life – with a certain enthusiastic zest. A native of Joe Batt’s Arm, Fogo Island, 27-year-old Sonja and husband Alvin were married this past Christmas. When she’s not working, Sonja is most often found walking her lively Labrador Retriever. She took some time to talk with us about food, fishing, security, superpowers and food some more. 

 Are people getting used to pre-board screening requirements?

On the whole, I would have to say travellers are adjusting very well.

What are some of the typical mistakes passengers make which cause pre-board screening issues?

Generally, infrequent flyers who aren’t fully aware of the regulations can take a bit longer to process. The other would be people who arrive late to the pre-board screening checkpoint.

If you could offer any piece of advice to passengers to streamline the security process, what would it be?

It’s mostly about preparation and knowing the regulations and restrictions beforehand. All the information is available via the CATSA website at www.catsa.gc.ca. Arriving early can make all the difference. If you are travelling with small children, for example, it might take a bit longer and we’d recommend you clear security sooner to allow extra time.

 Where’s your dream vacation?

Italy, for the food and wine, obviously. I have hopes we can go as a belated honeymoon, perhaps in the fall. Work is very busy in the summer.

 What do you do in your spare time?

I like the outdoors and walking our dog. I also cook. My mom, Deborah, is a great cook and I picked some of that up from her. I can do the traditional meals, and I’m getting better with age.

 Do you have a favourite local restaurant?

I have to put in a shameless plug for Nicole’s Cafe in Joe Batt’s Arm, which is owned by Nicole Torraville. My mom works there. The food and the atmosphere are just incredible. The concept is basically gourmet adaptations of traditional foods, like crab paninis and bakeapple crème brulée. They use fresh local ingredients, often organic, and it makes all the difference. The greens for the salads, for example, are grown in nearby Shoal Bay, and you can really taste the freshness. You won’t be disappointed.

 What’s in your CD player right now?

Cher. I’m a big fan and not embarrassed to admit it. I love Cher, I grew up singing “Just Like Jesse James.” Cher is a karaoke favourite.

 If a meteor were hurtling toward earth bent on destroying us all, what would your last meal be?

If I had to pick, I’d go with my mom’s glazed ham and salads. But I love food in general. I’m a huge eater. People are astonished with my appetite. I have to try and get a lot of exercise to offset it.

 You are from a fishing family in a strong fishing community. Your father Aidan not only fishes, but also builds traditional Newfoundland punts. Did you ever expect to follow the family fishing lineage?

My dad never really encouraged it, to be honest. My brother Dominic took that role on. I tag along for the food fishery, but I get a bit seasick.

 What’s your most prized possession?

My father made me a coffee and end table set from scratch. My father-in-law Joe cut the tree and kilned the wood. It’s all one piece, a single slab of dense birch with knots and plenty of character. My dad’s become quite a carpenter which is amazing considering he couldn’t hang a picture when I was growing up. He also made an amazing bed for my sister.

 What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Treat others the way you want to be treated.

 If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I think the power to heal people would be pretty handy.

 Others might say they’d like superhuman strength or invisibility so they could sneak into bank vaults, or out of work early …

That’s not much good compared to being able to take people’s sickness away. Wouldn’t that be a great superpower?

Halifax: good times guaranteed.

Since July of 2007, Air Canada Jazz has offered twice daily jet service direct to Halifax. If you haven’t been there in a while, we thought we’d offer our Halifax “best of” to aid you travel plans.

Halifax offers great gastronomical adventure for all you ravenous hungry hungry hippos out there. Gio Restaurant (1725 Market Street | phone 902-425-1978) was recently voted one of Canada’s best restaurants. Chef Ray Bear is among the nation’s premiere competition chefs and puts together an outstanding globally-inspired menu. If you’re hungry for tapas, you can’t beat Mosaic (1584 Argyle Street | phone 902-405-4700.) It offers great food to be shared in a flirtatious setting. If you aim to do it Italian, Rogio Orazio (5537 Young Street | 902-454-9991) is certainly a darling on the Halifax restaurant scene. The menu is small, but the wine list and taste go very big. The best breakfast, especially after a wild night of downtown gallivanting, is the Ardmore Tea Room on Quinpool—homemade, hearty and inexpensive. Their lumberjack breakfast is incredible.

 Pub crawling. Obviously, there are many marquee destinations for pub crawlers seeking out live music with a pint in a fun setting. We recommend cramming yourself into the eternally-hopping Old Triangle. In addition, the Lower Deck is a legend all its own. Apparently, no one told Haligonians that the weekend doesn’t begin until Friday. Every Thursday night, the Argyle Bar and Grill is absolutely packed, brimming with a great atmosphere.

 Shop till you drop. There are plenty of places to buy gifts and generally abuse your credit card in Halifax, both downtown and in a mall setting. Looking for wacky, retro or vintage sweets for your kids? Try the quirky Freak Lunchbox—because one can never have too many Darth Vader Pez dispensers. The Black Market also has a number of offbeat items, from hand-crafted sweaters to carved nik naks; it’s especially good for jewelry. For women, don’t forget Biscuit General Store on Argyle. It’s the perfect place to find a one-of-a-kind gift, but most women go to shop for themselves. The best shoe shop in town is Fanatic Footwear in Bishops Landing. Dartmouth Crossing is a new open concept shopping centre with plenty of shops to choose from.

 Spaaaah. If getting kneaded, groomed and de-stressed is your thing, Spirit Urban Day Spa (5150 Salter Street | Phone: 709-431-8100) has a reputation as of Atlantic Canada’s finest. It has a 30-strong staff including  aestheticians, massage therapists, etc. Spirit’s specialty organic skin treatments (in lemon, blueberry and pumpkin “flavors”) are all the rage. Spirit also has a hair salon and a great view.

 Tour time.  There are plenty of compelling tours available, including the harbour tour. But we’re giving our vote to the Keith’s Brewery tour, especially on Saturdays when the Farmer’s Market at the brewery is busy.

 If you’re looking for a great place to stay, check out the The Westin Nova Scotian Hotel (1181 Hollis | Phone: 902-424-8935.) The Queen has stayed their twice, so you’ll probably find it’s to your liking. There’s an indoor pool, hot tub, Yuk Yuks comedy club and more. There’s an $8 million renovation in the works so the Westin is getting even better.

 Best souvenir. We know Newfoundlanders tend to turn up their nose at non-local lobster, but live lobster is available just about everywhere in Halifax. Why not grab a couple on the way home? As a wise man once intoned, You can never, ever eat too much lobster.

We asked aviation historian Frank Tibbo to name the five most significant events in Gander Airport’s proud history.  Mr. Tibbo is a retired Air Traffic Control manager and charter member of the now defunct Gander Flying Club. For the last 15 years, he has penned a weekly aviation column for The Beacon and authored Charlie Baker George, a Newfoundland bestseller, and “Best of Aviation.” Breakwater Books recently published Mr. Tibbo’s “The Streets of Gander.”

 1. Decision made to Construct Airport

The most significant event in the history of the airport occurred in the summer of 1935 when the area was a boreal forest.  There were a lot of ganders, and they all had feathers. A meeting was held in Ottawa concerning a North Atlantic Civil Aviation agreement between Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and Newfoundland. Several individuals and/or groups had explored various areas of Newfoundland – areas as close as possible to the Great Circle Route between New York and London. It was decided to establish Botwood as a flying boat base and “Hattie’s Camp” (Gander) for land-based aircraft. Great Britain agreed to provide 82 per cent of the capital and lend Newfoundland the remainder. In June, 1936, 40 workers arrived at the selected site to begin construction.

Old terminal building.

 2. First Aircraft Landing

Jan. 11, 1938 marked the first aircraft landing in Gander’s history, a Fox Moth piloted by Captain Douglas Fraser and engineer George Lace. Fraser said years later during an interview: “I can remember it quite well, I think it was five people who met me. It was a day like today, blue sky and not a cloud in the sky. I had been commissioned to take a doctor to Lethbridge – that wasn’t the name then – and on my way back I touched in at Gander, why I don’t know, but I just put down for a few minutes.” Fraser’s name is on one of the oldest streets in Gander and in 1987 he was inaugurated into the Canadian Aviation Hall Of Fame.

Aircraft at Gander, circa 1962.

3. The Day We Began

Nov. 30, 1938 is the date most consider to be the airport’s operational beginning. On this day, staff that operated the facility at Botwood were transferred to Gander. New facilities had been built in Gander in preparation for the transfer and the government appointed H.A.L. Pattison as the first Aerodrome Control Officer, a position later referred to as “airport manager.”

4. Gander’s Role in World War II

November 9, 1940 witnessed the first military aircraft ferried across the North Atlantic, a precursor of thousands that followed. Historians indicate  Gander’s role in this capacity, combined with the air cover for convoys and anti-submarine patrols, effectively shortened the war. On April 1, 1941 Newfoundland transferred operational responsibility of the airport to Canada for the duration of the war. That decision brought a bomber and fighter squadron along with a strong army contingent to protect what now was a vital Allied military base. The United States Army Air Force stationed a major contingent of several thousand troops, airmen and aircraft here bringing the military population to approximately 10,000.

 5. April 1, 1949

April 1, 1949 marked Confederation with Canada and the Department of Transport took control of the airport. At the conclusion of World War II it became evident that the advancement of military transport aircraft during the war would spawn a transatlantic air trade. The first evidence of this was on Oct. 23, 1945 when the first commercial landplane, an American Overseas Airline DC-4, landed at Gander en route to Europe. Newfoundland did not have the finances necessary to double the infrastructure required to move the airport to a world-class civilian facility. Britain, who financed the

Gander tower, 1964.

original construction, was almost bankrupt because of World War II. The Canadian Department of Transport invested tens of millions of dollars  into making an international airport with two major runways,  taxiways and a first-class terminal building, which opened in 1958 to  accommodate the thousands of airliners that would require a fuel stop. The first flight was a Pan American 707.

Welcome to the official blog of Gander International Airport. For those of you who don’t know where we are, grab your atlas and check out the eastern seaboard of North America. There we are, right in the middle of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s most easterly (and awesome) province. Quite literally, we are perched on the eastern edge of the Western World.

Gander International Airport is wholly unique by contemporary aviation standards. We serve a growing domestic market in Central Newfoundland, but also play an important role in international aviation as an intermediate and emergency stop for aircraft transiting the North Atlantic. The Town of Gander itself was preceded by the airport – the community was literally built on aviation. There are few communities of Gander’s size (it does a strained chin-up to around 10,000 people) with a full-service 24-7 airport in the National Airport System that’s an official Airport of Entry.

That’s our story, in a nutshell. We may be soaked in history, but there’s plenty to be written in the future.

So what’s this blog all about? We haven’t entirely figured that out yet, but we’ll introduce you to the key people who make our airport fly, address some challenging aviation questions, add a few snaps, highlight some great travel destinations, point out some cool things to do in Central Newfoundland and talk about the dizzying highs (and subterranean lows) of air travel. Hopefully, we’ll have lots of fun along the way.

And so it begins.

Hi Reg,

How is everything in Gander?

Iván Barroeta

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