Good question, I haven't been to Miserabelle since my last GA flight there. They had a few conventional gates too. The oddity on that GA trip was a Cuban IL18 freighter parked at one of the pods. Some Transat birds around the pods too. Although universally hated those PTVs were all part of the unique "Mirabel" experience. It somehow gave the place an exotic feeling that made you feel "this ain't an ordinary trip to YYZ". For international arrivals, YMX is/was far more efficient than YUL. Hopefully the new terminal building additions for YUL, which apparently include new arrivals area for int'l and cross-border, will improve things. Mike Gammon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liam Tully" <lrtully@sprint.ca> To: "The Airline List" <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>; "Mike Gammon" <jmgammon@sympatico.ca> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 10:34 PM Subject: Re: Speaking of Montreal... > Mike. > > Are those PTV's still operational at YMX? I have never been there, > and it's NOT in my future travel plans! It appears to me, that YMX has > now become even the "alternate of last resort" for most carriers, for > various reasons - even AC! Looks good for you GA folks though.... > > Liam. > YVR. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Gammon" <jmgammon@sympatico.ca> > To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 6:33 PM > Subject: Re: Speaking of Montreal... > > > > I've also used Miserabelle for travel purposes on airlines. My first > trip > > was to LHR via BA back in '85. Then in '86, same destination, but on AC. > In > > '87 I flew YMX-YYZ-GIG-GRU on Varig (DC10 YMX-GIG, then 747-300 to SAO). > In > > '90, to LHR via BA again, then onwards to JNB. In '94, again LHR on BA > and > > onwards to JNB. By '97, when I next went to LHR (this time onwards to > AMS), > > it was from YUL and also my first ride on a Triple-seven (flown that one > on > > BA and KE). > > > > Nothing, however, beat having 16 private pilots being ferried out to their > > aircraft in a PTV. Normally I rode those with what seemed like hundreds > > jammed in tight. Of all the commercial flights I took out of Miserabelle, > > all but one was on a 747. The exception was the flight to SAO, on a DC10. > > > > Anecdote: at one time they were to have a high-speed rail link to > > Miserabelle. Most of the route was on a Canadian National branch line > that > > was to be upgraded for the job, connecting with an existing electrified > > commuter line into Montreal. There is even, in the basement of the YMX > > terminal building, a full rail station that is missing only two things: > > rails and trains (I also happen to be a railfan). Then there was > autoroute > > 13, which stopped quite a few kilometers short. If a proper high-speed > > rail link and highway access been provided from the get-go, the YMX-YUL > > story might have had a different conclusion. > > > > I bet in the end YMX ends up the largest uncontrolled airfield in > Canada... > > > > Mike Gammon > > >