Passengers relying on airpower

By Sharon Weatherall

BEAUSOLEIL FN – With this winter’s solid freeze-up on Georgian Bay, the people of Chimnissing are doing without ferries and relying on airpower for transport between Cedar Point and Christian Island.

The band’s 16-passenger hovercraft as well as two “skoots” — open four-passenger, fan-powered craft – carry fewer passengers than the ferries, but make the five-kilometre trip in five minutes, compared with 25 minutes.

“It depends on the wind,” says Jeremy King, one of the ferry staff who took pilot training when the craft was purchased by Indian Affairs in 2008.

Winds up to 25 km. per hour can cause the hovercraft to go sideways, which is normal, but stronger winds can impact control. White-outs on the ice are another problem in winter causing visibility issues.

“The safety of the passengers depends on the discretion of the pilot,” says King.

Transportation administrative assistant Janet Newdick says the hovercraft is a safe means of travel, but will not operate in extreme weather conditions

“Operating the hovercraft we don’t always follow a schedule. When there’s a line-up of people we send out a vehicle or make additional runs. We operate the skoots at the same time.”

Transportation crews burn small bonfires at both docks so people who are waiting can keep warm.

Some community members are driving vehicles over the ice on a route marked by trees, or using snowmobiles and four-wheelers to bring supplies home from the mainland, but safety is always a concern.

Come spring thaw, the band’s two ferries – the 70-passenger Indian Maiden and the 98-passenger, 28-vehicle Sandy Graham – will be back in operation.