Editing Vancouver International Airport (section)

==Distinctives==
===Architecture===
[[File:YVR International Terminal 2018.jpg|thumb|Indoor stream and shops inside the restricted zone]]
[[File:Vancouver_Art.jpg|thumb|Bill Reid's ''The Jade Canoe'']]
[[File:YVR Graham Clarke Atrium 2018.jpg|thumb|Graham Clarke atrium]]
[[File:YVR International arrivals Lobby 2018.jpg|thumb|International arrivals lobby on Level 2]]
[[File:Aquarium at YVR.jpg|thumb|Aquarium at YVR]]
YVR's interior has a uniquely British Columbian theme, featuring an extensive collection of [[Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast|Pacific Northwest Coast Native]] art, and blues and greens to reflect the colours of the land, sea, and sky. This theme was designed by Vancouver-based firm ''Architectura''. The airport uses a great deal of carpet and vast expanses of glass to let in large amounts of natural light. One of the most noticeable places for an arriving passenger is the international arrivals hall, a large area where customs and immigration procedures are completed. Arriving passengers come down escalators leading to a platform across a large waterfall.

In 2020, the expansion of International Pier D was completed with a glassed-in island forest with access to the outdoors and an immersive digital experience that explores the rugged British Columbia Coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=YVR's Pier D Expansion Project is Complete! |url=http://www.yvr.ca/en/blog/2021/pier-d-expansion |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=YVR |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:20210129-Vancouver International Airport - Pier D Expansion (2020).jpg|thumb|alt=Pier D expansion with glassed-in island forest completed in 2020|Pier D expansion with glassed-in island forest completed in 2020]]

=== Art ===
The YVR aboriginal art collection includes wooden sculptures and [[totem pole]]s. [[Bill Reid]]'s sculpture in bronze, ''The [[Spirit of Haida Gwaii]], The Jade Canoe'', is displayed in the international departures area. This is the second of two castings of this sculpture; the first casting, ''The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, The Black Canoe'', is now displayed outside the [[Canadian Embassy in Washington|Canadian Embassy]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe. {{cite web |url=http://www.yvr.ca/en/about/art-architecture/Art-Haida-Gwaii.aspx |title=The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe |access-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302215027/http://www.yvr.ca/en/about/art-architecture/Art-Haida-Gwaii.aspx |archive-date=March 2, 2016}}</ref> The Pacific Passage area includes artwork by Stan Wamiss and [[Connie Watts]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pacific Passage|url=http://www.yvr.ca/en/about-yvr/art/the-pacific-passage|access-date=2021-04-29|website=YVR|language=en}}</ref> The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at Vancouver International Airport.<ref>stained glass at Vancouver International Airport. {{Cite web| url=http://stainedglasscanada.ca/site.php?site%3D272 | title=Vancouver International Airport | access-date=November 16, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094027/http://www.stainedglasscanada.ca/site.php?site=272 | archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

===Accessibility===
{{advert section|date=June 2021}}

Since 1992, Vancouver Airport Authority has been working with an independent accessibility consultant to eliminate the physical barriers in the built environment and is "committed to providing fully accessible terminal facilities for people of all backgrounds and capabilities".<ref name="yvr.ca">[http://www.yvr.ca/libraries.comms_documents/The_Accessible_Airport_-_Fact_sheet.sflb.ashxVancouver Fact Sheet: Vancouver International Airport: The Accessible Airport]{{Dead link | date=May 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In 2004, the airport received the Rick Hansen Accessibility Award, which recognizes "facilities and communities that improve the quality of life for people with mobility limitations".<ref name="Picard, A. 2004">Picard, A. (June 12, 2004). Vancouver Airport Wins New Hansen Prize for Accessibility. ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>

Designated short-term parking spaces and curb-side ramps are available on each level of the terminal building for vehicles displaying a valid SPARC permit. Accessible counters with toe clearance for wheelchair users are also available at the check-in, customer care, and retail area in Vancouver Airport. Bathrooms have also been designed to be wheelchair-accessible with doorless and no-touch entry features, lowered sinks, and hands-free bathroom dispensers. Grab bars and emergency call buttons are also present in all wheelchair-accessible toilet stalls.<ref name="Canada. 2012">Government of Canada. (n.d.). Access to Travel. Retrieved October 20, 2012, from Accessibility of Airport Terminals: accesstotravel.gc.ca/9b3.aspx?lang=en</ref>

Low resistance carpeting and other materials such as laminate flooring have been utilized throughout the airport to make it easier for people using wheelchairs and walkers to move throughout the airport. Elevators are large and allow for easy turning in a wheelchair and special wheelchairs designed to fit down aircraft aisles are utilized to assist with boarding and de-planing. Wheelchair lifts have been installed at aircraft gates.<ref name="yvr.ca"/>

"Visual pagers" are dedicated video monitors that are located throughout the airport and convey important information to travelers who have hearing impairments.

Various types of flooring are utilized throughout the terminal and function as a textured guide to assist travelers in identifying their location within the airport. In areas with tile, patterns in the tile help to identify exits. Tactile maps are also available at customer service counters throughout the airport, and braille and tactile lettering are used throughout the airport to indicate building features such as washrooms.<ref name="Canada. 2012"/>

===Green Coat Ambassadors===
Vancouver Airport Authority was one of the first airports in North America to institute a volunteer program in 1989.<ref>[http://www.yvrgreencoats.com/ Green Coats Page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702092019/http://www.yvrgreencoats.com/ |date=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Volunteers in a green vest/jacket are deployed around the airport to provide information, customer service and be the 'eyes and ears' for the various partners in the airport community between the hours of 6{{nbsp}}am to 10{{nbsp}}pm every day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Comms_Documents/2011_04_YVR_GREEN_COAT_FAQ.sflb.ashx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131154/http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Comms_Documents/2011_04_YVR_GREEN_COAT_FAQ.sflb.ashx|title=Green Coat FAQ|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> Volunteers are given basic training in airport operations and undertake many of the similar trainings mandated to airport employees. Each volunteer is required to obtain a Transportation Security Clearance and Restricted Area Identification Card to access the restricted and sterile areas of the terminal.

===Sustainability programs===
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[[File:YVR Sustainability.JPG|thumb|right|YVR Sustainability]]

YVR Sustainability is an operations department at Vancouver International Airport that is concerned with airport green initiatives. It focuses on green initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of the airport's operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY 2012 ANNUAL AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT |url=http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Annual_report/2012_Full_Annual_and_Sustainability_Report.sflb.ashx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320090700/http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Annual_report/2012_Full_Annual_and_Sustainability_Report.sflb.ashx |archive-date=2014-03-20 |website=www.yvr.ca}}</ref> YVR's sustainability is also known for its [[environmental art|green art]] linked to the environment and community and its indoor nature displays.

YVR's [[Vancouver Airport Services]] created an energy reduction committee in 1999 to create new energy-reducing initiatives, including improved efficiency of baggage conveyor belts to shut down conveyors when no bags are present; installing [[carbon dioxide]] sensors to adjust [[HVAC]] systems to the number of people in an area; and regulating electrical power for flight information display monitors when no flights are scheduled. In 2005, the committee installed [[LED]] lighting on several [[taxiway]]s and more efficient, brighter lights on Levels 2 and 3 of the car parking structure, upgrades to the chilled water distribution system, and replacement of all Airport Authority computer equipment with newer, more efficient models."<ref name="enviro.aero">{{Cite web |title=Airport becomes power 'smarter' with solar panels |url=http://www.enviro.aero/Content/Upload/File/case%20study%20YVR.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013647/http://www.enviro.aero/Content/Upload/File/case%20study%20YVR.pdf |archive-date=2014-04-19 |website=www.enviro.aero}}</ref> The building and lighting system are designed to utilize as much daylight as possible so that it is the primary lighting source.<ref name="thethunderbird.ca">{{Cite web |last=Nursall |first=Kim |date=2012-04-13 |title=Vancouver airport’s green programs glide over airplane emissions {{!}} TheThunderbird.ca |url=https://thethunderbird.ca/2012/04/13/yvrs-green-programs-glide-over-airplane-emissions/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=thethunderbird.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> The Committee claims to have saved more than 24 [[gigawatt]] hours of electricity and $5.5 million since the team's creation.<ref name="YVR, 2001">{{Cite web |date= |title=YVR > Community & Environment > Sustainability Stories |url=http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209065421/http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx |archive-date=2014-02-09 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.yvr.ca}}</ref>

In 2015, the airport set a goal for 50% of the [[ground support equipment]] to run on electric power by the year 2020. This goal was achieved early, as by late 2019, 53% of these machines operated on electric power. The airport installed 50 charging stations to support this operation.<ref name=":0a">{{Cite web |title=2020-2024 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN |url=https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/environment/2020/yvr-environmental-management-plan.pdf |website=www.yvr.ca |page=11}}</ref> The airport also has a comprehensive fleet management plan, to ensure that ground support equipment operators maintain and electrify the fleet of the right size. They also have eight [[Battery electric bus|battery electric apron buses]] to support the operation of aircraft on remote stands separate from the terminal building.<ref name=":0a" />[[File:Solar panel at YVR.JPG|thumb|left|Solar panel located in YVR rooftop parking lot]]

The [[solar-powered]] hot water systems were installed in the airport's Domestic and International terminals in 2003. The 100 solar panels were placed on the roof of the YVR building and will heat more than 800 gallons of water each hour.<ref name="renewableenergyworld.com">{{Cite web |date= |title=Solar Power Heats Water for Canadian Airport |url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2003/10/solar-power-heats-water-for-canadian-airport-9708 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020759/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2003/10/solar-power-heats-water-for-canadian-airport-9708 |archive-date=2014-04-19 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.renewableenergyworld.com}}</ref> This has resulted in approximately $110,000 and 8569 gigajoules saved each year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-09-29 |title=Vancouver Airport installs BC's largest solar-powered hot water heating system |url=http://www.ecoweek.ca/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000130828 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014053/http://www.ecoweek.ca/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000130828 |archive-date=2014-04-19 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.ecoweek.ca}}</ref> The project was partly funded by [[BC Hydro]] working with the Vancouver International Airport Authority to reduce energy consumption and costs at YVR.<ref name="renewableenergyworld.com"/> YVR also uses nightly energy set backs, carbon dioxide [[CO2 sensor|sensors]], and improved scheduling and system tune-ups since 2001 which has led to a decrease of 25 per cent in [[natural gas]] usage.<ref name="YVR, 2001"/><ref name="enviro.aero"/>

[[File:Loading area for taxis at YVR.jpg|thumb|Loading area for taxis at YVR]]
YVR has 100 hybrid and [[natural gas]]-operated taxis hired to pick up and drop off passengers. The Airport Authority created a program in 2004 that gave incentive for [[alternative fuel vehicles|alternative fuel taxis]] and was successful by improving the average fleet fuel economy by 47% by 2009.<ref name="YVR, 2001"/> YVR has 450 [[recycling bins|recycling containers]] evenly distributed and located around its terminals, divided for [[plastic recycling|recycling plastic]] and paper. The containers themselves are made from recycled aluminum, steel and plastic and help recycle over 1,250,000&nbsp;kg of material each year.<ref name="YVR, 2001"/>

[[File:Green wall close up at YVR.JPG|thumb|170px|left|Green wall close up at YVR]]

In June 2009, YVR had a green wall installed by the [[Canada Line]] [[YVR–Airport Station]] and can best be viewed from the International Departures terminal on Level 3 and from the International Arrivals terminal on Level 2. This is the first Canadian airport with a living [[green wall]] and the largest in North America. The green wall measures "18-metres high and 12 -metres wide and is home to 28,249 individual plants on 2,173 panels and houses a built-in [[irrigation]] and feeding system."<ref name="YVR, 2001"/> The plants it consists of are ''[[japanese spindle|Euonymus japonicus]] microphyllus, Euonymus japonicus albovariegatus microphyllus, [[licorice fern|Polypodium glycyrrhiza]]'', and ''Ophiopogon japonicus nanus''.<ref>{{Cite web | website=GSky | title=Vancouver Int'l Airport | url=http://gsky.com/projects/vancouver-airport-2/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103155/http://gsky.com/projects/vancouver-airport-2/ | archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref> Benefits of a green wall on the building include improving air quality, reducing noise pollution (the green wall is located near the Sky Train), cooling the area down and saving on energy costs, and decreases carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. YVR includes other environmental indoor installations such as its [[indoor garden]], [[aquarium]], and a [[freshwater]] [[Stream|creek]].<ref name="thethunderbird.ca"/> The 30,000 gallon salt water aquarium at YVR is home to about 850 samples of British Columbia marine life. There is also a 750 gallon jellyfish tank and a 60-metre long fresh water creek located nearby.<ref>{{Cite web | author=Martin, B. | title=Salt-water aquarium does more than just look pretty| date=2007-11-02 | url=http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id24974 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505180515/http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id24974 | archive-date=2014-05-05}}</ref>

The YVR Fuel project plans to build an underground [[pipeline transport|pipeline]] and upgrade an airport fuel terminal near the Fraser River. In 2014, the YVR Fuel Project was granted approval with 64 conditions. An information bulletin posted by the Ministry of Environment of British Columbia announced that the project is "not expected to result in any significant adverse effects, based on the mitigation measures and conditions of the [[Environmental Assessment]] Certificate." Nonetheless, the YVR Airport Fuel Facilities will have to carry out the project in accordance to the conditions made by the Environmental Assessment Office. Key conditions deal with spill and [[fire prevention]], preparedness and response, cleaning, inspection, dealing with [[pollution]] liabilities, [[environmental remediation]], and compensating for Aboriginal loss under the [[Fisheries Act]].<ref>{{Cite web | publisher=The Government of British Columbia | title=YVR Fuel Delivery Project granted conditional environmental assessment approval | date=2013-12-12 | url=http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2013ENV0093-001875.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521215549/http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2013ENV0093-001875.htm | archive-date=2015-05-21}}</ref>
[[Maritime pilot|Marine pilots]] will have to be specially trained for the river's environment, tankers double-hulled, pre-screened and each boat will have to have two tugs. The reason for the YVR fuel upgrade is because the Fuel Facilities Corp. states the current fuel-delivery system is not sustainable and too dependent on an older pipeline coming from [[Burnaby, British Columbia]] and shipments from [[Washington state]]. With its own fuel, YVR will have more room and independence to welcome new flights and airlines.<ref>{{Cite web | publisher=The Canadian Press | title=YVR Vancouver Airport Fuel Project Granted Conditional Approval | date=2013-12-12 | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/yvr-vancouver-airport-fuel_n_4436141.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915165625/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/yvr-vancouver-airport-fuel_n_4436141.html | archive-date=2018-09-15}}</ref>

The Vancouver International Airport Security submitted a 2009-2013 Noise Management Plan to the [[Transport Canada|Canadian Ministry of Transport]] in August 2013 which was reviewed and approved. This Management Plan included initiatives to help with noise complaints that YVR Security had received. A total of 16 initiatives were identified and are outlined in the Noise Management Plan. The plan is flexible and allows room for new community issues that may arise within the five-year program. The plan's main goal is to balance the needs of having 24-hour airport services while minimizing noise disturbances associated with aircraft services for those living nearby.<ref>[http://www.delta.ca/assets/HRCP/PDF/YVR_2009-2013%20Noise%20Management%20Plan.pdf 2009-2013 Noise Management Plan for Vancouver International Airport]{{Dead link | date=May 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

===Operation Yellow Ribbon===
{{main|Operation Yellow Ribbon}}
Following the [[September 11 attacks]], the airspace over the United States was shut down. Aircraft over the North Atlantic and Pacific bound for the United States were therefore diverted to Canadian airports. Vancouver International Airport accommodated 34 of these flights (3rd highest after [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport|Halifax]] and [[Gander International Airport|Gander]]) amounting to a total of 8,500 passengers.

The airport won the 2001 Airport Management Award from the B.C. Aviation Council<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcaviation.org/ |title=B.C. Aviation Council |publisher=Bcaviation.org |access-date=March 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427145836/http://www.bcaviation.org/ |archive-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and was cited for overcoming many challenges in a professional and compassionate way.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.yvr.ca/pdf/authority/annualreport/yvr_annual_report_2001.pdf |title=2001 Annual Report |website=yvr.ca |publisher=Vancouver International Airport Authority |access-date=September 30, 2006}} {{dead link |date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>