On April 19, PortsToronto officially opened its Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop Airport) with The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport in attendance. The new three-sided, open-top facility will accommodate commercial aircraft at the airport and is designed to dampen the noise associated with high-power aircraft engine ground run-up operations.
 
Located on the southwest side of the airfield, the enclosure is only the second of its kind in Canada and represents a new key component in the airport’s Noise Mitigation Program. The acoustically and aerodynamically designed facility will dampen the impact of the ground engine run-ups that are mandated by Transport Canada following engine maintenance to ensure safety. The enclosure effectively absorbs noise with specialized acoustic panels that line the interior of the three walls, which also feature vents for optimal aerodynamic performance.

The GRE’s completion marks another major milestone in the Billy Bishop Airport Airfield Project, a three-year rehabilitation initiative currently underway at Billy Bishop Airport to modernize the airport and ensure it continues to serve as an economic engine for the city and provide efficient service to the 2.7 million passengers who travel through the airport each year.