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Canadian International Air Show
As a member of the Canadian International Air Show's, Public Affairs - Media Relations Committee, Roberts takes part in the numerous planning and co-ordination meetings in the weeks leading up to the annual air show. Prior to the three-day event, he researches and developes background material on the various military aircraft participating. This necessitates calling military bases in Canada and the United States and conducting Internet searches. To be eligible to escort media crews onto the flight line at Pearson International Airport, he had to attend a security briefing session at the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) offices. After which, and only for the duration of the shows, he was issued with a GTAA security pass to escort media onto the flight line to view the aircraft, and to coordinate interviews with pilots and crews members on the Media Day.
Media Day at Pearson International Airport in 2002 was Thursday August 29th where the military aircraft where based. Roberts was tasked with escorting the production van and the crew from Global Television onto the flight line. He also helped facilitate interviews for the crew who were planning several live hits (reports) during the network's Noon News. With the assistance of Lt. Jay Walker, the Snowbird's Public Affairs Officer, Global's weather reporter Anwar Knight did several reports with pilots and from the right seat of the Snowbird's CT-114 Tutor jet. A Canadian Forces technician guided Mr. Knight into the cockpit and pointed out which buttons and levers not to touch.
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After Anwar Knight had finished broadcasting his reports, Roberts made arrangements to get CITY-TV's Videographer, Dominic Sciullo, into the cockpit to record a segment. To do his reports Mr. Sciullo uses two video cameras, a small DV camera that he holds at arms length and points at himself, and a second video camera, a Betacam, that he hand holds and balances on his right shoulder. Because Dominic Sciullo did not have a tripod for the Betacam, Roberts recorded the establishing shot of Dominic sitting in the cockpit of the Snowbird using the $60,000 camera.
Shortly afterwards Roberts was talking to an Royal Air Force, Wing Commander. As they were standing there an RAF C-130 Hercules moved passed them down the flight line. After it parked and the engines stopped, Roberts noticed that the propeller had six blades. It was a C-130 J Hercules 2. He mentioned this to the officer who said, "Yes, its new, lets have look". Immediately he headed towards the aircraft. Because he was in uniform he just went straight up the stairs and inside the plane, Roberts was right behind him. In side the aircraft it smelt like a new car. On the flight deck all the instrumentation was electronic and in front of the pilot and co-pilot positions there was a fold-down heads-up display. In a discussion the pilot mentioned that he recently returned from Kabul, Afghanistan. That he had taken off from Kabul, which is between 6,000 and 7,000ft altitude, in summer heat, with a full load on board. The pilot said the C-130 literary jumped into the air.
A second Media Day was held on the morning of Friday August 30th at Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA). Because it is located in Lake Ontario and slightly east of the Canadian National Exhibition (sponsor of the Canadian International Air Show), this is where the civilian aircraft stage from. Several reporters and camera operators were taken along for the rides with the three Showcopters, and in Sean D. Tucker's chase plane. Roberts was one of a number of CIAS public relations volunteers who were media escorts on the flight line.
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On Saturday morning August 31st and because Roberts had a GTAA flight line security pass, he was at Pearson again to assist escorting a bus load of Royal Canadian Air Cadets on the flight line. The Air Cadets were from 121 Red Arrow Squadron in Guelph, and were visiting their namesake, the Royal Air Force's Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. Under the supervision of RAF technicians, the cadets were allowed to sit in the cockpit of the Red Arrows jet, the BAe Hawk.
Later when the Red Arrows took off to open the Canadian International Air Show, a Snowbird pilot was along for a ride in the rear seat. When the Snowbirds took off to close the show, they reciprocated by taking the Red Arrows with them. After the Air Cadets had left the flight line and Pearson, Roberts drove to the CNE grounds in time for the second half of the air show as a public affairs representative in the VIP section.
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by Jeremy Cartlidge
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Sunday September 1st was spent at the CNE grounds, initially in the VIP section and later moving to Boss Control for the closing segments of the show, and to see how media operations were conducted there.
The final day of the Air Show was Monday. Equipped with a VHF radio and a second cell phone, Roberts liaised with the media who were set-up at Boss Control. After feeling reasonably important for four days the CIAS was over, and all the security passes that had been issued had to be turned in.
On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday afternoons, Roberts was posted at either BOSS Control at Ontario Place, or in the VIP Area to co-ordinate with the media.
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In 2003 on the Thursday before the Air Show, Roberts was on the flight again at Pearson International Airport. This time he bumped into CTV Television personality, Ravi Baichwal. They had worked together at Ontario Hydro. Ravi was there for a test flight in a BAe Hawk the aircraft that is used as a jet trainer by the Canadian Forces. This was the second year that Ravi had flown in one, last it was with the RAF Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows. At the CNE grounds in the VIP Area, Roberts co-ordinated 10 live television interviews on CablePulse24 with a variety of participants and spokespersons during the show. One included a Australian F-18 pilot who was an exchange officer serving with the Canadian Forces. His interview took place while the Canadian Forces CF-18 was taking part in the show, and performing in the background.
Roberts missed the 2004 Canadian International Air Show because he was still in Athens following the 2004 Olympics.
In 2005 he retuned as the Manager, Protocol helping to co-ordinate the arrival and departure of senior military officers, this included two generals.
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